An offset toilet flange is critical for adjusting the position of a new toilet by several inches in any direction, especially when you need to meet the local building codes. Floor joists are usually the culprit, preventing you from placing the toilet where it ought to go. An offset toilet flange helps you adjust the position of the toilet around those joists. The offset toilet flange consists of a standard 4-inch toilet flange on top, an angular PVC pipe in the middle, and a 3-inch PVC pipe on the bottom. The center points of the top and bottom holes are offset by about 2 inches. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Mark the joist positions with a pencil on top of the subfloor. Draw a 4½-inch circle on the subfloor to mark the position of the toilet flange-the edge of the circle should overlap a floor joist by no more than 2¼ inches. Cut out the 4½-inch hole in the subfloor.
2. Cut a notch in the floor joist at a 45-degree angle, 2 inches (or less) wide from the top edge of the joist crossways, and 2 inches (or less) deep toward the bottom of the joist.
3. Lay a piece of the finished floor covering, such as tile or hardwood, on the subfloor beside the hole in the floor. Measure and mark a point 2 1/2 inches below the finished floor level, on the edge of the floor joist. Set the piece of finished floor covering aside.
4. Access the existing sewer pipe, either from beneath the floor or by tearing up the subfloor. Run 3-inch PVC pipe to the toilet location, ending vertically at the point you marked, 2½ inches below the finished floor level. Reinstall the subfloor if you removed it.
5. Complete installation of the finished floor covering. Apply PVC primer to the two mating surfaces of the 3-inch pipe and the offset toilet flange, and allow to dry for two minutes. Apply PVC cement to both mating surfaces and immediately slide the offset toilet flange through the floor, gluing the flange and 3-inch pipe together. Fasten the flange to the floor with screws.
Tags: finished floor, 3-inch pipe, offset toilet, toilet flange, finished floor covering, floor covering
