No matter how spacious your bathroom is, you always want it a bit bigger. There are a number of ways to gain more space, and installing a corner toilet is a proven and the most popular one. From this article, you will learn the advantages and flaws of its construction, how to evaluate the quality of a particular model, and which aspects to pay attention to during installation.
When Do You Need a Corner Toilet?
Two-piece toilets are considered standard ones. They have gained popularity due to their easy installation and maintenance. Their main characteristic is that such models demand assembling, which can be both an advantage and a flaw. On the one hand, if one piece breaks, you don’t have to replace the whole toilet. Such construction also makes transportation much easier. On the other hand, a joint between the water tank and the bowl might be a source of leakage and cause malfunctions. Also, it might not be the best option for small bathrooms, because two-piece toilets don’t belong to space-efficient types.
Corner toilets are not a common type, they are usually installed in tiny bathrooms where other models don’t fit. Their construction allows for irregular planning solutions and saves room for other plumbing, furniture, and comfortable distance between them. This type is lifesaving when you find out that the edge of an ordinary toilet is too close to the sink or prevents a door from closing properly.
Specific construction might be both an advantage and a flaw: everything depends if it fits the bathroom. How do you know which type fits better? The quality of your planning is easy to check: According to building standards, you need at least 23 inches of free space counting from the toilet’s bowl tip and at least 8 inches for your elbows on both sides. If these distances are smaller than the minimal ones, you should consider rearranging your bathroom.
Corner Toilet: Pros and Cons
This kind of toilet is specific, and its advantages are mostly defined by its shape.
- The main advantage of corner toilets is the unusual shape of the tank that allows installing them in corners and saving some space in front of the bowl and on both sides. That makes following ergonomics rules easier and leaves more room for moving around.
- Although corner toilets are primarily associated with cramped rooms, there are no restrictions on using them in bigger premises. This type allows for making up creative planning solutions no matter how big a space you are working with is.
On the other hand, untypical plumbing requires some experience for installation, so you might need to ask for a professional’s opinion.
- A triangular tank makes this model harder to install, so you might need to do additional work by moving pipes. The main drain and water supply need to be close to each other so that you can properly connect a toilet with the plumbing system.
- As a rule, corner toilets provide a narrow choice of shapes and colors since they are perceived as a last resort and are the least popular model. If you are looking for a particular design, get ready to spend a decent amount of time searching.
Basic Features to Pay Attention To
Dimensions are crucial when choosing any kind of plumbing, especially if you need to adjust pipes to make them work. Pay attention to the external dimension of the model and how much free space you will get after installation. Let’s see which features also matter for selecting the right piece of plumbing.
- Reducing the amount of wasted water is a priority for any manufacturer and customer. Using as little water as possible is environmentally responsible, and it also saves you from extra expenses. Look at the number of gallons the tank uses per flush, an optimal figure is 1.6 gallons.
- Regardless of the water tank capacity, it is equipped either with a single-flush or a dual-flush system. Knowing this feature allows defining how efficient a toilet is. Single-flush systems provide one flush button, pushing which drains all the water at once. Dual systems have two buttons to adjust water volume to your needs. Such a system allows more control over the amount of water you spend and over your monthly budget as a result.
- Consider if you can connect such a model to your plumbing system. Specific tank shape requires custom configurations of the pipes, so you might need to introduce some changes. It is better to consult a specialist before buying a corner toilet to prevent surprises at the final stage.
- As well as regular toilets, corner toilets are divided by their construction into one-piece and two-piece models. A one-piece corner toilet is a solid item: It is easy to keep clean but you might experience some difficulties in transportation. In turn, two-piece toilets are easier and more portable, yet they require assembling.
Will It Fit Into Your Bathroom?
To be sure that you choose the right model, select a place for it and check how much free space is left. First of all, consider the external dimensions and make sure the toilet’s edges don’t meet other plumbing, furniture, and doors. It is also useful to check the height of the seat. Then look at the supply line and trap pipe and ensure you can connect a toilet to them properly. Finally, assess if you have enough room to move around.
Selecting a Suitable Corner Toilet
A corner toilet is a specific option that is mostly associated with tiny bathrooms. It allows for saving more space and provides unusual planning, so consider installing a corner toilet if you feel that your movements in the bathroom are restricted. However, setting up such untypical plumbing takes more effort than ordinary ones. For example, you might need to replace some pipes to connect a toilet to the whole plumbing system. You can avoid most of the issues by carefully choosing a model that fits your bathroom: Pay attention to its dimensions and construction and notice the flushing system and the number of gallons it drains per flush.
