What is this square thing sitting under toilet and can I cut it to shape of toilet base?

[RJBawden]

Hi, we recently purchased our house and have removed all carpets ourselves. The bathroom also had carpets and upon removal, there is a square thing underneath the toilet base ( refer picture). What is this thing and how can we remove it? Can we cut it to shape the toilet base? We are looking to sand and polish the floor as next step. Any insight appreciated!

[Jewelleryrescue · Accepted solution]

Hi @RJBawden 

That is a pedestal plate designed to distribute the weight of the toilet while mounted to the flooring underneath. It also helps provide a toilet fixing point usually there is cement under the base dome which may not fix to timber.

Some time I swear people must be playing twister while on the loo and if they are not fixed down it moves so they need lots of support.  Personally I am like an accountant and like working things out with a pencil, not twister.

But no plate would mean your toilet weight will push down unevenly on the floorboards rocking and rolling like walking from one individual floorboards to another. (one goes down the other up). This may be reduced by placing closer floor joists under the toilet as close as possible to the piping, as should have already been done under a timber floor and probably has.

I would replace the loo while your at it with a neat side closed walled toilet floor mounted with at least double the surface area with a larger footprint loo like The Mondella back to wall .  This means a more stable design.  It can still move if not fixed down.

You may need a floor plate still the plumber will advise here.   But you can sit the loo on a base plate and trace the outline out and cut the base plate to a matching plate shape maybe a tad smaller by 5mm all-round and seal it with a silicon bead for neatness. So, there is no visible floor plate.

[JacobZ]

Hi @RJBawden,

A warm welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community and thank you for your question.

I would exhibit caution as it is possible it could contain asbestos. I would suggest having it tested before you make any decisions moving forward.

I'm not exactly sure what its purpose is, but what @Jewelleryrescue has said seems plausible.

The only other thing I could think is that the floorboards were cut out square and then a fibre cement sheet, which won't rot like timber will, was installed for the waste pipes to run through.

After having it tested, you could speak with a plumber about whether it can be removed or not.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

[RJBawden]

Hi @Jewelleryrescue and @JacobZ 

Thanks so much both for your insights and recommendations! It is an old house (built 1970s) and has timber floors all throughout. Weirdly (and also gross) this bathroom had carpets! @JacobZ We have been cautioned as well by family members of likely presence of asbestos especially with this bathroom which looks like haven't been updated since (we have a main bathroom which we were told was updated 10 yrs ago). @Jewelleryrescue's recommendation to replace the loo is also timely as we have been contemplating whether to update or not. Also very much appreciate the example loo you provided! Have started to look at the Mondella brand and just learning about all the areas to consider

Thanks again @Jewelleryrescue @JacobZ  for your help!

[RJBawden]

@JacobZ follow up question, when we replace the toilet, is it okay to leave the flooring as it is or do we also need update the floorboards to tiles? The whole bathroom needs an update actually but our budget is likely for the toilet itself for now. We read somewhere in this forum that it is possible to sand and seal old timberfloors and that was our plan prior to uncovering the pedestal plate/fiber cement sheet under the toilet base. Appreciate further insights and suggestions!

[MitchellMc]

Hi @RJBawden,

It would be best to speak with a qualified builder to ensure that your timber floors meet building codes. Since this is a bathroom, which is considered a wet area, typically, it should be tiled. Your timber flooring can be sanded and sealed, but you'd need someone knowledgeable on building codes to ascertain whether that would comply. A sealed timber floor certainly wouldn't be any worse than a carpeted one.

Mitchell

[RJBawden]

@MitchellMc thanks for your prompt response! Agree sealed timber better than carpet and tiles is definitely the ideal set up. We're just in the early stages of our renovations and looking to learn and DIY some parts. We will definitely factor consulting a builder in our budgeting and plan in the near future. Thanks for your help!