Another plumbing question - diy?

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Author Message   Eire Citizen Username: Eire Post Number: 286 Registered: 7-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 10:55 am:        I'm going to try to describe this the best way I can... My brother wants to save my partner and I some $$ on plumbing -- we needed 2 new toilets. Put one in downstairs, and it's leaking a little but should be fine. When he went to take out the old toilet upstairs, he sees that the pipe and the flange (?) come up above the floor - the flange was not even bolted to the floor - it was all held together with wax, and then they put plaster or something all around to try to keep the toilet level (this is what I could get between my brother's curses)... so obviously, the seal wasn't so great - and it seems to have been leaking a little - the plaster around it was a little soft and you could tell it had been wet. Luckily, these toilets were just put in about a year ago, so the damage, hopefully, isn't too extensive. So, he basically hooked the new toilet up similarly just for now, and is going to research how to best remedy the situation in order to fix it correctly, which he thinks will involve cutting into the floor tile in order to be able to bolt the flange into the floor. So, long story short, is this a diy, or should I call a plumber? My brother would be furious if I called a plumber, because he's sure he can do it (once he figures out how), because he says it would be really expensive... Any thoughts? Thanks!   george H Citizen Username: Georgieboy Post Number: 321 Registered: 8-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 11:33 am:        Call a plumber.Flanges are supposed to sit on the finished floor and be fastened through the tile into the sub-floor.A wax ring,sometimes with a plastic boot is used in between the toilet and the floor to seal against leaks.Plaster or grout is used around the perimeter of the toilet for leveling purposes and also to seal the space as per code.It also keeps you from having porcelain sit directly on ceramic,and serves as a break,for lack of a better word.   Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 12534 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 12:22 pm:        George H has probably seen more things like this than I have. However, I think toilet flanges are a fairly new invention. Our first house (1926 vintage) didn't have a flange and was held in place with plaster if I recall correctly. We had a plumber install the flange and hammer down the top of the toilet bend, made of lead by the way, to install a modern toilet with a flange. The danger here is that the toilet bend is made of lead, now old lead, and if you cause a leak it is very expensive to replace it with pvc. I would, family harmony be damned, with having a professional plumber do the work.   Eire Citizen Username: Eire Post Number: 287 Registered: 7-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 3:30 pm:        I'd love to add a picture of what this looked like but don't know how to do that... I'm nervous that my brother is taking on too much here...   greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 9288 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 3:36 pm:        Any question about a home improvement project in an old house that contains the phrase "once he figures out how" has answered itself. The likelihood that there will be family discord if he proceeds is far greater than if you call a Pro. You've already gotten a little taste of how "simple" projects can snowball. Besides, nothing against your brother (whose testosterone may be exceeding his core skill set here) but he put the "easy" toliet in and it's leaking. Does this not tell you something? Do you need to be hit by lightening?   Dennis J O'Neill Citizen Username: Plungy Post Number: 82 Registered: 6-2005 Posted on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 10:41 pm:        Hey Eire, ask your brother if it's a PVC flange and elbow under this toilet. If so this is a very scary job for DIY.   Eire Citizen Username: Eire Post Number: 291 Registered: 7-2005 Posted on Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 12:19 pm:        Again... if I may... Dennis O'Neill from Right One Plumbing is the MAN!! (except for the Yankee hat, of course) - he took care of every detail and assuaged all my anxieties. Can't say enough good about his expertise - but also, what a nice guy!!