Asked on Nov 19, 2016

Contractor mis-cut the floor when he put in the toilet

Staci F
by Staci F
Hello,
Our contractor didn't "measure twice, cut once" when he put in our toilet. Check out the photo. I'd appreciate any suggestions on a fix or a way to hide this mistake, other than one of those rugs that wrap around a toilet. Thanks!!
  51 answers
  • John Grimley John Grimley on Nov 20, 2016
    Two solutions I can think of. first, tell the contractor to come finish the job - and do it right. My guess is, he'll use solution #2 - a bead of silicone sealant to hide the gap.
  • Nygg. Nygg. on Nov 20, 2016
    It was the contactors bad mistake,have him come back and redo the floor. If he won't, call consumers complaint Dept.,in your state.
  • FrancesEK FrancesEK on Nov 20, 2016
    I would say that first filling the gap with either wood putty that matches, or making a glue and sawdust paste with the same color as the flooring would be good. Then carefully try to blend with very fine sandpaper so that the gap sort of disappears. Then, run a really neat, narrow line of white caulk that sort of connects the toilet bowl to the floor and run you finger around so that it looks like it's all on purpose! The trick is to fool the eye so that it doesn't immediately go to the flaw! It will take patience to get it right, but will be worth it. Once you do the first part, you will see that it already looks so much better. The caulk will just be the icing on the cake.
  • J J on Nov 20, 2016
    A line of caulk, ĆØither white to match toilet or color matched to wood. Look with the laminate flooring accessories at home stores.
  • Hector Hector on Nov 20, 2016
    Try using a caulking of similar color. Home Depot has a caulking used in the corners of showers where tile is used. The walls may shift but the corners will not crack because of the flexibility.
  • Ken Gregory Ken Gregory on Nov 20, 2016
    The contracter should come out ad fix it the right way if you signed a contract and this is workman defect then it is the contractors obligation to fix it to the satisfaction of the owner of the dwelling that signed the contract! If he refuses then explain that a lawyer will cost more thanthe correction of satisfactory workman ship!!
  • Debbie Spilsbury Debbie Spilsbury on Nov 20, 2016
    ---UNLESS the contractor was your husband! In that case-I'd do the sawdust/wood glue fix with a white silicone caulk to rim the bottom of the toilet. It will look just fine and, most likely, YOU will be the only one to notice. It will turn out just fine - you'll see šŸ˜Š Like Frances said "just a little patience" to accomplish this.
  • Linda Fraser Linda Fraser on Nov 20, 2016
    There is this stuff that comes on a spool. Its a roll out grout. You just measure it out and cut it and place it where you want it. It's great stuff. You can find it at Lowe's or any place like that.
    • See 2 previous
    • Ken Gregory Ken Gregory on Nov 21, 2016
      this is called backer rod! this is what they are talking about
  • Debbs Debbs on Nov 20, 2016
    Ge did it totally wrong. He should have removed the toilet, installed the flooring then replaced the toilet. I'd have him come back and do it correctly.
    • See 2 previous
    • Debbs Debbs on Nov 21, 2016
      Luckily for us, my husband can do a lot of this stuff. Your story would make me afraid to afraid to hire anyone.
  • MaryJo Ross MaryJo Ross on Nov 20, 2016
    yep..... get him to fix it properly, that is if it wasn't your hubby...... nothings going to work properly for cleaning hygienically
  • William William on Nov 20, 2016
    The contractor should do the repair or pay the cost in having it repaired.
  • Pan7656385 Pan7656385 on Nov 20, 2016
    Get the stupid careless contractor to fix it, even if it takes replacing the whole floor.
  • Julies1949 Julies1949 on Nov 20, 2016
    Is this laminate? If so,whose idea was it to use laminate flooring in a bathroom?
  • Deb Johnson Deb Johnson on Nov 20, 2016
    The contractor should repair his mistake. It is not your mistake to fix
  • Mandy Brown Mandy Brown on Nov 21, 2016
    I agree the contractor should repair the floor; however, if he had removed the toilet when installing the floor he wouldn't have had to cut around the base of it. Most contractors take the toilet out, lay the floor then reinstall the toilet. The only cut would be around the floor flange which gets covered by the toilet base. The cost to remove/reinstall a toilet is about $4.00. All you need is a wax seal. Turn off the water supply to the toilet, flush it to remove most of the water, dip out as much of the remaining water as possible. disconnect the water supply and lift the toilet off the floor. I usually lay an old shower curtain liner or something similar in the bathtub or on the floor to rest the toilet on while I'm installing flooring. Once you're finished replace the wax ring over the floor flange and re-sit the toilet. Connect the water supply and turn the water on. You may need to get longer flange bolts to account for the thickness of the new floor, but most will fit.
  • Christine Pardo Christine Pardo on Nov 21, 2016
    Sanded caulk in tole department at home depot. But above is right. You will have issues if the flooring is laminate.
  • Lisa acuna Lisa acuna on Nov 21, 2016
    You can always use the "contractors best friend" and caulk around it with a wide bead of caulk and then with a flat piece on an angle, smooth all the way around. Practice first in the back. Or, you can use wood fill in wood tone or tint it. Then smooth it into the holes and cracks. Before it dries, use a piece of wood, rough side, to press on the fill to imprint a wood design. Let dry. If you need to, tint more to match. It is time consuming but I have done this along a floor register that had the same problem and it looked fine.
  • Suze Suze on Nov 21, 2016
    Christine is right....sanded caulk has grout in it and should hold well. but did you confront the contractor about that job? what did he say? it's HIS responsibility to make it right.
  • Elaine Bove Matt Elaine Bove Matt on Nov 21, 2016
    the contractor needs to fix his mistake --- but if you paid him by credit card, call the company and dispute the charge until he fixes the problem or if by check and he hasn't cashed it yet, stop payment on it until he fixes it.
  • Carole Carole on Nov 21, 2016
    This isn't something you should fix. This is sloppy work and should be fixed by the contractor. The toilet should be removed before the flooring is installed. This is a terrible installation.
  • Cwh6899259 Cwh6899259 on Nov 21, 2016
    Use wood filler on the gaps, match floor colour. Then calk around toilet.
  • Jackie Jackie on Nov 21, 2016
    Laminate warps and swells if it gets wet, not sure it was a good idea for the bathroom but I would confront the contractor. Why should you worry about fixing the mistake of someone you paid to do it correctly. You could always caulk it like a lot of people have said or maybe try some rubber trim moulding to match if possible.
  • Charles Prock Charles Prock on Nov 21, 2016
    They make a vinyl trim to go around bathtubs that should do the trick....You may have to heat it with a blow dryer to make the sharp turns but it should fix you right up.
  • Desmond Desmond on Nov 22, 2016
    Water soluble woodfiller is the best.
    • Donpaulin Donpaulin on Nov 22, 2016
      NEVER (completely) use caulk or wood fill to seal under a toilet, for if it develops a leak you will not know until the subfloor deteriorates. If you do caulk, leave a couple weep holes.
  • StefanieB StefanieB on Nov 22, 2016
    Have the contractor come back and fix it.
  • John Stone John Stone on Nov 22, 2016
    Cwittaker, has best answer.......this will work good.....
  • 861650 861650 on Nov 22, 2016
    StefanieB is right on point! Have contractor fix it. Next time you have something done, DO NOT pay until you inspect the job. I've seen these types of repairs before and it is upsetting that someone would do such a bad job...shame on them!
  • Mary Mary on Nov 22, 2016
    Send the contractor here, and tell him to read how several of us ladies said, that THE CONTRACTOR NEEDS TO COME BACK AND FIX IT! (most people would have done so, but since you have not, is it because a relative did this poor job?)
  • Patricia Coulter Patricia Coulter on Nov 22, 2016
    If that's the kind of job he did I would be afraid to have him come back and maybe do more damage. You have some good suggestions for do it yourself.
  • DeNoal Sloan DeNoal Sloan on Nov 22, 2016
    I understand your concern about havig the contractor come back. If you have any floor covering left, the toilet can be removed and new pieces cut correctly that fit. A good handyman can fix this for around $100.00. You will need a new toilet seal.
    • Ken Gregory Ken Gregory on Nov 23, 2016

      she should never have to pay the price of someone else to repair the problem!! Bud, you are smoking and not sharing! The Contractor is in the wrong and He needs to man up and fix it or he must pay someone else to correct the wrong!!!!

  • Cathy Cathy on Nov 22, 2016
    Plumbing code requires a seal between the toilet and floor...example chalking.
  • Carol Derbis Carol Derbis on Nov 22, 2016
    Your "CONTRACTOR" is liable for fixing this! Insist he do so - or report him....is he "licensed"? if so, his license could be at risk if he doesn't fix and is reported! There's a good reason to NEVER pay in full before job is done...because errors like this would mean "you don't get paid til this is fixed!"
  • Brenda Williams Brenda Williams on Nov 22, 2016
    Yep I make this unanimous, make him come back and fix it or report him to BBB.
  • Kristina McGivern Kristina McGivern on Nov 22, 2016
    Caulk around the toilet. It will cover the space and keep dirt and moisture out.
  • 9530106 9530106 on Nov 22, 2016
    Aside from improper installation, is this a laminate flooring? Not recommended in areas of high moisture..
  • Kca11578356 Kca11578356 on Nov 23, 2016

    I doubt if that would pass inspection. Make the contractor fix it.

  • Sam Sam on Nov 23, 2016

    Your contractor should have fixed this when it happened. Walking away from this installation doesn't speak well of him/her. If the contractor is willing to fix it, let him. If not, have it fixed and send him the bill. If it's not paid, small claims court. I know it's a nuisance, but the contractor should be held accountable. In respect to the final finish of setting the toilet--I have always recommended against caulking between the edge of the toilet and the floor. People do this all the time and the risk is that if the wax seal fails you don't see the leak until structural damage is done. The seal required by code is the wax seal and firm bolting down so the toilet doesn't rock.

    • Ken Gregory Ken Gregory on Nov 26, 2016

      the sealant at the bottom of the toilet is to give it a finished look you leave a poort onboth sides to allow for water to flow if the wax fails this way you installation looks neat and finished!!!

  • Deanna Nassar Deanna Nassar on Nov 23, 2016

    If he is unlicensed you only have small claims court. If he is licensed then he should give you a free do over. It's a long process to fix it right but you may be able to slide a thin piece of wood around edge of toilet. Just to get a little support, don't push too far in because there is a seal under the toilet right around the pipe. It may be enough to last until some other repair has to be done to the stool.

  • MM MM on Nov 23, 2016

    This mistake, if done by a contractor, is not your issue. You will have them come out and fix it until it is to your satisfaction. A bathroom floor easily gets wet and if YOU DIY it yourself, your contract becomes NULL AND VOID. Then any future issues you have becomes YOUR problem. This situation should be dealt with in a professional manner, keep records of everything and if it means redoing the whole floor, then that's what needs to be done. You have contractual rights here and you should not have to put out one thin dime to have this taken care of properly. Good luck!

  • Teresa Teresa on Nov 23, 2016

    The contactor should come back and fix this, it is a relatively simple fix. lift toilet, replace the board(s), replace toilet. The only way to "hide" it would be with caulk.

  • Michelle Michelle on Nov 24, 2016

    speaking from experience, not a toilet mistake but contractor installed new windows in September, I kept asking lots of questions because I did not like the work or what I was seeing. Had him come back twice he still did not repair. Upshot, I did not pay him and then took lots of pictures and had a second window company out for estimate to do windows. I sent a certified letter to the first contractor who installed outlying my intentions of taking him to small claims court. Even though I did not pay him I asked for 1000 from him. You are the homeowner, do not repair yourself, contractor must come back to repair, if you paid him stop payment on check immediately. Take pictures and get second contractor to look and repair

  • Lonnie Lonnie on Nov 24, 2016

    I agree with everyone else on responsibility, but for whatever reason it is clear you can't have the contractor make it right or you'd have done so. Because it is round, it would be impossible to frame with pretty much anything. They make caulking in colors now and you could maybe find a match to your flooring. I think caulking is your answer. If you have some of the flooring, I've heard of taking sawdust and mixing it right in with the caulk. It might not seem ideal, but it will camouflage it (I think). I'm sorry this happened. Good luck.

    • See 1 previous
    • Lonnie Lonnie on Nov 27, 2016

      That's sure something to keep in mind. Thank you!

  • Sam Sam on Nov 25, 2016

    Do what you must to fix this properly. Bite the bullet and hire a professional. Do what you

    can to recoup this expense from the shoddy workman. You have just finished your bathroom.

    Bandaid fixes like caulk, rugs, sawdust mixed with glue will only serve to remind you of this bad experience, will annoy you and take away from your enjoyment of the new bathroom.

  • Eleanor Eleanor on Feb 12, 2017

    This is not what you are going to want to hear, but.....if you canot get the contractor to come back and do a floor repair, you could always go to Lowes or Home Depot and try to find a toilet with a bigger base; one that would hide that mess. Looks like your toilet base is pretty slim so maybe you can find one with a bigger base. They aren't that expensive.

  • E E on Feb 12, 2017

    Get the workman back out there!

  • Mro14063724 Mro14063724 on Feb 19, 2017

    You can buy a sealant (white) to give it a finish look. It goes around the bottom, on the floor and the the toilet, u well need to a couple of places so if there is a leak under the toilet the water can come out and get fix.

    I order my thur Walter Drake on line. It has a lot of different things that can't always be found in the stores.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Feb 07, 2022

    You can buy on a roll - Plastic Bath Trim! ThAT SHOULD DO THE TRICK!

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Apr 25, 2022

    You buy a Seal strip on a roll to do this job from DIY!

  • I would make the contractor come back and fix it.

  • Deb K Deb K on Apr 11, 2023

    Hi Staci, you could put a seal of silicone around the base of the toilet to cover the gaps, and prevent water from getting in there.

  • Mogie Mogie on Apr 13, 2023

    You can buy mats or rugs that hug the toilet that would hide this.