How do you fix the bathroom floor under the toilet?

Marie Wilson
by Marie Wilson

Need ideas for fixing floor under my MIL's toilet .


  9 answers
  • What exactly is the problem? Is the toilet leaking? You will need to remove the toilet, repair the floor and either replace the toilet or purchase a new one. See if these help you.


    https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/toilet-repair/how-to-replace-a-toilet/


    https://youtu.be/OYCYUIhZDCI


  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Jan 18, 2020

    You really should remove the toilet first. If you repair or replace the floor you will need to clear the area and will probably destroy what's left of the wax set ring on which the toilet sits. Replacing the ring and toilet are an easy and affordable job for any handy person or plumber.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jan 18, 2020

    Here is You tube help for a rotted floor:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0rG5ayL0Ls

  • Vimarhonor Vimarhonor on Jan 18, 2020

    Hello. How bad is the problem. Can you post a picture? It’s hard to know if it’s cosmetic problems or structural one. They would require different answers. In my bathroom near the toilet I just patched up an area with Bondo but it was not a structural issue.


    Having a visual might be helpful to be able to offer the best guidance .....to a help find the best suggestions or potential solution for your problem.

  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Jan 18, 2020

    Marie...a picture will help us...we did one this summer

  • Dee Dee on Jan 18, 2020

    Also depends on the type of flooring. Is this a first or second floor? We definitely need more information.


  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Jan 19, 2020

    You will need to pull the toilet, but before you even begin, have a new wax ring, plywood and screws on hand. It's likely that the existing wax ring has already failed and caused the rot, however even if the old wax ring is still good, you never, ever should reuse a wax ring.

  • Sharon Sharon on Jan 19, 2020

    I would add a saw like a sawzaw to Laura's list to cut out the old area/demo.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Jan 23, 2020

    It sounds like the water has been leaking some time in order to ruin the floor.

    Therefore not only pull the toilet, but be prepared for wood mold and nasty structural rotten floor joists.

    You should probably wear a mask for the mold inhalation and rubber or latex gloves.

    Fix the plumbing leak first.

    Demo the rotten wood and treat the area with mold killer.

    After it has thoroughly dried then reinforce the damaged framing and subfloor.

    Making sure it’s really dry, patch the finished floor.

    Re-set the toilet.