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Would you replace a poorly fitting toilet or move the soil pipe?

10 replies

annonymousnamechange · 10/08/2026 23:08

A while back my bathroom toilet was replaced as it couldn't be repaired. I made a rookie error of just letting the plumber pick up and install one as i was stressed and in a rush. The problem is its a bit smaller than the original so weirdly is squished up against a cabinet and looks odd. I cant really move the cabinet and ive struggled to find an alternative that fits in the space. So it looks like my options are
A -Live with it
B -Replace it with a toilet closer to the original dimensions (which id have to guess)
C -Move the soil pipe and current toilet 10-20 cm along the wall. There's room for this and chatgpt tells me this isn't a major job and shouldn't be loads of money.

So my question is, which option would you go for and im really not been on A as it doesn't look right and ill be selling at some point. Anyone a plumber or has a friend/family member who's a plumber and csn say which is the better option? Thank you!

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 11/08/2026 07:12

Diagrams please, with measurements.

Flyingdolphins · 11/08/2026 12:30

I don't understand how its more squished against a cabinet if it's smaller?

In any case I think the least disruptive option would to just replace the toilet closer to the previous size.

Moving the soil pipe means coring another hole through the wall, making good the old hole and reattaching it to the external soil stack. If you're only moving it 10-20cm there might not be enough room to properly elbow the new pipe into the soil stack.

annonymousnamechange · 11/08/2026 13:27

Diagram (not to scale!) attached. And yes it doesnt make sense that a smaller toilet is more squished but it is! I think because the old one was longer and wider your leg wasn't knocking on the cabinet when you sat down which is the difference. Theres no space to move the cabinet towards the door and ive struggled to find cabinets smaller than 30 cm wide. The soil pipe just runs along the side of the wall until it gets to the exterior wall so I dont think it needs holes drilling in walls.

Would you replace a poorly fitting toilet or move the soil pipe?
OP posts:
Flyingdolphins · 11/08/2026 13:52

Oh! If your soil pipe is boxed in internally then yes shouldn't be an issue to shift the toilet a across. Probably cheaper and easier than buying a whole new one, disposing old one and having it fitted.

Rollercoaster1920 · 11/08/2026 13:56

I wonder if the old toilet had a side-exit soil pipe and the new one is rear exit, with a corner connector piece (or more likely flexible pipe) so it's been moved away from the old pipe run. Possibly to avoid cutting back the existing soil pipe and/or any boxing it runs in?

Annoyingly you probably will want a different plumber to come and look to see the options available.

What about the floor fixings? Do you have the old holes in the floor (and new holes for this new toilet position)

Rollercoaster1920 · 11/08/2026 14:01

A new toilet with a longer projection might be cheaper (£150 plus fitting) than the labour costs of moving the current soil pipe if boxed in. Plus the end result might be neater - you might have issues with floor mounts being visible if the pan is moved closer to the bath.

purplecorkheart · 11/08/2026 14:07

To be honest I would just live with it or else remove the cabinet and replace with shelves.

annonymousnamechange · 11/08/2026 16:35

@Rollercoaster1920 I can't see any visible holes for the old toilet so assuming theyre covered by the new one. The boxing off was knackered when the loo was replaced so will need sorting whatever 🙄
No idea about the previous soil pipe attachment but this one joins the loo with a plastic piece at 90° angle, so a corner connector piece?
@purplecorkheart shelves are an idea but I want something that hides crap and I can see stuff falling/knocked off and ending up in the loo

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 13/08/2026 21:32

Move the cabinet.

annonymousnamechange · 13/08/2026 21:37

Unfortunately theres no space to move the cabinet. It's pretty close to the open door. If I move it between the toilet and bath its sticking out by 10+ cm due to the soil pipe boxing and theres no space on any of the other walls. Ive tried looking for a smaller cabinet but haven't found one, but will keep on looking

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