I'm going to remodel my little guest bath and have a question about toilet heights. I only have two baths in the house. One is the little guest bath. One is my master.
My house was built in 1989. Everything in the little guest bath dates to that time. I'm going to replace the sink and cabinet and the tub. The tub is perfectly fine but has never drained right. I have had 3 plumbers tell me if i remodel to replace the tub with a $5.00 gizmo that the builder did not put in and the tub will then drain. Gotta love FL construction. I'm going to tile and paint.
Anyways, there is nothing wrong with the toilet. My contractor said they last forever and to swap out the handle. My girlfriend says I should put in an ADA toilet due to me aging. I'm 54. (Americans with Disability Act) for the Europeans. It is about 4" taller than a standard toilet.
The toilet sits behind a pony wall so you don't see it when you walk in.
Guests use this bathroom and the bf showers and grooms there.
I feel like I'm a little young to be putting in an ADA toilet. I'd like to keep working out my quads. Mom can't live alone and if anything happens to Dad (he is walking inflammation) I'll probably get Mom. Mom at 78 does not have problems getting up and down. Mom is celiac.
I'm planning on putting a handicapped bar that doesn't look like a handicap bar next to toilet and also a handicap bar that does not look like a handicap bar in tub/shower.
My question for MC'rs. Is there any advantage for defecation at a taller height? Compared to using a standard toilet. I thought mankind was made to be close to the ground squatting? I'm interested in your feedback. Should I consider an ADA toilet?
Question for Leah if she sees this. Don't my quads stay in better shape with a standard toilet?
Brandy
toilet height for remodel
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Brandy,
IMO, as toilets get taller, they become less suitable for defecation efficiency (for the reason you cited, about squatting being more efficient). Therefore, unless physical limitations are an issue, lower is better. Did you know that most toilets made for RVs are typically about 14 and a half inches high (more or less)? However, so many people (especially taller folks) complain about them that the biggest manufacturers of RV toilets now offer standard height toilets for RVs. So apparently standard height units are more comfortable for most people, while taller units make rising easier after use.
One of these days, some entrepreneur will realize that there is a huge market potential for adjustable height toilets that use air cylinders (similar to office chairs). Normal position would be relatively high, but once seated, the user could simply move the air-control lever (or depress a button) to lower the seat to whatever operating height is desired. When finished, using the lever (or button) while rising, would provide a lift assist to make rising much easier. Problem solved.
For this application, the design would probably benefit from a small air supply tank (recharged by a small air compressor) to provide much more potent lift assist (far superior to the minimal lift provided by the sealed air cylinders used in chairs).
With the addition of a heated seat and hydraulic cleansing features, you could have the ultimate in toilet sophistication. Toilet-envy by all the neighbors would provide proof that this is probably the next big thing.
Tex
IMO, as toilets get taller, they become less suitable for defecation efficiency (for the reason you cited, about squatting being more efficient). Therefore, unless physical limitations are an issue, lower is better. Did you know that most toilets made for RVs are typically about 14 and a half inches high (more or less)? However, so many people (especially taller folks) complain about them that the biggest manufacturers of RV toilets now offer standard height toilets for RVs. So apparently standard height units are more comfortable for most people, while taller units make rising easier after use.
One of these days, some entrepreneur will realize that there is a huge market potential for adjustable height toilets that use air cylinders (similar to office chairs). Normal position would be relatively high, but once seated, the user could simply move the air-control lever (or depress a button) to lower the seat to whatever operating height is desired. When finished, using the lever (or button) while rising, would provide a lift assist to make rising much easier. Problem solved.
For this application, the design would probably benefit from a small air supply tank (recharged by a small air compressor) to provide much more potent lift assist (far superior to the minimal lift provided by the sealed air cylinders used in chairs).With the addition of a heated seat and hydraulic cleansing features, you could have the ultimate in toilet sophistication. Toilet-envy by all the neighbors would provide proof that this is probably the next big thing.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
A cheaper route, Tex, might be to invest in a Squatty Potty - check it out on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/easyGOpro-Ergonom ... atty+potty
For $25, you can put one around your toilet and squat in comfort. I have found it very helpful for the last few months...
http://www.amazon.com/easyGOpro-Ergonom ... atty+potty
For $25, you can put one around your toilet and squat in comfort. I have found it very helpful for the last few months...
Yes, but that doesn't resolve the accessibility issue for people who have problems with physical limitations.
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Tex and Hopeful,
Thanks for the feedback! I'm leaning towards keeping the one I have. It is hidden behind a pony wall so you don't really see it when you walk into the little bathroom. Reduce Reuse Recycle. Keeping the one I have will save me money I can use towards kitchen remodel next year.....and MCers really use our kitchens.
My contractor is going to put in a new universal flange and he said if I want to swap out toilet down the road it won't mess up my tile work.
My other consideration is I have a traditional flow toilet. A new toilet would be low flow. I prefer traditional flow toilet for our disease and our water costs are not too bad. In our part of the country we don't have water shortage issues found elsewhere.
If anyone else has any comments from a cosmetic redo or aging angle I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Brandy
Thanks for the feedback! I'm leaning towards keeping the one I have. It is hidden behind a pony wall so you don't really see it when you walk into the little bathroom. Reduce Reuse Recycle. Keeping the one I have will save me money I can use towards kitchen remodel next year.....and MCers really use our kitchens.
My contractor is going to put in a new universal flange and he said if I want to swap out toilet down the road it won't mess up my tile work.
My other consideration is I have a traditional flow toilet. A new toilet would be low flow. I prefer traditional flow toilet for our disease and our water costs are not too bad. In our part of the country we don't have water shortage issues found elsewhere.
If anyone else has any comments from a cosmetic redo or aging angle I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Brandy
Are the so-called water-saving toilets any better than they used to be? The ones I tried a few years back were so anemic that they usually required 2 or 3 flushes to get the job done. And you were lucky if they didn't choke down in the process. How is that saving any water?
And IMO worrying about aging ahead of time just makes us age faster. Smartphone technology is advancing so rapidly these days that by the time you get old and/or decrepit enough to require special bathroom accommodations, you will probably be able to just use your phone.
Tex
And IMO worrying about aging ahead of time just makes us age faster. Smartphone technology is advancing so rapidly these days that by the time you get old and/or decrepit enough to require special bathroom accommodations, you will probably be able to just use your phone.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Brandy,brandy wrote:Hi Tex and Hopeful,
Thanks for the feedback! I'm leaning towards keeping the one I have. It is hidden behind a pony wall so you don't really see it when you walk into the little bathroom. Reduce Reuse Recycle. Keeping the one I have will save me money I can use towards kitchen remodel next year.....and MCers really use our kitchens.
My contractor is going to put in a new universal flange and he said if I want to swap out toilet down the road it won't mess up my tile work.
My other consideration is I have a traditional flow toilet. A new toilet would be low flow. I prefer traditional flow toilet for our disease and our water costs are not too bad. In our part of the country we don't have water shortage issues found elsewhere.
If anyone else has any comments from a cosmetic redo or aging angle I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Brandy
I vote for keeping the one you have and putting the $ into your kitchen re-model. We just did our downstairs bathroom also and re-did our kitchen. We live in Maine and put in a heated floor under the new tile in the bathroom and OMG, how I LOVE this especially on cold mornings! We find if we shut the door, it heats the room up also. We did not use a low flow toilet in the new bathroom not only because of MC but due to me living with a man, LOL! We have a mud room with a low flow toilet and what a pain in the ass (no pun intended) that is! It rarely flushes anything on the first flush and given that you have to flush it twice, I doubt I'm saving any water! Have fun! We are now putting in a tile floor in the small bathroom upstairs. It's so exciting to see projects come to the end!
Brandy,
If your old toilet is ok, I would keep it. If you have someone staying at your house that has problems standing from it, you can always get a toilet riser for them. I used one after my second knee replacement ten years ago. My mom has one that has arm rests like a chair that helps her get up from her low toilet.
Brenda
If your old toilet is ok, I would keep it. If you have someone staying at your house that has problems standing from it, you can always get a toilet riser for them. I used one after my second knee replacement ten years ago. My mom has one that has arm rests like a chair that helps her get up from her low toilet.
Brenda
Brenda
-
MBombardier
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1523
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:44 am
- Location: Vancouver, WA
Brenda,
Didn't know such a gizmo existed. I'll remember that for my Dad.
Cathy,
I would love heated floors in my master and have talked about them to the boyfriend. He thought I was crazy until he saw how cold my master bath gets. I've never seen them in use but they get really good reviews. My problem would probably be installation. I'm guessing they are not regularly installed in North Florida. My contractor is a can do kind of guy so I think I'll ask him if he's done any installations. I was reading up on line and it seems like you have to know what you are doing for installation on a slab.
I'm curious what colors you went with on your downstairs bathroom remodel and on your kitchen remodel? I'm bogged down at this decision. Styles in my area are not "Florida Ish" i.e. no one has rattan or flordia colors it is more traditional here.
Thanks everyone I decided to keep my existing toilet.
Brandy
Didn't know such a gizmo existed. I'll remember that for my Dad.
Cathy,
I would love heated floors in my master and have talked about them to the boyfriend. He thought I was crazy until he saw how cold my master bath gets. I've never seen them in use but they get really good reviews. My problem would probably be installation. I'm guessing they are not regularly installed in North Florida. My contractor is a can do kind of guy so I think I'll ask him if he's done any installations. I was reading up on line and it seems like you have to know what you are doing for installation on a slab.
I'm curious what colors you went with on your downstairs bathroom remodel and on your kitchen remodel? I'm bogged down at this decision. Styles in my area are not "Florida Ish" i.e. no one has rattan or flordia colors it is more traditional here.
Thanks everyone I decided to keep my existing toilet.
Brandy
My guest bath remodeling is complete. I have befores and afters posted below. Thanks everyone for your help. I really wanted natural stone floors like travertine or marble but I realized as an MCer is that I needed scrubbable floors so I went with porcelain tile for the floors and quartz for the countertops. One night before I started remodeling and the boyfriend had his liver abscesses he did not make it to the toilet. Yup, brown smears all over the floor that he had tried to clean up in the middle of the night. It took me several hours the next morning to bleach water clean the floors. After that episode I switched to the porcelain tile.
There is a shot of me in one of the pictures.
There is a shot of me in one of the pictures.
Tex, I will be awaiting your patent on that toilet you described above! That would be great!
Looks good Brandy!
Looks good Brandy!
Martha E.
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC
Philippians 4:13
Jul 2008 took Clindamycin for a Sinus infection that forever changed my life
Dec 2014 MC Dx
Jul 15, 2015 Elimination Diet
Aug 17, 2015 Enterolab Test
Dec 2015 Reflux
Sept 2016 IC