Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - I'm lowering floor = toilet problem?

(Total amateur here)

This old house's bathroom had the ugly 1.5 inch thick flooring.

I'm demolishing it & will replace it with cement board + tile which is 1 inch thick total. You see there's a 1/2 inch difference.

This will lower the toilet base 1/2 inch closer to the "waste outflow" pipe to which it's currently attached.

Will this 1/2 inch closer thing cause a problem? I'm hoping there is enough "play" within the wax seal to allow this closer distance.

If it *is* a problem, what is the best way to overcome it?

Yes, the 1/2" will cause a problem.
The toilet flange has to be secured flush on top of the floor with just the thickness of the flange above floor level for the wax ring to seal properly.
If the bathroom is above a basement or crawlspace, it should be easy to adjust the flange and closet bend down 1/2".
If it is on an upper floor, you may have to cut into the ceiling to lower it.
The flange needs to be secured to the tile floor.
Ggood Luck!
Mike

I have cut into the floor (needed to). If I am a total novice / weekend power tool kinda guy, would it still be easy to adjust the flange as you say?

Is there a "how to" somewhere, is that flange sautered on, what tools would I need?

(Sorry about all the clueless questions.)

Why not just add another 1/2" thick layer of plywood under the cement board? Or are you trying to match an adjacent floor elevation?

Bruce

Hi, and thanks for answering! Yes, I am hoping to lower the very high bathroom floor to the level of the hallway floor.

My new plan, seeing how the gap is really more like 1.5 feet, was to :

a) Make a 1.5-foot wide plywood plank to serve as sub-floor, next to the old 1920's planks now exposed, and:

b) cut a 1-inch wide gap in that plywood plank to accomodate the pipe, thereby

c) reducing the gap from many inches to just one inch.

Consider that whole thing the subfloor, the old planks plus the plywood plank with the 1-inch gap in it.

Then, I would cement board the whole thing, then lay tile on it.

Feasible? Dangerous? Setting myself up for disaster? Workable?

Here is a picture of my project, to make things clear

http://www.dreamworld.org/floor.jpg

My only addded thought is that I think 1" will be too flimsy for a tile floor.
The "give" will cause cracks, at least in the grout.
Mike

Thanks for replying! I am appreciating all the help.

By 1-inch do you mean the 3/4 subfloor + the 1/4 inch cement board I am considering?

The only reason I ask, the scoundrel contractor did my kitchen exactly that way, and though he is a slime, the kitchen floor is firm and solid and has had no problems in its 7 months. I am in San Francisco, in case code is different here.

Also what do people think of my subfloor gap idea? You know, cutting a 1-inch gap in the new plywood subfloor piece to accomodate the pipe that's too close to the subfloor surface to be covered?

Here is a picture of my *possible* plan :

http://www.dreamworld.org/sub-pipe.jpg

If the 1" gap is going to be under the Durock, then tile, and partially covered by the vanity with the rest between the commode and the vanity....no problem. not a high traffic area. I kinda looked at the pic and drawing a couple of times.
Sounds like a plan.

BTW: I routinely put in 1 1/4" plywood with Durock subfloors. Absolutely no give. Just wanted you to know that is what is done in some areas of the country (USA).
I don't really know about 3/4"....

Have fun and drink the beer after the job...