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djcurtis7 · Sep 23, 2011, 04:45 PM

I have an 11-inch rough in, is it possible to install a 12-inch toilet?

Milo Dolezal · Sep 23, 2011, 06:33 PM

Yes, you can. When roughing in drain for toilet, we measure the 12" rough-in from rough framing to the bolts (center of the closet ring ), not from finished wall. Depending on the age of your house, you may have another 7/8" of finish wall material over the framing giving you read out of about 11". Therefore, you should not have any problem installing your new toilet. Let me know how it went. Milo

speedball1 · Sep 24, 2011, 06:15 AM

I agree with Milo. We rough in at 12" off the unfinished wall. Along comes the drywall at 5/8ths." plus another 1/4" for the baseboard. Your tank should fit nice and snug against the wall. Good luck, Tom

plumb382 · Oct 12, 2011, 08:05 PM

Not successfully.you will have to put the toilet together before setting it.it will most likely hit the wall and cause a leak between the tank and the bowl.but you can get a toilet that will fit a 10" rough.LaMosa and Sterling are found easily at Home Depot.

massplumber2008 · Oct 13, 2011, 06:04 AM

Hi again, Plumb...

I don't know how many toilets you have set but between me, Milo and Tom, I'll bet you we have set 1000s of them and we can tell you that an 11" rough in will acommodate 99% (or even 100%) of all 12" rough in toilets manufactured nowadays.

Now, it isn't that a 10" rough won't work, but they are more expensive than a 12" rough in toilet AND will leave a pretty significant gap between the wall and the back of the toilet tank... something the customer NEVER likes to see.

As Milo and Tom said, we usually rough in at 12" from the face of the rough studs...with sheet rock and tile in many places, that leaves about 11-11.25" and even that will still leave an 1/2" to 1 inch or so gap between the wall and the back of the toilet.

Have a good day!

Mark

plumb382 · Oct 13, 2011, 12:42 PM

You'r right it will fit, but the cheapest toilet at Home Depot will fit a 10" rough.I agree with you but for do it yourself advise I just recommend people try to get the right materials.If they ever want to change the wall dimensions and such.But I'm also in California witch 12" is code.And also I speak from a service repair plumber technicians' point of view, since the person is asking for advise.So I'm not disagreeing with anyone as I didn't read the other answers before posting my answer.I've set 10's of thousands of water closets.

speedball1 · Oct 13, 2011, 01:23 PM

the cheapest toilet at Home Depot will fit a 10" rough

Not if it's a 12" bowl it won't. As a "service repair plumber technician" that has installed

set 10's of thousands of water closets.

you should be aware that we rough in 12" off the unfinished wall. Add 5/8ths" of dry wall plus another1/4" of base board and you are setting a 12" bowl at 11 1/8th" off the finished wall. Now tell us again

not successfully.

that a 12" bowl won't set at 11 inches? Oh yes it will! I've worked with Mark a long time and I've learned that if I want to disagree with him I'd better have all my ducks in a row. He's one of the best (if not the sharpest) plumber on The Plumbing Page and if you go head to head with him you better be able to back it up with facts. And lastly,

I didn't read the other answers before posting my answer

I suggest you read every post on a thread before you jump in. This is only common sense! Regards, Tom

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 13, 2011, 04:12 PM

Any of you guys ever deal with Mansfield toilets? I tell you, if you don't have over 11.5 from finished wall, them suckers just don't fit. Only stinking toilet Ive run across that has to be pretty darn close to an actuall 12 or better. I only mention this because (as we all know) there are many, many brands of toilets, and in my experience, they actually do vary greatly in actuall fitability on standard rough ins. I personally rough in from studs at 12 1/2 (if I don't know exactly what toilet is going in.) I prefer a little gap between tank and wall over having to get a 10" toilet, but that's just me, and haven't had any issues with customers over the gap. Heck, even roughing at 12 1/2, Ive still had people come in with 5/8 drywall, 1/2 cement board, and 1/2 tile making my rough in still to darn close. Really hurts when you went over and over again making sure they were only going to use 1/2 inch drywall. But that's part of the game I guess. Only problem is, when I lose at this game, Im kind of a sore loser.:mad:

massplumber2008 · Oct 13, 2011, 04:30 PM

Hi Lee...

I know what you are talking about here. In fact, I have had the opposite issue. Here, I roughed in for the customary 12" off the finished wall and then installed a kohler wellworth toilet and found the toilet was almost 3" off the wall. I consulted kohler and a representative and even set a toilet up in a warehouse to show them. Their answer was, "well, that's how we are doing it nowadays". I was flabbergasted to say the least! I asked them, why they didn't make up a new specification sheet and they said it just wasn't going to happen... better too much room than not enough! UGH! I have found this same issue with all newer kohler, american standard and toto toilets (and seriously, you got to be the only plumber still installing mansfield toilets :D :D :D )

Now, in terms of roughing in at 12" and having a homeowner come in with drywall, cement board, and tile and that messing you up, I gotta tell you I see that as an issue with the homeowner changing things and they need to understand that it has nothing to do with you. In other words, that mistake is on their dime...buying a 10" rough in toilet or moving the drain. Either way it isn't your issue (my opinion).

Finally, I will state that you and Plumb382 are correct in that there are exceptions, for sure, but with almost every toilet I have installed over the last 10 years I have had too large a gap unless I roughed the drain in at 12" off rough stud (mentioned brands above). *SHRUGS*.

Have a good night all...

PS: Thanks Tom... always a pleasure working with all you guys!. :)

mygirlsdad77 · Oct 13, 2011, 05:06 PM

:Ha, yep, I agree. Im not a big fan of the Mansfield (completly hate their flush valve assembly). But I do run across them, and pro flos, and all kinds of non namers out there. We also install mostly American Standard, Kohler, and (my personal fav) Toto. But, I will say this. Mansfield is true to their spec sheet. When they say you need 12 from finished wall, they mean it. Makes for a perfect fit every time. Got to give them props for sticking to the good old days standard. If they would just change back to the flapper type flush valve assembly, and go with a fluidmaster fill valve vs the monstrosity of a flush valve they use with the old ball cock fill valve, I think they would have a pretty great product. Just saying, at least their rough dimensions are on target:)

DML58 · Feb 15, 2014, 11:09 AM

Thanks, guys! I have been trying to find the answer to the 11 1/2 inch from finished wall to middle of bolt question for well over an hour and this is the first site that actually answered the question! Plus you gave me a better understanding of the problem by explaining that the 12 " rough in measure is really from the studs and not the finished dry wall. I appreciate the information. Good to know that Kohler and American Standard tend to provide more than enough room. I do not want to get a 10" rough in and wind up with a huge gap behind the toilet. Now I feel more comfortable going for the 12" rough in toilet when I have an 11 1/2 " distance from finished wall to middle of bolt measurement!