Toilet Style
The toilet style you pick for your bathroom remodel reflects your personality and style. The toilet needs to complement your new bathroom remodel but not be the focal point. You want the toilet to become part of the overall “Wow!” effect but not be overbearing. Beauty, comfort, cleanliness, and performance are the hallmarks of a great toilet.
There are 3 toilet styles. These are traditional, transitional, and contemporary.
Many people make the mistake (due to the internet and social media) of thinking the bowl shape defines the style. This is incorrect. Round and oval are toilet shapes. In similar fashion, one-piece and two-piece toilets are features. Wall hung, close coupled, and back to wall are toilet types.
Let’s look at the 3 toilet styles.
Traditional Toilet Style
A truly traditional toilet style is of the Victorian charm where the cistern (tank) sits high up on the wall. Many refer to these as high-level toilets.
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Another truly traditional toilet is the low-level toilet. Low-level toilets have the cistern (tank) just above the bowl (also known as the pan). Butler & Rose Catherine are one of the best makers of high and low-level toilets.
Today, a close coupled toilet is considered a traditional toilet. Close coupled is where the tank and the bowl are connected. These toilets can be one-piece or two-piece. With a one-piece toilet, the bowl and tank are manufactured as a single unit. The tank and bowl are seamless. A two-piece toilet is where the tank and bowl are separate and connected by bolts. Close coupled toilets are what we in America consider a traditional toilet and see in most of our homes. Kohler and Toto are two of the best close coupled toilet manufacturers.
Transitional Toilet Style
A transitional toilet style is a mix of traditional and contemporary (modern) styles. Transitional toilets have clean lines but are not overly contemporary. Transitional is warm and comfortable feeling without being too cold or sleek.
Modern transitional toilet styles are high-efficiency toilets that perform consistently and are easy to clean. Many have a removable seat that makes cleaning quick and easy. These toilets are gravity fed toilets (also referred to as gravity flow and gravity flush toilets). These water saving toilets have usage or flush systems that are typically between 0.9 gallons per flush (gpf) for a light flush and 1.28 or 1.6 gpf for the full flush.
Transitional toilets are close coupled and can be one or two-piece. Transitional toilets offer the following additional features:
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Bowl Shape: Round-Front or Elongated
A round-front toilet bowl is 16.5-inches from the mounting holes to the front of the bowl. It does not extend as far into the room, making it ideal for smaller bathrooms. By comparison, an elongated toilet bowl is an oval measuring 18.5 inches. It extends two inches further into the room than a round front model, so you need to make sure your bathroom’s size will accommodate it and won’t interfere with the bathroom door, vanity drawers, or other elements.
One Piece or Two-Piece Toilets
A two-piece toilet has a separate tank and bowl connected by a leak-free rubber gasket. They are an affordable option, making them popular with homeowners. On the other hand, a one-piece toilet is molded to join the tank and bowl as one unit, giving them a sleek, easy-to-clean design. These are much more sanitary and are ideal for families with children and older people.
Skirted Toilets or Exposed Trap Way Toilets
A skirted toilet (or concealed trapway) provides a smooth, uniform base from front to back, eliminating crooks and crannies where dust and grime collect, making them easy to clean. In comparison, non-skirted (or exposed trapway) toilets have a uniform base only at the toilet’s front.
Toilet Height: Standard or Universal Design
A standard height toilet measures 15-inches from the floor to the top of the toilet seat. It is perfect for households with children or shorter people. On the other hand, a universal height toilet (also called comfortable height, chair height, or ADA compliant) measures between 17- or 18-inches from the floor to the toilet seat’s top. It is ideal for taller individuals and older adults.
Contemporary Toilet Style
The contemporary toilet style sports a modern style with clean lines, minimalist forms, and an emphasis on simplicity to create a sense of modern sophistication in the bathroom. These toilets are often referred to as a modern toilet.
A true contemporary toilet is tankless with a skirt. A tankless toilet does not use a tank of water to remove waste from the bowl like standard toilets. Instead, they are connected directly to a water supply line in your home that provides enough pressure to force waste through the drainage system. Toto makes one of the best contemporary toilets.
Many contemporary (modern) toilets include features such as concealed trap ways, touch-less flush, one-piece construction or a removable seat that makes cleaning quick and easy. These options are also available on transitional toilets.
Toilet Style and the Seat
Traditional, transitional, and contemporary toilet styles need a seat. Traditional and transitional toilets can accept almost every type of toilet seat. Contemporary toilets are more limited in the seats they will accept due to their modern, sleek design characteristics.
There are 2 main types of toilet seats for all toilet styles. These are soft close (quiet close) and standard close. Standard close seats fall by full gravity force. Soft-close slowly close on their own after the user moves the seat slightly forward. Soft close seats minimize noise and the risk of hands and fingers being injured by or trapped under a heavy toilet seat. By absorbing the shock and impact, slow close toilet seats can help minimize toilet bowl (and seat) wear and tear.
Toilet seats today are slimmer in design and are typically made from wood, Polypropylene (PP) and Urea-Formaldehyde (UF). The most widely used and most preferred seat material is UF. UF seat covers are high quality and scratch resistant. They are extremely durable, clean easily, and do not lose their shine even after years of use. Almost all
Elongated seats are more comfortable than round toilet seats. People with mobility issues can stand up easier using an elongated seat. One of the greatest benefits of an elongated toilet seat is their ease of use when relieving oneself. They allow a more comfortable and roomier sitting posture. This allows the user to relax more and not have their legs, thighs, and buttocks squeezed together. This creates a more enjoyable and cleaner experience.
Toilet Bidet Seats
A toilet bidet seat incorporates many the functions of a bidet. A bidet is a separate plumbing fixture in the bathroom that sits next to the toilet. Users have to straddle then sit on the bidet with pants and undergarments off to use. Bidets are used to wash one’s genitalia, perineum, inner buttocks, and anus.
Bidets have never been universally accepted in America. They are very common in Europe.
The Washlet® by Toto® is the best bidet seat. Toto invented the Washlet in 1980. They are available in a variety of styles. The Toto Washlet provides an exceptionally comfortable warm-water personal cleansing experience. Users feel more refreshed, rejuvenated, and confident after a bathroom break. Some of the features in a Washlet are:
Heated seat with temperature control- Adjustable water temperatures
- Gentle aerated, warm water, dual action spray with oscillating and pulsating massage
- Warm-air dryer
- Variable cleansing with 5 spray settings
- Built-in air deodorizing system
- Adjustable water volume
- Premist® on bowl before use.
- EWater+ (After each flush, mists on the wand and toilet bowl, reducing the need for harsh cleaning chemicals)
- Easy-to-read illuminated remote control
- Convenient wall mounted cradle
- Compact and slim design
- 2-user personal memory settings
- Self-Cleaning Water Wand
Options include night light, automatic opening and closing, self-cleaning water wand, and instantaneous water heating.
What Toilet Style Works Best for You?
The best toilet for you will depend on your personal needs and bathroom space. When selecting a toilet, space, performance, durability, and style are important considerations. Equally important is who will be using the toilet. User size, age, and flexibility all matter. For children and very young adults, a transitional toilet with good flushing and comfortable seating are important. For middle age and older adults, a transitional or contemporary toilet with a comfortable Washlet are good choices.
Always Hire a Reliable and Dependable Contractor to Remodel your Bathroom
Always work with a trustworthy contractor like DAD’s Construction. We are experts in bathroom remodeling who can manage projects in an efficient manner. DAD’s Construction will do everything to minimize the possibility of change orders. Our team will make sure we have all the necessary information to prepare a proposal that meets your requirements. Rest assured that we will provide you with a detailed, by line-item contract. We will make sure that the contents of this agreement are properly and clearly communicated to you. If you have questions or need updates regarding your project, we will always answer your inquiries.
How Can I Receive More Information on Remodeling my Bathroom?
If you would like more information on enjoying the best bathroom, kitchen, and interior remodeling experience in Orange County, call Dan at (949) 380-0177 or at dan@dadsconstruction.com for a free in home consultation. DAD’s serves all of South Orange County California. This includes Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Foothill Ranch, Portola Hills, Ladera Ranch, Irvine, San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Aliso Viejo.
