How to Anchor a Toilet Flange in a Tile Floor

Before you can install a toilet on your tile floor, you must first anchor the toilet flange onto the floor. The flange piece holds the closet bolts in place, keeping the toilet stationary. The flange also works with the wax ring to seal the connection between the bottom of the toilet and the drainpipe in the floor, keeping water from leaking onto the bathroom floor. You must use certain techniques and a certain drill bit to anchor the flange properly in a tile bathroom floor.

Masking tape
Marker
Drill
Carbide or diamond drill bit
Screws
Screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  Slide the toilet flange into place on the floor and note the location of where the screw holes from the flange touch the floor. Place masking tape on the portion of the tile floor where the screw holes touch, if the tile is glazed ceramic with a slick surface.
- 2
  Place the toilet flange back onto the floor and use a marker to indicate on the masking tape where the screw holes sit on the floor. Remove the toilet flange again and place it aside.
- 3
  Drill where you marked the flange’s screw holes using a drill with a carbide-tipped bit or a diamond drill bit, stopping once the drill bit reaches the sub floor. A regular masonry drill bit will not penetrate the floor tile as easily, if at all.
- 4
  Peel the masking tape off the floor. Spread PVC primer and then PVC cement onto the outside of the flange’s collar and the inside of the drainpipe. Insert the flange’s collar into the drainpipe and line the holes in the flange with the holes you drilled in the floor. Drive screws through the holes, stopping once the screw heads sit firmly against the flange.

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