Brrrr, cold!

Of course, many of us grew up with outdoor dunnies which were grin-and-bear-it rooms in the heart of a freezing winter and when the move was finally made to install the toilet indoors, it seemed like the dawning of a glorious new era, as we could at last say goodbye to those arduous trips to the coldest room on the property.

Hurray for the modern toilet

Nowadays, toilets come in all shapes and sizes and some Australian homes even view them as an essential luxury item – you can now buy a WC just like those in Japan with warm seats, various press-button flush options and even a bodily cleaning function!

Homework required; we make it easy

Whatever your style, knowing how to select the right toilet is important in any home renovation or new home installation and you will need to spend a bit of time doing your homework, though we can make the job much easier for you by outlining what you need to think about.

Likes & dislikes

Probably the best place to start when selecting the right toilet is working out what matters to you. Are you keen to have a simple toilet that does the job efficiently and reliably or would you prefer a unit with water-saving features such as the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) star rating which can help you to reduce your water consumption, helping you save money and lowering your environmental impact.? What about colour and style, a one or two-piece or a wall-hung toilet?

Money matters

And last but by no means least, what is your budget? Toilets can be far more expensive than you might first imagine – some are more than $900 – and you need to be confident that what you are choosing is worth the cost, particularly if you are installing more than one toilet in your home.

Measure up

Once you have determined the right aesthetic for your bathrooms, you then need to look at measuring the space for your new toilet. You can ask for help from a qualified plumber or a bathroom flatpack supplier like us – especially if your installation is a DIY project, you need to know the exact distance between the floor drain and the wall.

Seat subtleties

You need to think about your toilet seat size, too. You can work out the seat size you need by measuring the base of your loo. Do this by:

• Measuring the distance between the seat holes;
• Measuring the width of the bowl at its widest point;
• Measuring the distance between the middle of the seat hole and the front centre of the bowl.

Shape choices

Back in the old days, there probably was only one shape of toilet seat but in 2019 you do have more choice. Seat shapes are either round, elongated or cubed.

Choosing a shape has a lot to do with overall comfort and functionality therefore have a think about whether you want features such as greater comfort, a soft closing toilet seat or raised height, for example.

Height considerations

As for selecting the right toilet when it comes to height, you’ll need to be aware that this is normally measured from the floor to the top of the rim. Naturally, height needs to be taken into account when sitting down or standing to use your loo. If you feel unsure about what are the right measurements, discuss it with your flatpack supplier for guidance.

Toilet selection

Now, finally, you need to choose what kind of toilet you want to select for the space.

• Two-piece toilets are still popular as they are good value, fairly easy to install and replacement parts are usually readily available;
• One-piece toilets are a great option for a smaller space, can look more modern that two-piece loos, but you may have to pay more;
• With a wall-hung toilet, you will need to be able to mount it on a wall. This will be more time consuming and costly, and you will need a wall drain rather than a floor drain which may appeal as it’s hidden and therefore they can be very appealing in the right setting.

Toilet pan

Next, you’ll need to choose a toilet pan, the three most common types are: S-trap, P-trap and skew trap.

For the uninitiated, the trap is the bend in the toilet pipe that gets rid of the waste, and keeps smelly sewer gases from coming up into your bathroom.

• The S-trap pan has a waste pipe that’s connected to the floor;
• The P-trap pan pipe connects directly to the wall;
• The style skew trap pan extends either side of the bowl, which is considered an older style nowadays.

If this blog has inspired you to go ahead and select the right toilet for your home and you would like to find out more about how it’s done by the experts, read more at smartpack.com.au.