Replace toilet or install hybrid floor first?

[novice39]

Hi folks, I want to replace my old toilet with a new rimless one and redo the floor with hybrid flooring at the same time. I did some research and most of them advised doing the floor first then toilet. But they do not specifically mention hybrid floor. And I'm not sure if a toilet can be safely secured on top of floating floor boards.

This is the new toilet I'm looking at Mondella back to wall . The old floor used to be tiles, then coated with epoxy. Now I'll be doing a 5.5mm SPC floor on top of that. Should I install the hybrid floor first or should I install the new toilet on the current tile/epoxy floor, then work my way around the toilet for the hybrid flooring? Thank you!

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @novice39. It's fantastic to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about installing hybrid flooring.

Hybrid flooring can not have immovable objects installed on it. In fact, you can't even place cabinetry on it. The reason is that it would stop its natural expansion and contraction, leading to bulging. That means that the toilet must be fixed first and the flooring cut out to fit around it. When the flooring meets an object like a wall or a toilet, in your case, you must allow a 10mm gap around it for expansion. This gap then needs to be covered with a trim piece.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[novice39]

Hi Mitchell,

Thank you very much for your timely response and insight. Can I use silicon caulk/filler to fill the expansion gap instead of trim? I don't think there is a trim that can fit around the toilet (curve line).

Also, I don't know if there's a trim that goes nicely between the white tile wall footing and the new floor (images below).

 

 

[JacobZ]

Hi @novice39,

You'll have to let me get in touch with our suppliers to see what their recommendations are around your toilet. Please bear with me and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

This Hanwood 2.4m Brown Oak Vinyl Wrap Floating Floor Scotia Trim looks fairly similar in look to your flooring. This might be a good option for the wall connections.

Let me know what you think.

Jacob

[MitchellMc]

Hi @novice39,

For our Hybrid flooring, the supplier recommends inserting a filler rod into the gap between the toilet and the flooring. You might need to trim the top of it so it is just below the height of the flooring. You can then use silicone to fill the gap. The backer rod is used to ensure the gap is maintained and the flooring can expand and contract. If you were only to use silicone, this might be too rigid to allow the expansion.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell