Talk to me about toilets

[KellyEasterbrook]

I’m attempting a gut remodel on our primary bathroom. I need to start ordering things and thought I’d start with the toilet. I thought that would be the easiest decision but now I’m totally overwhelmed. Anyone have a toilet they love? Or hate? Our house is a Midcentury ranch, so I’m hoping to find something that isn’t too traditional in style. I’m also hoping we sell in the next year or so, so I’m not looking to go very high end.

[Susie]

I think this is the one we have:  

www.build.com/product/summary/1280808?uid=3045499&jmtest=gg-gbav2_3045499&inv2=1&&&&&&source=gg-gba-pla_3045499!c1709211109!a81051207338!dc!ng&gclid=Cj0KCQiA3eGfBhCeARIsACpJNU-rWpxYqmhzm3bV16UTz6xj6hx7nOPHzuQS2LH4NLoEN4g5TGJgcf0aApijEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

We put them into the two upstairs bathrooms at this house, and we had one in our last house too.  I've been very happy with them, and so once I settled on one that I liked, I kind of stopped shopping.  Toilets aren't that exciting!

Regardless of specific style, I prefer a skirted trapway because I find it stays cleaner looking, and is easier to wipe down.  

[gt7301b]

I ordered this one because it is ridiculously cheap and was highly rated on Consumer Reports.

www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-2-Piece-1-28-GPF-High-Efficiency-Single-Flush-Round-Toilet-in-White-N2428RB-N2428T/202634188

[simpsongal]

I don't like any of our news toilets - I don't know if it's all the regulation re low flow or something but they just don't flush well. I think one was like a $400 Kohler and the others are American std. cadet (I think?).

not helpful input, I'm sorry

[dr.girlfriend]

Just be aware that some of the new one-piece toilets don't fit with existing water lines. I ordered one for my downstairs bathroom renovation and had to return it.

My plumber really recommended Gerber. They say they have the least issues and are easiest to repair.

We spent quite a bit on a Toto toilet a few years back and I never understood why people like them so much. It was a pain to repair, started leaking after about five years, and was not any better than any other toilet as far as I could tell when we had it.

[mrsukyankee]

simpsongal, that's a shame because low flow is the only way to go in England and they flush so much better than any US toilet I have had.

I have to start looking at toilets soon, so this was timely.

[dr.girlfriend]

I will add that I recommend you pay a lot of attention to the height. When we had to get a same-day replacement of the toilet that wouldn't fit due to the water line, the main thing I asked the plumbers is to be sure to get a regular-height toilet. They got one that is "Ergo-height" and we all hate it so much we are going to replace it. I'm so mad about it. I can understand why I hate it because I am only 5 feet tall, but DS and DH are both quite tall and also hate it. I know those taller toilets are more ADA-compatible, etc. but my feet don't even touch the ground on them and I'm so used to the usual height I always sit down way harder than I would like!

We usually go for the elongated bowl as well. Even in really tight spaces it seems to fit just as well -- we just installed the Gerber viper with the elongated bowl in our 4x4 foot powder room and it's fine, even with a shallow cabinet on the opposite wall. I measured and the depth is the same as the round-bowl toilet that was in there before.

[mrsukyankee]

dr.girlfriend, we're also considering this because my MIL is 4'9" tall so she already struggles with normal seats and people keep recommending taller toilets for older people. I'm saying no.

[dr.girlfriend]

Feb 28, 2023 14:35:14 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

dr.girlfriend , we're also considering this because my MIL is 4'9" tall so she already struggles with normal seats and people keep recommending taller toilets for older people. I'm saying no.

Yeah, I cannot express how rage-y it makes me!

I do highly recommend having a grab bar by the toilet for accessibility.  You can get ones that look nice, just like towel bars but a little more solid.  Here's the one we have in our new bathroom in the addition.  We have one by the toilet, one by the tub, and one in the shower.  Let your contractor know so they can put in extra reinforcement for mounting it while things are still down the the studs.

[KellyEasterbrook]

Feb 27, 2023 8:50:07 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I don't like any of our news toilets - I don't know if it's all the regulation re low flow or something but they just don't flush well. I think one was like a $400 Kohler and the others are American std. cadet (I think?).

not helpful input, I'm sorry

Still helpful! The flushing is actually what worries me the most. Every time I find something rated well on consumer reports, the user reviews aren’t great. Ugh.

[KellyEasterbrook]

Feb 27, 2023 17:59:17 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Just be aware that some of the new one-piece toilets don't fit with existing water lines. I ordered one for my downstairs bathroom renovation and had to return it.

My plumber really recommended Gerber. They say they have the least issues and are easiest to repair.

We spent quite a bit on a Toto toilet a few years back and I never understood why people like them so much. It was a pain to repair, started leaking after about five years, and was not any better than any other toilet as far as I could tell when we had it.

The water line issue is good to know! We’re moving all the plumbing, but I’ll ask the contractor about the water line sizing. I wouldn’t have thought about that all. Thank you.

And thanks for the info in Gerber and Toto. I’ll have to check Gerber out.

[KellyEasterbrook]

Feb 28, 2023 13:43:42 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

I will add that I recommend you pay a lot of attention to the height. When we had to get a same-day replacement of the toilet that wouldn't fit due to the water line, the main thing I asked the plumbers is to be sure to get a regular-height toilet. They got one that is "Ergo-height" and we all hate it so much we are going to replace it. I'm so mad about it. I can understand why I hate it because I am only 5 feet tall, but DS and DH are both quite tall and also hate it. I know those taller toilets are more ADA-compatible, etc. but my feet don't even touch the ground on them and I'm so used to the usual height I always sit down way harder than I would like!

We usually go for the elongated bowl as well. Even in really tight spaces it seems to fit just as well -- we just installed the Gerber viper with the elongated bowl in our 4x4 foot powder room and it's fine, even with a shallow cabinet on the opposite wall. I measured and the depth is the same as the round-bowl toilet that was in there before.

I love the higher height toilets! That’s actually the one thing knew going into my current toilet quest. 😆 I’m almost 6’ though.

Good to know about the elongated bowl in small spaces. Our bathroom is tiny, so I was wondering if that would be too much.

[stemmie]

We have 3 different American Standards.

DH has the Champion which has an amazing flush. His is chair height. I have the next level up from the Cadet (their builder grade) and a fancier one piece in my powder room. The one piece is very easy to keep clean as there's no seam to collect schmutz and splash.

My parents had Totos in their summer place. Not impressed. DS could clog those things by the time he was 8. 

[dr.girlfriend]

Mar 2, 2023 12:44:02 GMT -5 KellyEasterbrook said:

Feb 27, 2023 8:50:07 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I don't like any of our news toilets - I don't know if it's all the regulation re low flow or something but they just don't flush well. I think one was like a $400 Kohler and the others are American std. cadet (I think?).

not helpful input, I'm sorry

Still helpful! The flushing is actually what worries me the most. Every time I find something rated well on consumer reports, the user reviews aren’t great. Ugh.

I feel like user reviews from home renovation stuff are SO hard because people only take the time to leave a review if they had a bad experience.  There are several purchases (e.g. my instant hot water dispenser, flooring) where the reviews were just uniformly bad for everything!

[audry80]

We just added a bathroom and did a wall mounted one and it's amazing. I can vacuum and mop under it. I don't know what brand but love it being wall mounted.