TrophyHusband 0 #1 December 15, 2009 i'm replacing the sub floor in the bathroom and i'm not sure what to do with the toilet flange. the house was built in the 60's and it has a cast iron flange and a cast iron drain pipe. it's all in good shape other than needing a good cleaning. it also appears that the flange is welded to the drain pipe. once the subfloor is replaced, the bottom of the flange will be over 1 1/2 inches above the subfloor. i'm putting in tile, but that won't come near that level. is this ok or do i have to cut this flange off. if i do have to cut off the flange, do i put the new one back in so that the bottom of the flang rests on the sub floor? "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpwally 0 #2 December 15, 2009 Thats a bit odd, why not bring it back to that level ? hows that work out at the entry ? You can cut it and get a slip flange at your local big box store. But cutting cast iron can be tricky and a pain in the ass. If you have access to the basement , i would recomend you rent a cast iron snap tool ,about 20 bucks. Then redo it in PVC and they make a nice fitting that couples the plastic to the cast iron. If its not cast iron then your job just got easier and cheaper,,,good lucksmile, be nice, enjoy life FB # - 1083 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Niki1 2 #3 December 15, 2009 Been there, done that.Consider cuttint off the cast iron pipe below the floor. Replace the floor. Get a PVC flange and a piece of PVC pipe the same size as the cast iron. They make a rubber flexible coupling for the transition. This way you can cut to the new floor level instead of having to build up or jury rig something else. Also, use an extra thick wax ring or 2 standard wax rings. A saws all (ricipracating saw) make it rather easy. Not as easy as "subbing it out" but pretty easy. Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done. Louis D Brandeis Where are we going and why are we in this basket? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #4 December 15, 2009 bringing the whole floor up to that level will put it about 3/4 to an inch higher than the bedroom floor. the old tile floor had very thick morter under the tile that wasn't a uniform thickness. it was thicker around the toilet, and not quite as thick near the entry, but it still wasn't level with the floor in the bedroom. i'm looking a little closer and it may be threaded on and not welded, but i doubt i a can get the threads to break loose anyway. what about using a grinder and cut-off wheel to cut it down to the level of the floor and drop in a plastic flange made for a cast iron pipe? as you can see from the pics, everything's pretty easy to get to. "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #5 December 15, 2009 a saws-all will cut through the cast iron pipe? that might be easier that a grinding wheel, how many blades would it take though? "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #6 December 15, 2009 I have done a complete bathroom overhaul in my house and will soon do another bathroom, but seeing those pictures make me fucking glad I have PVC piping and not cast iron. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyrider 0 #7 December 15, 2009 I don't see the problem, they make over sized gaskets and longer mounting bolts for this same problem...happens every day! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DavidB 0 #8 December 15, 2009 T/H, those are cast iron pipe & fittings. It is not welded, those joints are packed with oakum & then filled with lead, AKA "a lead joint." This style waste pipe was commonly used up to the 1970's when PVC & later ABS plastics took over. To drop that flange, I'd cut the iron pipe on the horizontal run & use a rubber coupling to connect the iron to PVC (google "fernco coupling").When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,468 #9 December 15, 2009 Hi Trophy, We all have thoughts about stuff like this. Me, I have actually built one house; my own. I have remodeled a few more. I have added/relocated all three toilets in my current house. I suggest ( if you can ) go as far as you can get to downstream of the fitting & cut the cast-iron pipe off. Then go buy a rubber/stainless steel adaptor to convert to an ABS toilet flange with necessary pipe. I also recommend that you set the new toilet flange even with the top of the final, finished floor. YMMV but that is what I would do. I really do not like cast-iron pipe; those old plumbers were truly craftsmen. One other thought: When I am doing jobs like this I try to keep small kids way, way out of the way; the language can get 'racy.' JerryBaumchen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #10 December 15, 2009 while it's a 'construction site' be sure to duct tape across the flange so as to seal out any sewer gas, which otherwise could escape...into the house... now that the trap is gone... j Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #11 December 15, 2009 Quote while it's a 'construction site' be sure to duct tape across the flange so as to seal out any sewer gas, which otherwise could escape...into the house... now that the trap is gone... j Yep. Always do that. Even for homes with septic tanks. It's a nasty odor. "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Niki1 2 #12 December 15, 2009 One other thought: When I am doing jobs like this I try to keep small kids way, way out of the way; the language can get 'racy.' JerryBaumchen Hey, those kids know all the words already. This must be a much more common job than I had thought. Everyone here seems to have done it in a very competent manner. I think that makes this thread unusual.Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossilbe before they were done. Louis D Brandeis Where are we going and why are we in this basket? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DavidB 0 #13 December 15, 2009 I was taught by my father, who did that for a living, then later sold plumbing supplies.When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #14 December 15, 2009 QuoteI suggest ( if you can ) go as far as you can get to downstream of the fitting & cut the cast-iron pipe off. Then go buy a rubber/stainless steel adaptor to convert to an ABS toilet flange with necessary pipe. I also recommend that you set the new toilet flange even with the top of the final, finished floor. i just got back from lowes with the stuff to do that, but I found another problem. because the horizontal part of the drain pipe is so close to the subfloor, i can't come off with a 90 degree pvc elbow, so i bought a 45 degree elbow and a flange that fits it. the problem is that the closest i can get to the wall is 15 1/2 inches. now what? "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #15 December 15, 2009 Quotewhile it's a 'construction site' be sure to duct tape across the flange so as to seal out any sewer gas, which otherwise could escape...into the house... now that the trap is gone... j i keep a rag stuffed in the pipe normally, i just took it out to take the pics. "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,468 #16 December 15, 2009 Hi Trophy, Quote so i bought a 45 degree elbow So how you going to make this work? You going to dump things under the house? Quote the problem is that the closest i can get to the wall is 15 1/2 inches. now what? Most stores that sell toilets/the instructions that come with a toilet say to set the flange ~11 1/2" from the wall. IMO that is too close. At 15 1/2" you can now paint behind the toilet without removing it. Have your wife put a plant on the top & no one will notice. JerryBaumchen PS) While I have no idea what is sold in other parts of the country; I have never seen a PVC toilet flange. The ones in the stores around here are all ABS, as is the pipe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #17 December 16, 2009 here's a pic of what i bought. i checked and it does say pvc on it. the bathroom is small enough that those 3-4 inches are needed in front of the toilet. besides, i'm painting before the toilet even goes back in. "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JerryBaumchen 1,468 #18 December 16, 2009 Hi Trophy, Quote it does say pvc on it. Wow, learn something almost everyday. In my wildest dreams I would not have considered plumbing it like that. Again, learn something almost everyday. Good luck and it should work just fine, JerryBaumchen PS) What's that old adage about a picture & a 1,000 words. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misternatural 0 #19 December 16, 2009 Bro, What is the angle on those PVC fittings, looks like a 45 deg insert elbow and a 22.5 deg. insert flange.Beware of the collateralizing and monetization of your desires. D S #3.1415 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #20 December 16, 2009 the flange is 45 as well. tomorrow i'm going to make a drawing and take a bunch of measurements. i'll take that to lowes and ace hardware and try to find something that will work. if all else fails, i'll just double the subfloor thickness and deal with the lip at the entry. "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
