Buyers Guide

When selecting your toilet there are 4 things to consider.

• Position of the soil pipe.
• Options for mounting the cistern.
• Space available in the room.
• Type, function, style and budget you are going for.

When it comes to the soil pipe, this pipe relies on gravity so must have a fall to function.  This creates some limitations on where it can be moved to (without massively impacting on your budget).  Soil pipes can be internal or external again having an impact on your choice.  If internal often boxing is required, this can however be built into your design as this can now create a cavity.

With back to wall and wall hung toilets, they require a concealed cistern and in the wall hung case also a frame.  These need to be mounted somewhere!  This needs to be considered, often stud walls provide a good place for these. The boxing in of the pipework also offers an opportunity to incorporate the cistern in the box too.  Cisterns can also be built into a solid wall this will however usually have a large impact on budget.  Final option is to use a matching decorative case and surface mount the cistern. 

Weighing up the options with the cistern is often the point that tells you which toilet you require!

When it comes to the space in the room, this is usually linked to small spaces.  If you have a small space it is often the smallest toilet you will go for.  When considering the smallest toilet, it is often considered in conjunction with mounting your cistern.  If you can mount your cistern in a stud wall a back to wall or wall hung would be a good option.  If you have to surface mount the cistern the close coupled toilet is now the smaller option.

Though in the case of a large space you may also consider filling that space with a large box covering a cistern to fill the space.

Now we have covered the practicality of choosing your toilet, we now look at the bit people think choosing a toilet is about.  Type you like close coupled, wall hung or back to wall, if all of these are still an option which do you prefer. Function, the number of times I hear a toilet is a toilet!  To these people I say try a smart toilet, heated seat, extractor, self-flushing, built in bidet the list goes on, having one at home I am a fan but often due to budget these are not for everyone. The part of function everyone should consider is best summed up in one word “Quality”.  If a toilet is too cheap be careful your toilet seat is one of the most used parts in the house often having upwards of 100kg’s dropped on it and increasing if the news is anything to go by.  With toilets the importance of availability of a replacement seat that fits is important!  In our studio I cannot tell you how many times people have come in looking for a seat for an odd, shaped toilet I cannot help with.

Now the fun bit style, what is the overall design goal.  The most obvious is modern or traditional but the full picture should be considered such as colour scheme often linked to the button etc.  The budget is an obvious consideration too.  If you are trying to look after your budget it is our experience that the difference between a well-priced quality bathroom and the bathroom of your dreams can add up to thousands.  This is often made up of £20 here £20 there!  Though it is also a good idea to consider the overall and make sure when you spend more you get more.  The total cost of a bathroom for most people is a material amount and there is and acceptable amount between a quality bathroom and a dream bathroom I would be willing to pay. If this is not you then aim for a quality bathroom and save some money!