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Glam Journal

Should toilet flange be flush with concrete floor?

Author

Emily Wilson

Updated on April 05, 2026

Should toilet flange be flush with concrete floor?

Cut off the Old Flange and Obstructions You will need to remove this old flange and any obstructions before you can install the new flange. On concrete slabs, the old flange will be attached via bolts embedded in the concrete. Make sure that all of these pieces are cut down perfectly flush with the concrete.

Does a flange have to be level with the floor?

With the toilet removed, you can see the toilet flange and measure its height above the floor. The optimum flange height to aim for is 1/4 inch above the finished floor. This typically allows for almost any type of wax ring to be used and still ensure a good seal.

Does toilet flange need to be secured to floor?

The flange should be fastened to the floor. Dry fit the toilet to make sure it doesn’t rock. If it does rock, use shims to prevent rocking – just tightening the bolts probably will not stop the rocking but will risk cracking the toilet or breaking the flange. We would usually screw it down during the rough in.

Do you glue the toilet flange to the pipe?

If the pipe has a 4-inch inside diameter: This toilet flange is designed to glue on the inside of the pipe or expand inside the pipe. Leave the old toilet flange right in place and glue on the new one at the right elevation for the floor, if it’s plastic. If it isn’t, then you will have to cut away the old flange.

What’s the best way to install a closet flange?

Option 3 is the easiest. It’s an a Push Tite gasketed closet flange. Simply push this down into the old closet flange and secure it to the wood subfloor with galvanized or stainless steel screws. Charlie taught us this second tip, a closet flange should be flush or up to 1/4″ above your finished floor.

Do you need a closet flange extender for a toilet?

But you need the closet flange bolts to be long enough to fit up through the base of the toilet bowl. Furthermore, clean off all the old wax from the closet flange using a putty knife before installing the closet flange extender.

How to install a new toilet flange on a concrete slab?

Place the T-bolts upside-down in the new toilet flange so that the threaded shafts are sticking up. This step is all about the placement of the flange, not about installing the toilet. Having the bolts in place helps you better visualize how the toilet will be positioned. Continue to 5 of 7 below.

Why is the closet flange above the toilet bowl?

Charlie taught us this second tip, a closet flange should be flush or up to 1/4″ above your finished floor. The reason why is because wax rings compress over time. If the closet flange is below the finished floor, a gap will form between the bottom of the toilet bowl and top of the wax ring.

Option 3 is the easiest. It’s an a Push Tite gasketed closet flange. Simply push this down into the old closet flange and secure it to the wood subfloor with galvanized or stainless steel screws. Charlie taught us this second tip, a closet flange should be flush or up to 1/4″ above your finished floor.

But you need the closet flange bolts to be long enough to fit up through the base of the toilet bowl. Furthermore, clean off all the old wax from the closet flange using a putty knife before installing the closet flange extender.

Place the T-bolts upside-down in the new toilet flange so that the threaded shafts are sticking up. This step is all about the placement of the flange, not about installing the toilet. Having the bolts in place helps you better visualize how the toilet will be positioned. Continue to 5 of 7 below.

Charlie taught us this second tip, a closet flange should be flush or up to 1/4″ above your finished floor. The reason why is because wax rings compress over time. If the closet flange is below the finished floor, a gap will form between the bottom of the toilet bowl and top of the wax ring.