Toilet Renovation: Toilet Relocation
When renovating a toilet, the relocation of the toilet can be carried out using the following methods depending on the situation:
1. Toilet Displacement Device Method
This method is suitable for small-scale, short-distance relocations, typically with a movement distance of 10-30 centimeters and a maximum of no more than 40 centimeters. The core principle is to extend the path of the sewage pipe by installing a displacement device, enabling minor adjustments to the toilet's position. This method involves minimal alterations and low costs but has significant limitations: the slope of the pipe after relocation must be strictly controlled between 1%-3%. Insufficient slope can lead to reduced flushing power and an increased risk of blockages. Additionally, the internal elbows of the displacement device can alter the direction of water flow, potentially affecting drainage efficiency. During construction, it is essential to ensure a tight seal between the displacement device and the original sewage pipe to prevent leaks.
2. Ground Elevation Method
This method involves constructing a concrete base platform 180-200 millimeters high and embedding a new sewage pipe within it to achieve long-distance relocation of the toilet. This approach offers flexible layout options and can meet complex relocation needs but significantly raises the height of the bathroom floor, affecting spatial aesthetics and usability (e.g., requiring steps or thresholds). During construction, attention should be paid to ensuring the base platform is firmly bonded to the original floor to prevent cracking; the slope of the sewage pipe should comply with regulations (usually 1%-2%) to ensure smooth drainage; and the elevated area should be waterproofed after completion to prevent leaks.
3. Re-drilling or Wall-mounted Drainage Method
This method involves converting traditional floor drainage to wall-mounted drainage, where the sewage pipe runs along the wall and ultimately connects to the main drainage stack. This approach does not require elevating the floor, and the pipes can be concealed within the wall or decorative layer, resulting in a cleaner visual appearance. However, it requires the following conditions: consent from the downstairs occupants (as holes need to be drilled in the floor slab); strict waterproofing of the drilled areas during construction to prevent leaks to the downstairs; and wall-mounted toilets require matching dedicated water tanks and brackets, resulting in higher costs.
4. Same-floor Drainage Relocation Method
For sunken bathrooms (with a slab depression height typically of 300-400 millimeters), the sewage pipe can be directly rearranged within the depressed layer to achieve relocation of the toilet to any desired position. This method does not require damaging the floor slab structure, has no impact on the downstairs occupants, and offers strong pipe concealment. However, the prerequisite is that the building itself has a sunken structure; this method cannot be used for traditional inter-floor drainage. During construction, attention should be paid to ensuring proper waterproofing and drainage slope design within the depressed layer to prevent water accumulation; pipe connections should be secure to prevent interface cracking due to later settlement.
5. Downstairs Pipe Modification Method
This method is suitable for inter-floor drainage bathrooms and involves modifying the sewage pipe within the ceiling of the downstairs occupants. This approach can completely solve the relocation problem but is the most difficult to implement: strict consent must be obtained from the downstairs occupants and property management; construction must be carried out by professionals to avoid damaging the floor slab structure; after modification, the downstairs ceiling must be repaired and waterproofed to ensure no leak hazards.
