Can Housing Toilets Be Moved?

Housing toilets can be moved, but it requires careful operation and comprehensive consideration of multiple factors.

Technical Feasibility

• Small-scale relocation: If the relocation distance is between 10 and 40 centimeters, a relocation device can be used. During construction, a slope of 1% - 3% should be reserved to ensure smooth drainage, and the relocation operation should be completed before laying floor tiles.
• Large-scale relocation: If the relocation exceeds 40 centimeters, or even reaches a distance of three to four meters, the floor needs to be raised by 12 - 20 centimeters to hide the pipes inside. However, this method will affect the indoor space height. Families with elderly people or children should consider it carefully to avoid bumps caused by the raised floor.
• Wall-mounted toilet: You can also choose to install a wall-mounted toilet. The water tank is mounted on the wall, providing strong flushing power and being easy to clean. However, its installation is laborious, the price is relatively high, and when it comes to maintenance, removing the wall is more troublesome than removing the toilet.

Legal and Regulatory Restrictions

• Location restrictions: According to the "Residential Design Code" GB 50096 - 2011, toilets should not be directly arranged above the bedrooms, living rooms (halls), kitchens, and dining rooms of lower-floor occupants. If the new location involves the above-mentioned areas, relocating the toilet is an illegal act.
• Waterproofing requirements restrictions: The "Measures for the Administration of Interior Decoration and Renovation of Residential Buildings" clearly prohibits converting rooms or balconies without waterproofing requirements into toilets. If the new location does not meet the waterproofing conditions, illegal renovation may face a fine ranging from 500 yuan to 10,000 yuan and require rework and rectification.
• Consent from the lower-floor occupant: If it is necessary to modify the pipes of the lower floor, both the property management and the lower-floor owner must sign and agree. Otherwise, the renovation cannot be carried out.

Other Considerations

• Waterproofing treatment: After moving the toilet, a new waterproof layer needs to be applied in the new area. The waterproofing height should be no less than 1.8 meters, and the number of brushings should meet the standard (usually 2 - 3 times). If the waterproofing is not in place, it is easy to cause water leakage, damaging your own decoration or affecting neighborly relations.
• Pipe planning: When re-planning the water supply and drainage pipes, if the pipe routing is unreasonable, it may generate water flow noise; improper sealing at the places where the pipes pass through the floor may also cause condensed water to drip. It is necessary to reduce the impact through sound insulation materials and sealing treatment.