Shelly McRae is a freelance writer residing in Phoenix, Ariz. Having earned an associate degree from Glendale Community College with a major in graphic design and technical writing, she turned to online writing. McRae has written articles for multiple websites, drawing on her experience in the home improvement industry and hydroponic gardening.
Overview
Installing tile in a bathroom means having to install tile around a toilet. To install tile around a toilet, however, you need to remove the toilet and place the tile underneath it. The toilet, then, is set back onto the tile, giving the appearance that the tile surrounds the toilet. The reason for this is that the wax seal beneath the toilet wears out and the fixture will then leak. With the tile installed beneath the toilet, you can repair the seals without ruining your tile.
Step 1
Shut off the water to the toilet using the valve for the water line to the toilet. Flush to drain and remove any excess water.
Step 2
Remove the nuts from the retaining bolts at the base of the toilet. Lift the fixture straight up. This breaks the wax ring. Expect some water to leak from the fixture. Remove excess wax from the bottom of the toilet and store toilet in a safe place.
Step 3
Clean the area around the drainage pipe, taking care not to let any debris fall into the pipe.
Step 4
Note where the retaining ring is around the drainpipe. This is a metal ring that surrounds the drainpipe and is anchored to the floor.
Step 5
Tile the floor up to the retaining ring, making appropriate cuts to surround the retaining ring. Leave a gap no larger than 1/4 inch between the tiles and the retaining ring. You will not grout in this space, however.
Step 6
Complete the tiling project. Before replacing the toilet, install a new wax ring. If your new tile is thicker than the previous flooring, you may need to replace the retaining bolts with longer ones.
Step 7
Replace the toilet. Turn on the water and flush to fill.
