Attitude changes with age

Well, my daughter's other friend did come up and help to put another seal, this time a thick wax one as that was what he has used to great success. And everything seems to have gone swimmingly. While he was tiding up, I had asked him to bring any knives that needed sharpening and he had a small Case folder that was in dire need of care. I sharpened it up and showed him by shaving hair off my arm to be a bit more careful now, he seemed pleased and went WOW when he saw the hair just popping off my arm. I also offered to make a nice keychain for him too which he was happy to have as well. And when I asked how much did he need for his work, he said $20 is good, I said $40 seems better and that's what I handed him, as I appreciated him taking the time to come up and help me out.

And so that ends this short saga, fingers crossed!

But I forgot one of my past endeavours regarding toilet installation. Many years ago in our previous home our bathroom was more like a living room, a LOT of room in there. The floor was a concrete slab and I used some quickcrete to make a relatively flat surface for the toilet base to sit on. I had purchased a brand new toilet that the sales person said was the latest model and quite good. After getting the base set and bolted down, I went to mount the tank, but looking in the box I could not find any rubber seal that goes between the base and tank. So I thought, erroneously, that hmmm must be this New model is a precision fit and didn't require a gasket between the two...so I proceeded to mount the tank, connect the water line and filled the tank up.
The next few minutes should have certainly been filmed for posterity as it was epic. As I went to flush it for the first time, a horizontal sheet of water fanned out from between the base and the tank, it looked like something from the Matrix. Water was everywhere and I just stood there wondering what happened?
So after standing there, dripping, I figured...thinking again is not my strong suit...must have been something inside had caused an initial clog and it MUST have been cleared out by now, right?
And another push on the handle and another horizontal sheet of water blew out again...everywhere!

Being literally soaking wet I went back to tearing the box apart and down in one corner, balled up into a fist size knot, was the rubber gasket to go between the tank and base. UGH, putting that critical piece in was, well, critical and finally everything worked as it should.

So, from that experience I probably was more than hesitant to work on another toilet, plus being in a very very small space this time I did not trust myself to be able to lift it up and out and then back again onto a wax ring. Hence the request for help which worked out, this time.

G2
 
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Gary W. Graley said:
Well, my daughter's other friend did come up and help to put another seal, this time a thick wax one as that was what he has used to great success. And everything seems to have gone swimmingly. While he was tiding up, I had asked him to bring any knives that needed sharpening and he had a small Case folder that was in dire need of care. I sharpened it up and showed him by shaving hair off my arm to be a bit more careful now, he seemed pleased and went WOW when he saw the hair just popping off my arm. I also offered to make a nice keychain for him too which he was happy to have as well. And when I asked how much did he need for his work, he said $20 is good, I said $40 seems better and that's what I handed him, as I appreciated him taking the time to come up and help me out.

And so that ends this short saga, fingers crossed!

But I forgot one of my past endeavours regarding toilet installation. In our previous home our bathroom was more like a living room, a LOT of room in there. The floor was a concrete slab and I used some quickcrete to make a relatively flat surface for the toilet base to sit on. I had purchased a brand new toilet that the sales person said was the latest model and quite good. After getting the base set and bolted down, I went to mount the tank, but looking in the box I could not find any rubber seal that goest between the base and tank. So I thought, erroneously, that hmmm must be this New model is a precision fit and didn't require a gasket between the two...so I proceeded to mount the tank, connect the water line and filled the tank up.
The next few minutes should have certainly been filmed for posterity as it was epic. As I went to flush it for the first time, a horizontal sheet of water fanned out from between the base and the tank, it looked like something from the Matrix. Water was everywhere and I just stood there wondering what happened?
So after standing there, dripping, I figured...thinking again is not my strong suit...must have been something inside had caused an initial clog and it MUST have been cleared out by now, right?
And another push on the handle and another horizontal sheet of water blew out again...everywhere!

Being literally soaking wet I went back to tearing the box apart and down in one corner, balled up into a fist size knot, was the rubber gasket to go between the tank and base. UGH, putting that critical piece in was, well, critical and finally everything worked as it should.

So, from that experience I probably was more than hesitant to work on another toilet, plus being in a very very small space this time I did not trust myself to be able to lift it up and out and then back again onto a wax ring. Hence the request for help which worked out, this time.

G2
Click to expand...
Frequently, that's how my projects go. Feels good to know I'm not alone! 😁
 
Gary W. Graley said:
Well, my daughter's other friend did come up and help to put another seal, this time a thick wax one as that was what he has used to great success. And everything seems to have gone swimmingly. While he was tiding up, I had asked him to bring any knives that needed sharpening and he had a small Case folder that was in dire need of care. I sharpened it up and showed him by shaving hair off my arm to be a bit more careful now, he seemed pleased and went WOW when he saw the hair just popping off my arm. I also offered to make a nice keychain for him too which he was happy to have as well. And when I asked how much did he need for his work, he said $20 is good, I said $40 seems better and that's what I handed him, as I appreciated him taking the time to come up and help me out.

And so that ends this short saga, fingers crossed!

But I forgot one of my past endeavours regarding toilet installation. Many years ago in our previous home our bathroom was more like a living room, a LOT of room in there. The floor was a concrete slab and I used some quickcrete to make a relatively flat surface for the toilet base to sit on. I had purchased a brand new toilet that the sales person said was the latest model and quite good. After getting the base set and bolted down, I went to mount the tank, but looking in the box I could not find any rubber seal that goes between the base and tank. So I thought, erroneously, that hmmm must be this New model is a precision fit and didn't require a gasket between the two...so I proceeded to mount the tank, connect the water line and filled the tank up.
The next few minutes should have certainly been filmed for posterity as it was epic. As I went to flush it for the first time, a horizontal sheet of water fanned out from between the base and the tank, it looked like something from the Matrix. Water was everywhere and I just stood there wondering what happened?
So after standing there, dripping, I figured...thinking again is not my strong suit...must have been something inside had caused an initial clog and it MUST have been cleared out by now, right?
And another push on the handle and another horizontal sheet of water blew out again...everywhere!

Being literally soaking wet I went back to tearing the box apart and down in one corner, balled up into a fist size knot, was the rubber gasket to go between the tank and base. UGH, putting that critical piece in was, well, critical and finally everything worked as it should.

So, from that experience I probably was more than hesitant to work on another toilet, plus being in a very very small space this time I did not trust myself to be able to lift it up and out and then back again onto a wax ring. Hence the request for help which worked out, this time.

G2
Click to expand...
I’m still traumatized by bathroom demos over 10 years ago! So, I don’t find this Implausible or unreasonable.

First time: guy missed the root cause, failed master plumbing stack AND installed new window upside down.

Second guy demolished everything again and installed new tile WITHOUT grout! I couldn’t believe my eyes. We had tile from floor to ceiling with small exceptions.

Down it goes again.

Next, floor not level, tear out floor again…I think he may have redone twice…

Yeah, I can relate. We had problems with that bathroom last year, and the ghost still haunts me.
 
That does sound like a very rough series of mistakes!
G2
 
Felt endless! And that’s the short version. The second contractor talked us into redoing the bathroom below since it was affected. Good idea in theory.

His plan was to put a portable toilet in the driveway while he gutted both bathrooms. I’m so glad I said no way!

He demolished both bathrooms keeping the sink and toilet on first floor. Thank goodness. I had no idea 2 small bathrooms could take months.

The sad part was we had used the first contractor a few times and were satisfied. Not this time! The upside down window came with a supersized serving of caulk—hideous.

The second contractor employed a professional installer who used no grout. He was out. The contractor ended up finishing the tile himself and bringing in some pros from out of town to fix floors and part of wall. Never knew it could be such a production.
Here’s the final version 10 years ago—really hated to see them demolish it!

IMG_0096.jpeg


The scars are still healing from this recent work. I could write a novelette on all the problems with that redo. Looked like they cut some of the tile with their teeth. 🤯
 
You are right —except this wasn’t such a fixer upper, just some wear and tear that seemed correctable without an act of Congress. Silly me.

The first guy refunded money—he knew he blew it, and the second guy covered all the losses. The worst part was the intrusion and occupation of our house by so many workers! (I worked from home.)

So I can see why people DIY. Unfortunately; these jobs required building permits, etc.
 
Gary, sorry I missed this thread until now. The wax ring is not a water seal, it is a gas seal. Water coming from under the toilet is either running down from the tank to bowl gasket or indicating a clog in the line below the toilet. The joint between the toilet and the floor flange doesn't have water on it unless that line is clogged. No many how many times you reset the toilet, until that pipe is clear, you'll keep having problems.
 
yablanowitz yablanowitz that makes sense, the rubber one just wasn’t installed properly….twice. The foam spacers were compromised and he threw away one of them which made it all not compressed properly. The wax ring I believe was seated correctly, the other fellows work was a bit more precise and I think with him being a little taller and stronger he was able to lift the toilet high enough to set it on without damaging the ring.

As it’s been flushing fine with no leaks at all.
G2
 
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