I recently installed laminate flooring in the 2nd floor of my house, including the bathroom. After re-installing the old toilet, and leaving it overnight before completing the hookup, I noticed the base cracked around the flange bolts by the morning. The top surface of the flange was flush to the top surface of the flooring prior to installation of the toilet. As a result I have questions regarding toilets installed on laminate flooring: Should toilets not be installed on laminate flooring to begin with? Should special provisions be made to prevent cantilever action from the flange area toward the front of the bowl? Assuming the flooring is there to stay, what could be done to ensure the toilet base is stable?
Answer:
You may have tightened the bolts too much when you installed them. Whenever a toilet is lifted the wax ring under it has to be replaced and that gives you the opportunity to tighten only to have the two surfaces meet and not be stressed. I've not heard of a problem with toilets on laminated floors.
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