Fitting new toilet and sink - do it myself??

lynnexxxo

Hi everyone and thanks in advance

I am thinking of fitting a new sink and toilet myself in my downstairs loo. I have already bought a sink with vanity unit (focus closing down sale) and was planning on getting one of those 'to go' toilets from b and q and fitting it myself.

Given my plumbing experience is zero (well I did change some taps) do you think it would be a really bad idea? Can't be that hard, can it??

I'm not planning on moving anything, just an 'in out' job.

If you think I'm mad to attempt it, any idea how much i should pay to get it done? (i'm in scotland)

Thanks again

wallbash

Can't be that hard, can it??

Could be but with a bit of forward planning .... go for it!

The 'new' plastic conenctors, push fit are really simple. Would suggest a pipe cutter
gives a clean cut, using a hack saw needs 'talent'.

As its a downstairs cloakroom , am guessing , its NOT your only Loo, so you can take your time.

PS keep me informed:beer:
As I stripped out my cloakroom just before Easter, tiles off, cleared room.
So will be 'plumbing' at he same time.

emg

Sorry to hijack your thread Lynne but I'm also planning to fit a toilet this weekend and have spent ages googling how to do it. It seems to me that a straight swap shouldnt be too tricky. The current toilet waste pipe has been plumbed into a plastic connector but I'm guessing I should probably put a new connector in. My only worry is whether it is going to be tricky to get the old connector out as I think it has been sealed with something. I wondered if anyone had any advice on what to do if the soil pipe gets damaged? (I like to be prepared for every eventuality!)

bockster

yes, forward planning is essential if your a novice, to give youself every chance of success.
plan for things like;- how to turn off the water, drilling floor and walls for your sanitary ware, types of fixings(does your toilet cistern back onto a platerboard wall?), plastic/rubber 'washers' req'd between screws and cistern/toilet pan may/maynot be supplied, position of toilet outlet (will it mate up with existing waste connector?), likewise sink connector, flexible tap connectors can make life easy, etc, etc.
hope this helps

lynnexxxo

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I was going to buy one of those to go toliets in b and q. The box says 'everything you need' on it. Now do they mean EVERYTHING you need or everything you need, except we bits and bobs that you will find yourself having to stop mid way to go to homebase for. (homebase is nearer to me but shockingly expensive).

Few quick questions, I need to put in new vinyl/tiles (currently a carpet in there (bleugh). Should i take the toilet out and put the new floor down, and then put the new toilet on?

My issue with doing this is that it might take me a while to tile, and i assume i can't switch the water back on until my new toilet is fitted.

Also, if it goes wrong and i can't fix it is there any way I can turn the water back on to the rest of the house until a plumber comes?

Emg - i'd be really interested to hear how you get on this weekend - good luck!

emg

Thanks Lynne - it's my only toilet so a bit scary but I have sorted out somewhere to stay in case it all goes horribly wrong! I need to panel the wall while my toilet is out so I decided I didnt really have time to do the floor as well but I can imagine it is much easier to do while the toilet is out.

adaze

Just make sure you get a new toilet that will fit your existing soil pipe setup, then its almost a case of take out the old and pop on the new, almost

Like wallbash mentioned the plastic connectors make life a lot easier, especially if your soil pipe is out of alignment.

bockster

lynnexxxo wrote: »

My issue with doing this is that it might take me a while to tile, and i assume i can't switch the water back on until my new toilet is fitted.

Also, if it goes wrong and i can't fix it is there any way I can turn the water back on to the rest of the house until a plumber comes?

if you don't allready have them fitted, get service valves for all water connections. pushfit types are available. and the flexy tap connectors i mentioned are also available with service valves built in, (goes looking for a link...)

bockster

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/13964/Plumbing/Flexible-Hoses/15mm-x-x-13mm-Push-Fit-Tap-Connector-with-Valve
this is pushfit with valve, £4.59 x 2. http://www.screwfix.com/prods/18417/Plumbing/Flexible-Hoses/Flex-Tap-Connector-Cold-Water-Valve-15mm-x
this one is compression @£2.59 x 2.

EliteHeat

Your biggest problem is likely to be that the inlet to the cistern is very unlikely to match up with your existing supply.

So, you may need to make pipework modifications and this may take some time, Best to get a 15mm isolation valve and fit this first, you can then turn the water on and relax - until you need to actually use the toilet that is

emg

Thanks for all the tips so far. My old toilet has an overflow pipe coming from the cistern and the new one overflows into the pan. Can I just cut off the overflow pipe at the wall and fill it in?