Finishing a bathroom in a basement area adds value to the home. The value added can be significant. Doing the work yourself saves you money you would otherwise use to pay a contractor and it provides great hands-on experience for the homeowner. Understanding how to install a toilet is an important part of finishing a bathroom.
Step One
First Things First: Floor Preparation - The subfloor in a basement is constructed out of concrete. It is extremely important that the concrete around the toilet drain in the floor is level. If the floor is not level, the toilet will not seal correctly. An unlevel concrete floor will allow the toilet to rock back and forth. The rocking motion will allow the seal between the toilet and the floor flange to break and leak, which could lead to a huge mess. To find out if the concrete floor is level, place a level directly on the floor, get on your hands and knees, and look to see if there is a space between the concrete and the level. The floor can either peak or dip. Peaked concrete is easily removed with an angle grinder and a diamond cup wheel. Grind the peak down to create a level surface for the toilet to sit on. Use a level to check your progress often. Dips in concrete floors are easily leveled using a self-leveling compound that is cement-based. Such a compound is mixed up in a five-gallon bucket and dumped directly over the concrete floor that requires leveling. After it has dried, the flooring can be installed and the toilet can be secured into place over the flooring.