Tile before toilet install or after (2024)

FAQs

Tile before toilet install or after? ›

What this means in practical terms is that you should always remove the toilet if you are renovating it, in order to place tiles beneath the toilet on the new bathroom floor. The toilet flange then goes atop after you install tiles for the bathroom flooring.

Easier Plumbing and Fixture Access: Fitting the bathroom suite before tiling gives you better access to plumbing and fixtures. This makes it easier to install and connect components like faucets, drains, and pipes.

Another reason for tiling the floor first over wall tiles is so that after finishing the tiled floor, you have some time in between where you can use the toilet or shower. You won't have to worry about damaging the floor with some unfortunate water spillage.

One of the most significant advantages of doing the floor first during a bathroom renovation is that it provides easier access to subflooring and plumbing. By taking care of this work early on, you can ensure that your bathroom's foundation is in good condition before adding new fixtures and finishes.

Scrape off any residual paint and lumps or bumps. If you need to, now's the time to fill in any large cracks with filler. Sand over to smooth out the wall surface – a medium-grade sandpaper should do it. Then leave to dry ready for tiling.

Install a cement-based backer board following the manufacturer's instructions. This provides a solid surface under the tile that prevents flexing that could lead to cracking. Backer board panels typically measure 3-feet by 5-feet and can be trimmed as needed.

There are a few shower waterproofing options, but the method we landed on for waterproofing our shower walls was using liquid membranes. This waterproof membrane is painted onto the cement board and acts almost like waterproof paint underneath your tiles.

Demolition, rough work (framing changes, electrical and plumbing rough-in), drywall, paint the drywall. And then on to the finishes: flooring, cabinets, trim molding, appliances, electrical fixtures.

"It's a good idea to start with your highest priority," he says, which is usually the kitchen for most homeowners. "This way, if you run out of money or energy, at least you got the most important area done." This makes choosing your starting point intensely personal—but ultimately, this method will make you happiest.

What is the easiest toilet to install? ›

A two-piece toilet has a separate tank and bowl, so it's easier to install than a heavier one-piece with an integral tank and bowl. One-piece toilets have lower profiles—good for smaller bathrooms—and no tank gasket to leak.

Tiling is typically the last step in any bathroom renovation, as it's important to have all of your plumbing and electrical work in place before you begin fitting your wall and floor tiles.

Always tile the back wall first in a shower/tub so that you can hide the grout joints on the sides.