chicken or egg?

[bramblethecow]

Am having new bathroom fitted, with sheet of vinyl flooring. Plumber says flooring must go down before toilet/basin are put in, because it will look crap if the vinyl is cut around the sanitaryware. Flooring company says they always cut flooring around basin/toilet, because will be easier if ever want to change flooring in the future. Which should come first?

I'd put the flooring down first. If you cut and fit vinyl around the toilet and basin pedestal you end up with a seam behind. You then either have to seal it, which can be unsightly, or if you don't seal it the edges curl up and look horrible and allow moisture to get to the floorboards underneath.

It also makes it easier to remove the toilet if you ever need to investigate a leak or sort out a stubborn blockage.

I certainly prefer it under the WC. Prevents liquids getting underneath. You can still silicone round the base of the pan, as you can cut it away if you ever need to move the WC.

I'd put the sanitary ware in first, you may replace the flooring in the next 5/10 years but you'd hope the toilet would be there longer than that.

Our tiler took all the sanitary wear out all our bathrooms before laying tiles. It was a new house so everything had only just been put in. Personally I would do the floor first.

Floor first. If you want to replace the floor before the toilet then you can cut the vinyl roud the loo then, if it's too much hassle to remove the loo.

Basically, take the good looking option of vinyl under the loo now, risking that you may have to compromise and have the substandard option in the future but I bet you won't need to.

even if you do need to put a subsequent floor down, it is no more difficult just because the earlier one went under the sanitaryware.

You put the units in first, they should ask what kind of flooring will be put in and then raise the units slightly to allow for flooring.

That is how the super professional builders did it anyway, when we had a loft conversion.

Oh, thanks for all the replies. Almost unanimous, so that makes it easy - the flooring's going in first! I might be back later re which tiles to choose, as I've a severe dose of decision fatigue, the only cure seems to be several large glasses of wine.......

Paint the ceiling first ! Lol - I like to be different !!! Tee hee !!