How To Choose The Right Toilet For You

An Introduction To Toilets

The toilet. Everyone needs one, everyone needs a good one. But, how do you choose the right toilet for you? Among a sea of choices of style and shape it can be quite difficult to narrow down exactly what you need and desire. So, today we are breaking down everything you need to know about choosing a toilet so you can make an informed decision and choose the best toilet for you.

The Different Types Of Toilet

There are four main types of toilets, the close coupled toilet, the back to wall toilet, the wall hung toilet and the toilet with a sink on top. You may also encounter toilets with high cisterns, but they are typically out of fashion at this point. Let’s dive in and investigate the pros and cons of each main type of toilet, to see which would be best for you.

Summary

Pros & Cons Of The Close Coupled Toilet

A close coupled toilet is a toilet with a cistern that is directly, or “closely”, attached to the pan. This is a very popular and common form of toilet as it is the modern iteration on the classically designed toilet.

A big benefit of the close coupled rimless toilet is that by featuring an exposed cistern, it is easily maintainable. If anything were to ever go wrong with the cistern, you could simply remove the lid and make the necessary fixes. This is not as easy with wall hung toilets or back to wall rimless toilets.

As well as this, they are the easiest kind of toilet to install. So, if you are looking for a quick and easy installation experience, this is the toilet for you.

It is also, typically, the cheapest kind of toilet as it is the least complicated to install. So, if you are shopping on a budget, this could be the best toilet for you.

Conversely, there is one primary drawback in comparison to the other types of toilets. As the cistern is exposed, it takes up more room than a toilet with the cistern embedded into the wall. However, if you have to extend the wall out to accommodate a potential embedded cistern, then this issue is moot, as it would take up even more space than the close coupled floor mounted toilet.

The second issue is that the toilet is potentially noisier than other toilets, as it is floor mounted which allows the noise to travel much easier. If you are looking for the quietest flush possible, you will probably prefer a different toilet.

Pros & Cons Of The Back To Wall Toilet

The back to wall floor mounted toilet is the halfway house between the close coupled floor mounted toilet and the wall mounted toilet. It is floor mounted like the close coupled rimless toilet, but has its cistern embedded in the wall like a wall hung rimless toilet.

The benefit of having an embedded cistern is that you can theoretically save a lot of space. This is because in some instances you can embed the cistern directly into an existing wall. However, sometimes this is not possible and you have to instead build out the wall to encase the cistern. Naturally, this takes up much more space which could be inconvenient.

Plus, by having the cistern embedded, it would become extremely difficult to make any necessary repairs yourself. This is something to keep in mind if you are known to have troublesome plumbing.

To contrast this, a positive element of the back to wall toilet is that there is much less toilet exposed and therefore much less toilet to clean. So, if you are looking an easy day to day maintenance experience, this could be the toilet for you.

Pros & Cons Of The Wall Hung Toilet

A wall hung rimless toilet is not floor mounted. Instead, it is mounted to a frame built into the wall that suspends it off of the floor. This has many benefits. Similar to the back to wall rimless toilet, these toilets can take up much less space than the alternatives when correct parameters are met.

As well as this, the main benefit of the wall mounted toilet is it is the quietest version of the toilet. By being suspended, no noise travels through the floor. So, if you are looking for a quiet flush, this is the perfect toilet for you.

Moreover, it is even easier to clean and more hygienic than the other toilets, as the base of the toilet is fully accessible and cleanable. This extra opportunity for hygiene can go along way when combined with other hygiene focused fixtures.

In addition to the host of other benefits, the wall hung rimless toilet is the most accessible toilet. This is because it can be modified to hang at almost any height, depending on the frame. This customizable height is the modern evolution of the comfort height toilet and allows the user to choose their perfect and most comfortable height for their toilet.

The primary problem with wall mounted toilets is that they are difficult to install. First you must install a toilet frame within the wall and then install the toilet onto the frame. This is by far the most complex installation process for a toilet and not one to take lightly.

Pros & Cons Of The Toilet With Integrated Sink

The toilet with a sink on top is built on the base of a close coupled floor mounted toilet. The primary difference is that there is a fully functional sink on top of the cistern. The clever thing is that the sink uses water that then gets filtered down to use for the cistern, meaning you save water compared to using a separate sink and toilet.

As well as this, you save a lot of space by having a toilet with an integrated sink, as you don’t need to make room for two essential fixtures. This is ideal for any person with a smaller bathroom or cloakroom, where saving space is a must.

The only real drawback is that the noise of the flush is more likely to carry than a wall hung rimless toilet, but other than that there are no real benefits.

This is the ideal toilet for anyone looking for maximum practicality.

How To Fit Your Toilet Into Interior Design

So, you now understand the practicalities of the different toilets, now let us look at the aesthetic benefits of each toilet. Afterall, you don’t want to install a toilet that throws off your bathroom’s vibe.

Close Coupled Toilet

A floor mounted close coupled toilet is the classic toilet design and therefore is pretty universal. It is most at home in a classic bathroom and couples well with pedestal sinks and freestanding baths because of this. When designing a classical bathroom to house your close coupled rimless toilet, focus on drawing in a lot of light and using lighter colours like white and crème to achieve your look.

Back To Wall Toilet

A back to wall rimless toilet is a modern design that still has a foot in classical design and practicality. Because of this, it is most at home in an industrial aesthetic. This means it pairs well with counter top sinks with metallic taps and corner showers, items that have the same practical philosophy. When designing your space, try incorporating metals and woods to create a unique look.

Wall Hung Toilet

A wall hung rimless toilet is extremely modern and its cutting edge design is most at home in a modern design bathroom. Focus on pairing it with other wall hung fixtures, such as a wall hung sink, as well as modern updates on essentials, such as the walk in shower. This modern focus helps you maximise the space you have in your bathroom, while giving you a minimalistic look.

Toilet With Integrated Sink

The toilet with a sink on top is the perfect practical toilet and is right at home in a cloakroom or small bathroom where it can act as the sole toilet and sink. However, it also suits a larger bathroom where it can perform a similar function as a double sink and allow multiple people to get ready at a time, when paired with another sink, or even another toilet with a sink on top. Aim for a mid-century modern design as that philosophy has a focus on combined fixtures, utility and beauty.

How To Install Your Toilet

So, now you understand the pros and cons, as well as the aesthetic principles of your toilet options, it is best you understand how they are installed. This can help you decide whether you want to do this yourself or hire a professional. Conversely, if you already know whether you want to engage in DIY or hire a professional, then understanding the difficulty of each installation can help you make a decision. We recommend seeking out our full instruction PDFs before undertaking installation, as the following summaries are more meant as a rough guide.

How To Install A Close Coupled Toilet

Installing a close coupled floor mounted toilet is relatively simple, especially when compared to the other toilets.

Here is the rough guide of what you need to do:

1.       Install The Pipe Fittings

2.       Install The Anchors & Brackets

3.       Connect The Water Supply Hose To The Cistern Tank

4.       Position The Gasket On The Bowl Inlet

5.       Place The Cistern Tank Onto The Bowl

6.       Attach The Hose Guide To The Hose & The Inserts Into The Hose Guide

7.       Bolt The Cistern And Pan Together

8.       Bolt The Pan To The Floor Brackets

9.       Connect The Supply & Turn On The Water

10.   Seal The Base Of The Toilet With Silicon

As you can see, this is a very doable DIY project for the person quite confident in their skills.

How To Install A Back To Wall Toilet

The back to wall floor mounted toilet is one of the more difficult toilets to install. This is because you also need to install the frame. There is also slight variation in what you need to do depending on whether you are embedding the frame and cistern into the wall or attaching them directly to the wall.

Here is the rough guide of what you need to do:

1.       Either Cut A Hole In The Wall So You Can Embed The Frame, Or Clean The Wall So You Can Attach It Externally And Later Build Around It.

2.       Assemble Your Metal Toilet Frame.

3.       Fix Your Cistern To Your Frame.

4.       Bolt The Frame To The Floor And The Wall Stud, Either Directly Or Through The Wall Depending

5.       Connect The Cistern To The Water Supply

6.       Connect The Water Inlet Pipe To The Flush Mechanism

7.       Reinstall The Cut Wall Panel Or Build A False Wall Around The Frame, Make Sure There Are Gaps Cut Out For Threads And Mechanisms

8.       Install Threaded Rods Through The Wall And Into The Frame

9.       Fix Your Toilet To The Threaded Rods

10.   Connect Toilet To Waste Pipe

11.   Connect Flush Panel

12.   Seal The Toilet To The Wall With Silicon

As you can see this is a more complex installation process than the close coupled rimless toilet and is definite a job for professionals or at very least, very experienced and confident DIY aficionados.

How To Install A Wall Hung Toilet

The wall mounted rimless toilet has arguably the most complex installation process, however this process is almost entirely shared with the back to wall rimless toilet.

The key difference between the two processes is that the wall mounted toilet is designed to be able to be lifted off of the ground, so instead of attaching it at a designated height, the frame will have multiple height options and you can choose at which height to install it.

For a brief rundown of the process, check out the previous section.

How To Install A Toilet With Integrated Sink

The toilet with an integrated sink is a more complex installation than the close coupled rimless toilet, but it is not as complex as the wall hung or back to wall floor mounted toilets.

Its process is mostly shared with the close coupled floor mounted toilet, other than the fact you then have to install a sink on top. So, for the initial toilet installation rundown, check out the previous close coupled section.

Here’s a rundown of how to install the integrated sink:

1.       Attach Your Tap To The Hole Next To The Flush Button On The Cistern Lid

2.       Install Your Drain Valve, Intake Pipe & Lock Screw Underneath

3.       Connect The Tap To The Inlet Pipe

4.       Place The Lid On Top Of The Cistern

5.       Lock The Screw

With that done, you have installed your sink to your toilet. All things considered, it is not that much of an extra complication and should be doable for a DIY enthusiast.

Extra Things To Consider

Here are a few things to consider when buying a toilet, that might not be immediately obvious.

Rimless Toilet VS Rimmed Toilet

Every toilet is either a rimmed toilet or a rimless toilet. This defines the way they flush. A rimmed toilet has a rim that circumnavigates the entire interior of the bowl that releases water when commanded. A rimless toilet simply has jets that shoot the water around the bowl, achieving the same result.

Rimless toilets are much more hygienic as there are no inaccessible crevices for filth to compile. Plus, they are easier to clean as the entire bowl is visible. Because of this, we recommend purchasing a rimless toilet.

Comfort Height Toilet

Every person has a different height they find the most comfortable to sit at. It is worth sitting on a few different chairs and then measuring your height off of the ground when you are most comfortable. You can keep this in mind when searching for a comfort height toilet.

Some of our floor mounted toilets are comfort height toilets, which means they have been designed to be at the height most comfortable to most people. A rimless comfort height toilet is a good catch all option and is typically very comfortable for most people. However, with a wall mounted toilet, you can actually choose the height to suit yourself, so you can make your toilet the perfect height for you.

Whether you choose a modern comfort height toilet or a traditional comfort height toilet, it is important to know what the size of the ideal standard comfort height toilet is. So, what size is a comfort height toilet? A UK standard comfort height toilet is between seventeen and nineteen inches. This is the most common comfort height in the UK and probably the height you sit at on your toilet.

Dual Flush Toilet

If you’re tired of always having to use a toilet brush to shift any stubborn mess, or have found yourself with a higher water bill than intended, then a dual flush is perfect for you. A dual flush allows you to choose between different flushing levels. this way you can choose a smaller flush to save water or a bigger flush to shift more material. This level of customizability is extremely practical and can save you money, so we highly recommend it.

What Is A Dual Flush Toilet?

A dual flush toilet is a toilet that has two flushing buttons, often stylized as one split button, that can activate either a small flush or large flush. Typically, the small flush is a 3l flush, while the large flush is a 6l flush.

Are Dual Flush Toilets A Good Idea?

The 3 litre flush uses very little water and because of this saves you a lot of money through consistent use. Whereas the 6-litre flush is excellent at shifting stubborn excrement, meaning you always have the option to flush whatever you need. This means that dual flush toilets are a good idea, as they can help you save both water and money.

How Does The Dual Flush Toilet Work?

The defining factor of a dual flush toilet isn’t it’s flushing mechanism, but instead it’s large trap. By having an enlarged P-Trap, the dual flush toilet can actually flush much easier as it requires less water to complete a successful flush. This allows the 3-litre flush to effectively wash away any liquid waste.

For the mechanics of how there can be two flushes, it’s simple, there’s two flush mechanisms installed in the toilet, one for each volume of flush.

Should I Use a 3L Flush or 6L Flush?

You may find yourself wondering “Which Button Do I Push On A Dual Flush Toilet?”. The smaller 3-litre flush is best for liquid waste such as urine, whereas the 6-litre flush is best for solid waste such as faeces. When you consider how much liquid waste you generate in comparison to how much solid waste you generate, you can see how the savings can rack up.

Do Dual Flush Toilets Leak More?

Statistically speaking, they can do, yes. This is because there are two flushing mechanisms and that means there are twice the amount of apparatus that can eventually go wrong. However, before this puts you off, think back to how many times your own toilet has leaked. It’s probably not much.

When installed correctly, there is little chance of any toilet leaking.

Which Is Better Single Or Dual Flush Toilets?

Dual flush toilets are better as they give you the option to save money and water. This can build up over a lifetime of use to make for great savings that really improve your quality of life.

Are Dual Flush Toilets Harder To Repair?

Because of their extra flushing mechanisms, they will naturally be more time consuming to repair than a toilet with a single flushing mechanism. However, the difficulty is subjective. in fact, due to their enlarged traps, the likelihood of something clogging the toilet or going wrong is actually lower than a regular toilet.

Does A Downstairs Toilet Need A Window?

Probably! It is UK law that any bathroom in your home needs either a window or another kind of ventilation system. Bonus points if you have both! This isn’t just related to downstairs bathroom either, but to bathrooms and cloakrooms as a whole. Make sure your bathroom is well ventilated, not simply because of the legality, but also because of the damp issues and health issues that having poor ventilation can cause.

Does a downstairs toilet need an extractor fan?

Do You Have To Have 2 Doors Between Kitchen And Toilet UK?

It used to be law that you had to have two doors between your bathroom and any space that wasn’t a bedroom or corridor, due to hygiene concerns. However, in the modern-day bathrooms need basins. Because of this, they are much cleaner and the rule of having two doors between bathrooms and other rooms is no longer necessary, so feel free to build your bathroom where you like.

Do You Need Planning Permission To Install A New Toilet?

You do not need planning permission to install a new toilet. However, if you were to build a new bathroom that extended out of the bounds of your original home, then you would need planning permission.

How To Choose The Right Toilet Seat

So, you’ve chosen your toilet, but that’s not the end of it. You also need to choose the perfect toilet seat. Let’s have a look at your options.

Are Toilet Seats Universal?

Soft Close & Quick Release Toilet Seat

First of all, we have the soft close & quick release toilet seats. Soft Close toilet seats are specially designed toilet seats that slow down when closed so that they don’t bang and instead always close extremely quietly. Meanwhile, quick release toilet seats have a special hinge mechanism that allows them to be safely and quickly uninstalled from the toilet. This way they can be uninstalled and reinstalled at will.

We recommend always choosing soft close & quick release toilet seats as they are extremely practical in day to day life.

D Shaped Toilet Seat Or Square Shaped Toilet

Now, luckily for you, choosing the shape of your toilet seat is really easy. Just choose the toilet seat shape that matches your toilet. Durovin sell both D Shape Toilet Seats and Square Shape Toilet Seats, so no matter which toilet you buy, you can get a seat to match.

Toilet Seat With Integrated Bidet

A modern reconfiguration of the bidet, these seats automate post toilet bodily clean up by spraying water. Unfortunately, these require electricity and can add considerable bulk to your toilet. Because of this, we recommend installing a traditional bidet instead.

How To Install A Toilet Seat

To install our quick release toilet seats, simply screw the hinges onto the toilet and then place the toilet seat onto the prongs to attach it. It’s as easy as that!

To Conclude

Making sure you choose the correct toilet for your bathroom is imperative. Hopefully, by reading this article, you now understand the key differences between your main toilet options and how to best weigh up the pros and cons and choose the ideal toilet for you. For more in depth interrogations on specific toilets and installation processes, check out our blog!