Buying a toilet

sbywater

Specifically close coupled variety, I know....exciting!!!

I am in the market for 2 new toilets. I don't want to spend a fortune so would like to keep within £400 for the pair. I also require one to be a short projection one for out cloakroom.

I have been looking at the Ceramica Tivoli and Milan as both easily suits my budget and aesthetics. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of independent reviews or advice in this area either. Are all toilets created equal??

I have heard or Armatige Shanks, but not Ceramica, Nuie, Rak, Ideal standard etc etc. Has anyone got some advice or real world experience?

I have included pics of the two I have initially picked, but am open to advice and suggestions 

many thanks once again 

Slinky

We've recently bought Rak Resort Comfort height toilets in preparation for our old age when getting off the loo could be harder on the knees. Toilet heights haven't changed for years in the main, although the population have grown taller. Ours are 5cm higher than a standard pan.

We spent quite a bit of time chatting with the owner of the local bathroom shop who has many years experience. He recommended we go with Rak or Ideal Standard.  Our plumber recommended going with open back (as your pictures show) as closed back ones when they are assembled, you hope that the pan has fully connected into the output pipe, but you can't really tell for sure. Open back is easier to check.

knightstyle

I have bought and fitted several toilets over the years and usually buy a cheaper, not cheapest ones from local builders merchants. Latest was a month ago from Wickes who were selling stuff off, paid £95 for a good one with eco flush to use less water.  I would go round and have a look at their offers, the best deals are not on line, ex display, managers specials or discontinued.  We are lucky as several places selling them are close together about 1.5 miles away.

jennifernil

sbywater said:

Specifically close coupled variety, I know....exciting!!!

I am in the market for 2 new toilets. I don't want to spend a fortune so would like to keep within £400 for the pair. I also require one to be a short projection one for out cloakroom.

I have been looking at the Ceramica Tivoli and Milan as both easily suits my budget and aesthetics. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of independent reviews or advice in this area either. Are all toilets created equal??

I have heard or Armatige Shanks, but not Ceramica, Nuie, Rak, Ideal standard etc etc. Has anyone got some advice or real world experience?

I have included pics of the two I have initially picked, but am open to advice and suggestions 

many thanks once again 

Ideal Standard is a well known brand in UK, been around for ages, we have a toilet and basin from them in our 34 year old house, still look good.  Our daughter also had their stuff in her 3 bathrooms in her 2012 newbuild.

I believe they are part of the same company as Armitage Shanks these days.

Our daughter has refitted 2 bathrooms recently, and has used Ideal Standard toilets, we are in the middle of doing our en suite and have the same Ideal Standard back to wall toilet, and one of their inset basins.

BUFF

Armitage Shanks is part of Ideal Standard these days.
RAK are a large, well-established sanitaryware company from the Middle East.
Nuie are part of Roxor, which is a smaller UK company with a mix of sourcing & manufacture.
Not sure about Ceramica. There are lots of (usually Italian/Spanish) brands with ceramica in them but nothing to stop someone sourcing from somewhere else & sticking ceramica in the name..

badger09

We’ve recently reinstated a toilet inside our attached garage. It’s in a tiny separate space, not in the middle of said garage😉. Plumber has fitted a cloakroom size VitrA back to wall toilet & small basin. Both seem decent quality but the toilet seat is flimsy & cheap looking (my fault as I just left choice to him). I’ll replace it with something more robust IDC. 

YBR

Would you consider a toilet with basin combo?
The idea is that you flush the toilet with the water you washed your hands with last time - water saving.

BUFF

Big in Japan! (as Alphaville would sing)
Very common there.

sbywater

YBR said:

Would you consider a toilet with basin combo?
The idea is that you flush the toilet with the water you washed your hands with last time - water saving.

🤣🤣 Not sure the Mrs would be happy with this??

ashe

YBR said:

Would you consider a toilet with basin combo?
The idea is that you flush the toilet with the water you washed your hands with last time - water saving.

Our plumber suggested this for our en suite, no thanks 😂 can imagine water splashing everywhere, nowhere for soap dispenser, not sure if it saves water because it must refill after a flush? 

We've got 3 RAK toilets in our house and they're all very good with strong flushes and excellent quality seats 

Slinky

Certainly wouldn't want one of those if that was the only place to attempt to clean teeth. As in all these things, they put a picture of a loo on a long empty wall, when in reality you're only likely to go for that sort of thing because you are extremely limited for space.