Toilets

A great bathroom starts with a stylish yet functional toilet. A toilet is just a toilet, right? With advancements in technology and a focus on style a toilet is so much more than just a toilet. Advancements have been made to not only make them stylish but more efficient with eco friendly low flow options and features such as dual flush functions. We are sure to have questions such as:

• What toilet functions / features do I need?
• Will the toilet fit in my bathroom?
• How to Install Your New Toilet?
• Popular Toilet Collections?
• How Do I Clean and Maintaining My Toilet?

Our mission at Build.com is simple – provide information and expertise to ensure you get the Toilet that fits your budget and style.

What Toilet Functions or Features do I need?

You use it everyday, but seldom give it a second thought. But as far as important fixtures in your home go, your toilet is right at the top of the list. When it comes to toilets, there are a few questions you'll want to ask when you begin searching.

One-Piece or Two Piece Toilets

One-Piece Toilets may be a bit misleading, since even these fixtures are actually six to 10 individual pieces sculpted into one seamless unit. The result is a sleek, hand-crafted toilet with no crevices between the tank and bowl to collect dirt and odors. They are typically more expensive and have a lower profile (22” to 27” high). In this style the tank is generally part of the bowl. Most one piece toilets have a pressure assisted flush.

Two-Piece Toilets require a separate tank and bowl which are bolted together upon installation. These tend to be less expensive, are taller (27” to 30” high) and are often more traditionally styled. In this style the top piece holds the water and the bottom piece is jus the bowl of the toilet.

What Is Comfort Height?

Comfort Height Toilets put the height of a toilet (seat included) at the same height as a standard chair for maximum comfort and ease when sitting down or standing up. It is just a little bit higher than a regular toilet. (An average residential toilet is between 14" and 16" tall). The height of a comfort height seat can be found anywhere between 17" and 19" high. The best seat height is right at 18" but if you found a toilet that you really liked its features such as it will never clog or it is a low flow toilet then choose one with a height as close to the 18" as possible.

So, why make the Comfort choice? That's because it's much easier getting to get on and off. You do not have to have limited mobility either to appreciate the higher seat. It is easier on the legs while sitting if the seat is in the higher range. Of course, the size of the person using the bathroom should be considered too: if your uncle is 4'-10", the Comfort Height would probably not provide comfort.

Elongated or Round Front Toilets

Round Front Toilets are smaller (front to back) and generally less expensive than their elongated counterparts. They are used in smaller bathrooms, where space and price may be an issue.

Elongated Toilets are longer (front to back) by about 2-3 inches. This extra length makes elongated bowls more comfortable and a little roomier. If your bathroom has the additional space, the extra comfort of an elongated bowl is worth the few extra dollars that they may cost.

Gravity-Fed Vs. Pressure-Assisted Flush

Gravity-Fed Toilets use the force of gravity and a siphon "pull-through" action to empty the bowl. These are the "standard" toilets most of us are used to. They require nothing more than the traditional water in and waste out piping.

Pressure-Assisted Toilets harness pressure from the water supply in the home to create a powerful push-through" flush. All waste is removed quickly in about four seconds. Pressure-assisted toilets are slightly louder and there is no condensation or "sweating" on the outer tank side and tend to be slightly more expensive.

Eco Friendly Options

The most significant advance in recent years when it comes to flush toilets is clearly the amount of water used. As recent as the early 1990s, toilets typically used 3.0 gallons per flush (gpf). In 1994, President Bill Clinton signed a bill which forced standard 3.0 gpf toilets to reduce their use to 1.6, nearly a 50 percent reduction in water usage. New engineering has made the best use of the 1.6 gallons allotted.

In addition, the plumbing industry has adopted a program called WaterSense . Much like the lighting industry's ENERGY STAR program, WaterSense is committed to designing products which use less energy and water, helping to save you money as well as the environment. Currently the WaterSense program uses 1.28 gpf as a standard for toilets, which may soon become the industry standard if history repeats itself and WaterSense takes off like ENERGY STAR did.

As technology continues to improve, so will your water and money savings. For example, a 1.4 gpf setting option offers eco-friendly water savings of up to 2,000 gallons per year, based on usage of 10,000 gallons per year using a 1.6 gpf toilet.

Will The Toilet Fit My Bathroom?

The rough-in measurement is critical to installing the correct size toilet-but it's quite predictable. The rough-in dimensions is the distance from a finished wall or floor to the center of the waste or supply opening or mounting holes. Nearly every two-piece toilet is a 12-inch rough, and most flush valve toilets are 10-inch rough.

Toilets come in varying sizes, so check the width, depth and height of your available space. Most toilets bolt to the floor 12 inches from the wall (rough-in measurement, as described above), but some manufacturers make 10-inch and 14-inch models. Be sure to measure first. Also, be sure to specify that your toilet is round or elongated when it comes to fitting your seat. Toilet seats are an optional purchase and are not included on most new toilet purchases so you can choose the style, color to match your bathroom decor.

How to Install Your New Toilet

Popular Toilet Collections

Cleaning and Maintaining Your New Toilet?

1. Grab your Toilet Bowl Brush, all purpose cleaner and a rag. Once you have gathered up your tools necessary for the job, put your gloves on.

2. Spray cleaner on the top of the toilet. Wipe down with rag. Continue for the rest of the toilet making sure that you don't forget to clean the sides of the tank and the bottom of the toilet. Don't forget the back that faces the wall and the valve as these two places are often overlooked.

3. Once the outside of the toilet is cleaned, make sure that you have cleaned the top of the toilet lid, the inside, the top of the inside bowl, behind the screws that hold the lid on the toilet (if applicable) and the front of the toilet. Now that the outside is clean, dispose of rag or put into your laundry.

4. Start from the back of the inside toilet and scrub vigorously around the whole inside of the bowl. Making sure you got the cleaning solution everywhere inside the bowl and that you have not missed an area. Make sure you have cleaned even on the inside of the water at the bottom of the bowl. Once you feel you have clean all parts of the inside. Flush the toilet. As standing cleaner may ruin your porcelain. As the water is flushing use the water to rinse the brush out.

5. Place brush back in the holder as to not spread germs. Take gloves off and dispose. You now have a clean toilet!