Whether you’re going for a contemporary wall-hung or more traditional toilet, the right positioning is key for a practical and aesthetically pleasing space.
There are a few key factors to bear in mind when thinking about where the loo will go – including the location of the soil pipe, and the type of toilet you’re going for, as different options will have different requirements. KBB journo Francesca Seden has the lowdown…
Firstly, the loo should never be more than six metres from the soil pipe, and ideally should be as short a distance from it as possible. It is possible to change the location of the soil pipe, but this will add potentially significant extra costs to the bathroom project.
If you did want to reposition the toilet, there are a few ways to do this. Justine Bullock, director at The Tap End, says it’s possible either by reconfiguring the soil pipe externally and bringing it into the room in a new position, or by extending it internally and boxing it in within the room.
“This is the most common way we achieve a new layout for clients, and we make the boxing a feature and part of the design to accommodate this.”
Which toilet should I choose?
As well as the positioning of the all-important plumbing, the amount of space you have available will have an influence on the type of WC you can go for, and on its position. For example, both wall-hung and floor-standing options with flush plates need concealed cisterns so will likely need to be boxed in, unless they can be hidden behind a stud wall, during the building phase.
Whatever the case, if you’re going for the clean, seamless and space-saving aesthetic of a wall-hung option, remember that the wall must support the weight of the frame and the loo.
A final consideration with a hidden cistern option is to use a flush plate rather than a button. The practicality of this means if there are any faults with the cistern, this can be accessed via the flush plate as opposed to having to remove boxing around, on or top. This allows you to have wall-to-wall boxing which creates a clean, neat look.
How much space does your toilet need?
Whatever toilet you choose, Richard Ticehurst, brand expert at Burlington, adds that you should ensure that there’s enough space around the sanitaryware.
You’ll need about 15-18 inches from the centre to nearby walls or fixtures – to keep things comfortable and easy to use. “Don’t forget about ventilation either; putting the toilet near a window or adding a good extractor fan can help keep damp and odours at bay,” he says.
Height and positioning
It’s also worth considering a ‘comfort height’ option or situating the wall-hung at ‘comfort height’, (17-19 inches-high for comfort height vs 15 inches for standard). While this used to be considered mainly for accessible bathrooms, this higher, more comfortable level is now becoming the norm in bathroom design. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that the taller loo will be more tricky for younger children to use.
Finally, each of our experts said that placing a toilet out of sight upon entrance to the bathroom is key. Designer at CP Hart, Hannah Bardwell, says that if this can be placed behind a door or in a corner, depending on the existing soil pipe location, this is preferable.
“In larger bathroom spaces, opting for a frosted/fluted privacy panel or a door enclosure allows the WC to be separate from the basin and showering space. This is popular in hotel design but is becoming increasingly used in homes,” she says.
Looking to buy new bathroom radiators? Click here for our top tips
About Post Author
