Just a home owner here but a plumber taught me this trick years ago. I use a pencil to trace the outline of the toilet on the tile. Then I put the Plaster of Paris in a gallon size Ziplock bag and cut a corner off. Twist and squeeze the bag opposite the cut corner to put a nice fat bead of plaster on the inside of the pencil mark. After placing the toilet I use a wet sponge to remove the excess plaster, just like when grouting tile. Looks great and makes for a rock solid toilet. Work fast because the plaster sets up quickly. A few months ago my flange failed and started to leak. The plaster failed from getting moist and my toilet started rocking alerting me to the problem before my subfloor rotted out or the leak caused bigger problems. Plaster of Paris is the perfect product for this.
Wow! Great that you liked this idea. Yes, plaster of Paris is great for these type of applications. Oh it does set quick, I like the bag idea, thanks for sharing and supporting the channel. 👍🪠
When I did this I placed the toilet first and then I used a grout bag to squeeze the plaster into any gaps. Worked like a charm as the toilet flange was on a bit of a hump in a concrete basement floor.
You can do the same thing with the same grout used on the floor tile so you get a perfect color match and it may make a better , more durable, bond with both the floor and bowl.
I have installed more than a dozen toilets and never knew to put a nut under the toilet to hold the bolts. THat seems so intuitive. Why don't they sell the bolts with two nuts? I haven't done the plaster trick but will be trying it from here out. The toilet I have in the latest house I bought has what I thought was grout under it. I thought that insane, as how would you ever get it up? Maybe it is plaster. It is in Mexico. Is this more of a common thing in Mexico or by Mexican plumbers? Great thinking. Thanks for sharing.
Oh yeah! This is a really old trick, very few people use it nowadays, for some it’s easier to add shims or just re-level the whole floor… I just wanted to share an alternative method. Thanks for watching!
If I didn’t know better I’d agree this is a bad idea . Set 3 toilets 38 years ago using a plaster bed. Not a one of them came loose,leaked or anything bad. Have done it several times more in other properties and all is well.
what if the floor the toilet its sitting on is uneven by an inch? will this still work? my toilet is not flushing completely but water from tank completely drained. could the very uneven sitting position causing this issue?
Yea. I changed the wax ring with a new rubber one. Flushed great for a day, back to slow draining and not completely flushing. Have 2 more wax rings to use if I can't get the rubber one working. But it seems nowadays everyone recommends rubber instead of wax. But the floor and the toilet flange are very uneven and I believe causing the issue. Gonna tackle it this weekend. Frustrating situation. About to just replace the flange . But if that doesn't work , will need to replace entire bathroom floor, which is not a desired task to have ahead
That's a good thing, though! You want it to be a firm substrate that addresses irregularities in the floor but doesn't prevent you from easily removing the toilet later. Thinset or durabond would be a much greater risk to damaging the toilet or floor should you want or need to remove the toilet. (Caulk would be a good final touch because plaster of paris is not water resistant)
Haven't tried it but using a product called ROCK HARD by Durham instead of Plaster of Paris could be the perfect substitute. It is water resistant and I don't think it would stick to the floor after it dries. One could test it to their type of floor before setting the toilet. It dries fast too.
I began plumbing work in 1973 and was taught to always set a toilet in plaster of Paris. It helps level the toilet and helps to secure it to the floor. The plaster never gets wet enough to deteriorate. I’m told now no one else does this and in my opinion it’s laziness.
Yeah because they didnt invent shims for reasons like this or anything. Please do it the proper way. You can buy plastic shims that you can place under the toliet that are made for this.
and now with mine (shimmed), it is now leaking after about a year. The height from the front to the back is different and where the shims are at. With use and even retightening the bolts, I still can't get it to stop leaking. I used the rubber/wax seal that was made for uneven toilets. Home is a patio style, so it was never leveled properly when constructed and tile was put on top - now my issue after 2 years of ownership as 1yr is all the builder covers for concerns.
Ours was shimmed over an uneven tiled basement floor. Constant leaking, and now the base of the toilet has cracked from over tightening. Back to square one. I’m also concerned that the flange will fail again and then I can’t easily take the toilet off. We do use the larger flange. Is our only option now to rip up the floor?
@@angelal5482 i don't know who put your toilet in but they did it all wrong. If it's on uneven tile, then it should have been shimmed where it was uneven and then caulked. Caulking helps the toilet to not move around. The bolts on the side of the toilet are to help keep it in place and they should only be snugged. I wouldn't tighten them more than 5 foot pounds of torque. Anything over 15 foot pounds of torque and you're just asking to break that toilet's porcelain.
Just a home owner here but a plumber taught me this trick years ago. I use a pencil to trace the outline of the toilet on the tile. Then I put the Plaster of Paris in a gallon size Ziplock bag and cut a corner off. Twist and squeeze the bag opposite the cut corner to put a nice fat bead of plaster on the inside of the pencil mark. After placing the toilet I use a wet sponge to remove the excess plaster, just like when grouting tile. Looks great and makes for a rock solid toilet. Work fast because the plaster sets up quickly.
A few months ago my flange failed and started to leak. The plaster failed from getting moist and my toilet started rocking alerting me to the problem before my subfloor rotted out or the leak caused bigger problems. Plaster of Paris is the perfect product for this.
Wow! Great that you liked this idea. Yes, plaster of Paris is great for these type of applications. Oh it does set quick, I like the bag idea, thanks for sharing and supporting the channel. 👍🪠
When I did this I placed the toilet first and then I used a grout bag to squeeze the plaster into any gaps. Worked like a charm as the toilet flange was on a bit of a hump in a concrete basement floor.
That is awesome that it worked for you…And I like the idea to seal the gaps. Thanks for sharing and supporting the channel!!🛠️✌️
Thank you very much for this EXCELLENT and unbelievably helpful video!
You are welcome 🙏
Great idea and trick! Thanks 😊
Yes, it's one other way to level a toilet. I would use this in extreme uneven floor conditions. Thanks for being such a great viewer!
WOW….This is great. I wish I had seen this before dealing with a new toilet on very uneven tile……..
Great idea! I've never thought of doing it this way before.
Yes! This floor wasn’t so bad, but this is perfect for old homes that settled over the years. 🙂
You can do the same thing with the same grout used on the floor tile so you get a perfect color match and it may make a better , more durable, bond with both the floor and bowl.
Won't it crumble if it gets water repeatedly? Like when washing the floor etc
It dries into a rocky state, differently than Sheetrock plaster.
I have installed more than a dozen toilets and never knew to put a nut under the toilet to hold the bolts. THat seems so intuitive. Why don't they sell the bolts with two nuts? I haven't done the plaster trick but will be trying it from here out. The toilet I have in the latest house I bought has what I thought was grout under it. I thought that insane, as how would you ever get it up? Maybe it is plaster. It is in Mexico. Is this more of a common thing in Mexico or by Mexican plumbers? Great thinking. Thanks for sharing.
Oh yeah! This is a really old trick, very few people use it nowadays, for some it’s easier to add shims or just re-level the whole floor… I just wanted to share an alternative method. Thanks for watching!
That's why they give you four nuts instead of two in the Jonny bolt kit
@@maintenanceessentials exactly 👍
In Mexico they could put Taco's under there as well!
If I didn’t know better I’d agree this is a bad idea . Set 3 toilets 38 years ago using a plaster bed. Not a one of them came loose,leaked or anything bad. Have done it several times more in other properties and all is well.
what if the floor the toilet its sitting on is uneven by an inch? will this still work? my toilet is not flushing completely but water from tank completely drained. could the very uneven sitting position causing this issue?
Yea. I changed the wax ring with a new rubber one. Flushed great for a day, back to slow draining and not completely flushing. Have 2 more wax rings to use if I can't get the rubber one working. But it seems nowadays everyone recommends rubber instead of wax. But the floor and the toilet flange are very uneven and I believe causing the issue. Gonna tackle it this weekend. Frustrating situation. About to just replace the flange . But if that doesn't work , will need to replace entire bathroom floor, which is not a desired task to have ahead
This looks like a bad idea… plaster will crumble and deteriorate causing the toilet to move and leak
Without using a primer made for it, Plaster of Paris has zero adhesive properties. Not a good idea. Use either thinset or Durabond
That’s interesting! Thanks for sharing.
That's a good thing, though! You want it to be a firm substrate that addresses irregularities in the floor but doesn't prevent you from easily removing the toilet later. Thinset or durabond would be a much greater risk to damaging the toilet or floor should you want or need to remove the toilet.
(Caulk would be a good final touch because plaster of paris is not water resistant)
Haven't tried it but using a product called ROCK HARD by Durham instead of Plaster of Paris could be the perfect substitute. It is water resistant and I don't think it would stick to the floor after it dries. One could test it to their type of floor before setting the toilet. It dries fast too.
@@bryanfoxx2292 interesting… i have to try that next. Thanks!
Wow hopefully people don't want to change that toilet later.
Plaster of Paris is going to fall apart as soon as it gets moisture on it… sure hope this toilets not near the bathroom
Thanks for the comment.. I just wanted to share an old trick, not used as much nowadays…
I began plumbing work in 1973 and was taught to always set a toilet in plaster of Paris. It helps level the toilet and helps to secure it to the floor. The plaster never gets wet enough to deteriorate. I’m told now no one else does this and in my opinion it’s laziness.
Yeah because they didnt invent shims for reasons like this or anything. Please do it the proper way. You can buy plastic shims that you can place under the toliet that are made for this.
and now with mine (shimmed), it is now leaking after about a year. The height from the front to the back is different and where the shims are at. With use and even retightening the bolts, I still can't get it to stop leaking. I used the rubber/wax seal that was made for uneven toilets. Home is a patio style, so it was never leveled properly when constructed and tile was put on top - now my issue after 2 years of ownership as 1yr is all the builder covers for concerns.
@@skippy412 thats why i use the extra large wax ring for uneven floors
Ours was shimmed over an uneven tiled basement floor. Constant leaking, and now the base of the toilet has cracked from over tightening. Back to square one. I’m also concerned that the flange will fail again and then I can’t easily take the toilet off. We do use the larger flange. Is our only option now to rip up the floor?
@@angelal5482 i don't know who put your toilet in but they did it all wrong. If it's on uneven tile, then it should have been shimmed where it was uneven and then caulked. Caulking helps the toilet to not move around. The bolts on the side of the toilet are to help keep it in place and they should only be snugged. I wouldn't tighten them more than 5 foot pounds of torque. Anything over 15 foot pounds of torque and you're just asking to break that toilet's porcelain.
@@RhinoXpress around the toilet or under the lip of the base?