Cabin Bathroom

[Dave]

Setting up a new bathroom at my cabin. Question for all you toilet experts

What's the dif between a cheap one ($49) and a better one (say $100)?

My plan is to take the one from my house (20 years old) and put it in the cabin and then to buy a new one for my house.

Also, anyone know of a 36" shower stall with an offset drain. I plumbed the drain for a tub (slab floor) but decided maybe just a shower stall would be better and most shower stall drains are centered.

Thanks

[chad austin]

Dave,

I can tell you that a cheap toilet doesn't work as well as the more expensive ones, I can't tell you why but past experience proves it. The cheaper ones seem to clog with the thought of putting toilet paper in them.

As far as an off set drain on a shower stall that would line up with rough in tub measurements seems like it would be a special order/build.

[cavalierowner]

A number of years ago I watched a show about the eveolution of the toilet. What they said there is that as the toilet gets more expensive, it will flush better. It has to do with how much design/time is spent in finishing the inside of the trap in the toilet. It's especially important now with the low volume flushes. I have 3 toilets in my home, 2 Kohler and and 1 American Standard and all 3 purcheased within a few months of each other to replace cheap toilets that didn't flush worth a darn. All 3 were in the $120 price range. Interesting that the AS toilet is nowhere near as good as the 2 Kohlers.

I don't know about the offset showers. I seem to recall seeing a couple online, but I couldn't tell you where. I have an offset drain in one bathroom, but it's all ceramic because I needed it to be handcap accessible for my MIL.

[WallEYES]

You can go with a 36 inch neo angle stall where in most cases the drain is 12 inches each way center out from the wall. Water closets on the other hand are in the eye of the beholder...Having teenage kids and company all the time, was tired of clogged toilets...I went with the pressure tank toilets...more expensive, but worth it to me.

[pureinsanity]

in my opinion having older toilets and now new ones, they have more flushing power which I like and use less water instead of fill up the bowl before even starting to flush.

spend the money on a nice name brand and youll be happy

[cavalierowner]

spend the money on a nice name brand and youll be happy

That's what I think too, except that American Standard sure isn't worth a darn. Or at least the one I have. I'm almost ready to take it out and replace it with a Kohler like the rest of mine. All 4 of my rental units have Kohler toilets in them now.

[krinkle]

With the $49 toilet you should have money left over for a good plunger or toilet auger. Buy a gerber vipor or avalanche toilet. If you can not find them locally you can order them on line. Buy 2 and toss that old one from your house while you are at it. It will just sweat like crazy if on a well and end up costing you a floor repair in the long run.

For the shower just break up the floor. Its what only a foot or foot and a half to go to run the 2" drain line over. Then you can fit a nice mustee brand base in there. Dont pick up the cheap [PoorWordUsage] from HD on this either. Something like there durabase is just a few dollars more and will last a long time.

[Dave]

OK....getting some good advise here. Thanks. For the shower base, I was just thinking today of bustin' up some concrete. I want to do it right though.

Question...can I use a right angle drain from the shower base over to the drain pipe area where I will install the trap over there? Also, doing it this way maybe means I wouldn't have to bust the concrete all the way through? Just bust out enough for the drain pipe to go over? Here's the area.

[jeffreyd]

can't give you thoughts on anything but my wife just asked what i was reading and i said the difference between a 49 dollar toilet and a 100. she told me to put the computer down and play with the dog. maybe she thinks i spend too much time on here. good luck, i would like to know about the commode as i need to update mine soon.

[krinkle]

To install the drain line properly the trap needs to be directly under the drain. If you put a right angle on it you will have a heck of a time if it ever gets clogged. Plus it will not be up to code.

Check toilet reviews on line. There is a web site called terrylove plumbing that has a lot of info on toilets. Just google toilet review and his site will come up.

There are a lot of [PoorWordUsage] toilets on the market and price does not always dictate how well they work. Take the American Standard Champion toilet. Biggest piece of junk on the market and not a cheap toilet.

[Archerysniper]

you can't just double 90 the trap tail piece it's not code and will give you lots of problems If you could make 2 45's work that would be good or start busting up the concrete. I would also go with a pressure assist tank or a Toto toilet either one will flush a meat loaf and no plunging necessary.

[Kettle]

Get a handicap toilet and you wont be sorry sits about 6'' higher lot more comfort.

Kettle

[Archerysniper]

Get a handicap toilet and you wont be sorry sits about 6'' higher lot more comfort.

Kettle

Unless your short, it's no fun pooing with your feet swinging off the floor

[jeffreyd]

my wife is 4 ft 8 so her feet always are off the floor, and flush meatloaf, that is power there.

[frazwood]

Last year, I was faced with a similar dilemma. We walked into a big box store and compared the various toilets... I wanted to buy one about $100 and she wanted a $300 Kohler brand (she loves all things Kohler) -- my wife almost always requires that I buy "the more expensive one" in situations like this.

Eventually, we compromised when I found a Kohler toilet on special for $118 (it now costs $148) and we bought that. It's better than any toilet that I've ever had. It is VERY QUIET when the tank fills and when it flushes. It doesn't ever seem to clog either, though we haven't exactly pushed it to the limit.

So, I vote for the more expensive toilet.

Someone above mentioned the tank sweating issue... that's an important one too. Check to see if the tank is lined with insulation.

[Dave]

Who would've thought we'd see so many opinions on this topic huh

All good info for an informed decision..Thanks