How much to install a modern WC?

kuepper

I have an old-fashioned /'period' WC (connected via a flush pipe to the cistern a few feet above it)  that I want to replace with a conventional 'modern' one. Don't know if I can use the same WC pedestal or have to get a whole new pedestal+cistern but I wondered if anyone had an idea of cost?

grumbler

By 'pedestal' do you mean the toilet pan?

Close-couple toilet is the most modern one (unless the cistern is concealed). For this you'll have to replace bot the toilet and the cistern.

For a low-level cistern you can keep it.

Generally, it's a simple strightforward job, 1 day max. IMO, the cost of labour depends a lot on the level of final finish (pipework, plastering, painting) you want to get.

kuepper

grumbler said:

By 'pedestal' do you mean the toilet pan?

Close-couple toilet is the most modern one (unless the cistern is concealed). For this you'll have to replace bot the toilet and the cistern.

For a low-level cistern you can keep it.

Generally, it's a simple strightforward job, 1 day max. IMO, the cost of labour depends a lot on the level of final finish (pipework, plastering, painting) you want to get.

Thanks for that, I'll probably try and get quotes for 1st 2 options. I never knew what I had was called a high level cistern!

FreeBear

You get a much better flush with a high level cistern.

Never been that happy with the flush after a close coupled toilet was installed here. Sometimes having to pull the "chain" several times in order to get rid of a persistent floater.

BUFF

FreeBear said:

You get a much better flush with a high level cistern.

Probably because an old ~12l flush rather than a more recent 9.5l then 7.5l then 6l as regulations changed. But pans need to be designed to work with low capacity flushes - you can't stick a 6l flush on a bowl that was originally designed for 12l & expect it to flush as well (but many manufacturers did just that).

YellowCarBlueCar

Check the soil pipe connection as well.  Most older pans have the connection straight down into the floor, whereas most current designs are close to horizontal. This may require changes to the soil pipe plumbing to accommodate a newer design. 

GDB2222

YellowCarBlueCar said:

Check the soil pipe connection as well.  Most older pans have the connection straight down into the floor, whereas most current designs are close to horizontal. This may require changes to the soil pipe plumbing to accommodate a newer design. 

There are right angle connectors, but the pan may need to be moved further forward.

I know that these high level cisterns are old fashioned, but they are extremely effective at doing the job.  Do have a think about whether you could keep it and spruce it up a bit. 

naf123

New toilets are like 4 or 5 litres per flush and it's goddam awful . 

Please make sure whatever new toilet you get ,has at least 9 litre flush even if you have to search high and low for it !  

On the other hand , perhaps you can explain *why* do you want to replace your toilet ? What's wrong with it ?  If you didn't like the look of the cistern - you could box it in with some plasterboard/ a cupboard ? You could rewire the flush to something more modern ? 

Rosa_Damascena

I much prefer the new dual flush toilets, I've saved loads on water because of it.

Grabs39

YellowCarBlueCar said:

Check the soil pipe connection as well.  Most older pans have the connection straight down into the floor, whereas most current designs are close to horizontal. This may require changes to the soil pipe plumbing to accommodate a newer design. 

This was the case in my old house - the loo was downstairs with the soil pipe coming out of the ground about 8 inches from the wall.  We had to have an "old-fashioned" low-level WC as the cistern had to be a little further back than the pan.  The plumbers merchant had loads of close-coupled options, and then just the one low-level - it seems they must not sell many anymore.

Ditzy_Mitzy

To echo others: I occasionally patronise an old fashioned pub who retain toilets with high mounted cisterns and pull chains in their ladies.  The flush on those, in power terms, utterly eclipses that of a modern toilet.  I have two of the latter at home and they aren't brilliant.  In fact, I found a bog standard seventies coloured toilet to be better when I used it recently.