Doing a complete remodel on upstairs bathroom. New tub is set, putting down Hardi backer on the floor. Do you cut the hole in the backer board around the sewer pipe to fit right up to it, or do you leave some slight space away from the pipe, but yet under the flange? I'm tiling over the backer board. I've read already that the flange should sit on top of your finished flooring. My questions is, do you screw through the flange holes and into the backer board? Or does the toilet merely sit over the flange (wax ring also) and just the 2 screws for the toilet go into the flange ring? Given that the flooring will be level, and the flange is already solid into the sewer pipe, is it necessary to screw through the holes in the flange itself to secure it to the subfloor?
How is a toilet flange attached to new flooring
bathroomflangeinstallationtoilet
Related Solutions
The toilet flange needs to be on top of the finished floor. Meaning the bottom edge of the flange needs to be on the same plane as the toilet. So if your toilet sits on the tile, the flange needs to be on top of the tile too. The spacing of the toilet exit "horn" and sealing surface is designed for this height.
almost all plumbers agree, here are some sources:
http://www.terrylove.com/forums/showthread.php?51976-Toilet-flange-height
if you have it lower than the finished floor you risk leaking toilet water (the water is the best part) into the floor or worse, in-between the tile, sub-floor, backer board. This is because the wax ring was designed only to take up the air gap, not to provide a "tunnel" or extension of the pipe/flange/toilet horn.
You need a "Set-Rite Flange Extender Kit" This can solve the entire problem. I believe in US they are available in Lowes, Menards and Ace Hardware. In Canada harder to find. Best bet is a larger RONA store or an ACE Hardware if you can still find one. See this site < https://set-rite.com/frequently-asked-questions/ >
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Best Answer
You should screw the flange through the floor, through the subfloor, and ideally into some kind of framing. Use all holes. I don't fully understand the reason for this, but all flange manufacturers are very clear that you need to screw the flange down.