I had leaking toilet tank, and so I got a total toilet replacement under my home's warranty, but they no longer stock the same toilet, and therefore, a different one was installed. The tank of this new toilet now touches the wall. Is this a potential issue or acceptable? Are certain toilets just designed to be this way?

I wouldn't want it touching the wall because it is going to rub against it and damage the sheetrock over time. A couple of questions.


1. Did you install it or someone else?
2. Was the previous toilet a round or elongated (oval) shape bowl?
3. What is the current bowl shape?

I'm not a professional, just a weekend DIYer but I just went through this myself.

Toilets typically have 2 sizes for the rough in (offset). Either 10 inches from the wall or 12 inches. Most newer toilets are going to be 12 inch rough ins. When I was at Lowes and Home Depot most of the round bowl toilets had a 10 inch rough in while the elongated bowls had a 12 inch rough in. You can find options for both styles, you just have to look carefully at the description.

It looks like you have a 12 inch rough in when it should be a 10 inch. If you had someone else install it, I would have them change it out and make sure they put in a toilet with a 10 inch rough in.

nai06 said:

---

I wouldn't want it touching the wall because it is going to rub against it and damage the sheetrock over time. A couple of questions.


1. Did you install it or someone else?
2. Was the previous toilet a round or elongated (oval) shape bowl?
3. What is the current bowl shape?

I'm not a professional, just a weekend DIYer but I just went through this myself.

Toilets typically have 2 sizes for the rough in (offset). Either 10 inches from the wall or 12 inches. Most newer toilets are going to be 12 inch rough ins. When I was at Lowes and Home Depot most of the round bowl toilets had a 10 inch rough in while the elongated bowls had a 12 inch rough in. You can find options for both styles, you just have to look carefully at the description.

It looks like you have a 12 inch rough in when it should be a 10 inch. If you had someone else install it, I would have them change it out and make sure they put in a toilet with a 10 inch rough in.

---

The tank lid goes on and off with no issue.

A plumber installed it, and both the previous and current toilets are elongated. The distance from my drywall to the flange bolts is about 12 inches, so they must have given me a toilet designed for 14 inches.

I especially don't want it touching the wall because repainting the wall wouldn't be possible without pulling the toilet.

That should be easy to swap out and I would raise the issue with the plumber. They know the toilet shouldn't be touching the wall like that. I bet it's just what they had on hand and were trying to avoid buying a new one or going back for a different one.

nai06 said:

---

That should be easy to swap out and I would raise the issue with the plumber. They know the toilet shouldn't be touching the wall like that. I bet it's just what they had on hand and were trying to avoid buying a new one or going back for a different one.

---

This was the plumber's response. Good Lord.

"I talked to the supervisor and he said yes it is acceptable. He even mentioned that his is the same at his house. He also mentioned that by code, you want it as close as possible to the wall sir."

Close to the wall doesn't mean touching the wall, and I'm calling BS on there being any code that says it should touch the wall. Looks like I have to fight them on this. They're telling me they no longer carry the toilet model that would allow more clearance.

That is total bull***** It should not be touching the wall. Also you can buy a 12 inch rough in today at literally any big box store.

Ask them to show you the code because as far as I know the only clearances are for the sides and front of the toilet not the back.

Nevermind, see below


*****EDIT***** After reading the directions, I was wrong. (No real surprise)

Whoop Delecto said:

---

Gerber toilet installation

---

So this shows they ARE supposed to be there, only they are supposed to be in the back, not the front.

And that the nuts are supposed to be there too.

Whoop Delecto said:

---

Gerber toilet installation

---

Thank you! I think once they swap those to the back it won't be touching the wall anymore. I passed this along to the plumber. Now hopefully they didn't damage something else in the process of doing this wrong.

Just curious - does you builder still answer the phone these days? Seems like you've dealt with a lot.

BenTheGoodAg said:

---

Just curious - does you builder still answer the phone these days? Seems like you've dealt with a lot.

---

They do, but I'm about done with them. They hired one of the worst plumbing companies I've ever dealt with which probably saves them money.

Good lord my kids could be more competent plumbers after watching a YouTube video or two and the oldest one is 8.

Sea Speed said:

---

Good lord my kids could be more competent plumbers after watching a YouTube video or two and the oldest one is 8.

---

I find a lot of irony in knowing the trade requires a license.

Installing a toilet is a basic task. Next time do it yourself so you learn how to do it and you know it's done correctly.

While this has nothing to do with your situation of a faulty install. They do, in fact, make toilets now that sit very close to the wall by design. The new ones we just put in do not have a lip on the back side of the lid as they are designed to slide on from the front and sit very close to the rear wall. Not quite touching but very close.

cevans_40 said:

---

While this has nothing to do with your situation of a faulty install. They do, in fact, make toilets now that sit very close to the wall by design. The new ones we just put in do not have a lip on the back side of the lid as they are designed to slide on from the front and sit very close to the rear wall. Not quite touching but very close.

---

Thanks for the info! I believe that is what this toilet is supposed to be like, so once the tank is installed so as to not tilt back towards the wall, it should be like a quarter inch from the wall.

Thunderstruck xx said:

---

cevans_40 said:

---

While this has nothing to do with your situation of a faulty install. They do, in fact, make toilets now that sit very close to the wall by design. The new ones we just put in do not have a lip on the back side of the lid as they are designed to slide on from the front and sit very close to the rear wall. Not quite touching but very close.

---

Thanks for the info! I believe that is what this toilet is supposed to be like, so once the tank is installed so as to not tilt back towards the wall, it should be like a quarter inch from the wall.

---

Sounds about right. Mine are somewhere close to that. I was convinced we got the wrong toilet when I was installing. Its kinda nice now that they are in as nothing can really fall off the lid behind the toilet if you happen to sit something up there.

Edit: just got home and looked. Mine are almost touching the back wall. Maybe 1/4" of clearance.

Just got mine fixed, and there's like 1/2 to 1 inch gap with/without the lid on.