Hello, so one of the many discremancies of our house for sale was to tighten down the toilet. As I was tightening the nut, I noticed that it seemed like more and more thread was coming out of the top but still the same amount of wiggle. I figured for some reason the bolts were loose, maybe the nuts weren't tight at the bottom. I've never done this job before. So I realized that during the process of tightening down the nuts that secure the toilet, all I was doing was pulling up the flange. Three out of four screws were missing that held the flange down in place and the one screw that was supposedly holding the flange down was stripped. So then I thought well maybe I need to re tap the existing holes but it seems what ever the screws are supposed to be tied into is wood?? So then I figured well, maybe I can just put a bunch of wood screws through the plastic flange and into the wood piece, maybe that will solve the problem. Nope, pulled the toilet right up again!! So now my question is this. What material or what is it that the flange is supposed to be secured to? Do I need to break the granite and repace what ever it is? Is there a smarter, keep it simple solution that I might be over thinking? Please help!!

The floor flange should be securly fastened to the floor. Some times people will make the hole for the pipe to large and there is not enough material to screw the flange down.

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Do I need to break the granite and repace what ever it is?

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I don't understand that unless you have a granite floor.
If that is the situation I would try opening the ceiling below. Attach two or three small strips to the wooden floor, tight against the pipe. Then screw the flange down through the floor into the wooden strips.

Just loosen both bolt pull the toilet up and set it aside there should be a plastic ring with a wax ring on it the bolts you are trying to tighten just slide into slots on the plastic ring sounds like they cam out just put them back in place you may have to twist them till they catch and then make sure the plastic ring is tight on the floor you will also need to scrape off all the wax ring and replace it with a new one any hardware store will have one put toilet back over bolts slowly and press toilet down and then tighten nuts to hold in place. Sounds complicated but not really . I'm not a expert or a plumber but I have done this myself.

What type of material is the floor you're attempting to screw the flange to? Back to you, Tom

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Originally Posted by hkstroud

The floor flange should be securly fastened to the floor. Some times people will make the hole for the pipe to large and there is not enough material to screw the flange down.


I don't understand that unless you have a granite floor.
If that is the situation I would try opening the ceiling below. Attach two or three small strips to the wooden floor, tight against the pipe. Then screw the flange down thru the floor into the wooden strips.

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Yes the floor is granite. Thank you and I'll check it out. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by speedball1

What type of material is the floor you're attempting to screw the flange to? Back to you, Tom

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It looks like wood. I think water has slowly been leaking maybe from the wax seal and making the wood become very soft. I think that's why when I tightened the toilet nuts, it just pulled the flange up and tore the screws out of the soggy wood. The toilet sits on granite and then it's wood below I'm guessing. Thanks!!

By "granite" do you mean tile? If so would it be possible to use plastic inserts and screws to secure the flange? If not can you get under the floor to scab good wood to screw into? The only other way would to replace the rotten wood. Good luck, Tom

Can install wood strips underneath... best overall job, or you could try installing TOGGLE BOLTS (with washers) through the flange/floor and see if that works... it should!

Mark

Awesome! Thank you guys. I'll see what I can do. To be continued!

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Originally Posted by massplumber2008

Can install wood strips underneath...best overall job, or you could try installing TOGGLE BOLTS (with washers) through the flange/floor and see if that works....it should!

Mark

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Worked perfectly! Thank you.

Thank you guys for all the help!

Thanks for updating the thread, James! We always appreciate that!