Molded wood -vs- plastic toilet seat

[Doc]

I replaced a toilet seat. At Home Depot they had a large selection of various materials - wood, plastic and molded wood. The old one was a molded wood seat that came with the house.

There seemed to be more molded wood models than any other. The paint had worn off the old one in spots and it actually cracked which is what finally prompted me to replace it. I went with a plastic model with a "quiet close" hinge and a quick release feature which seems like a really good idea for convenient, thorough cleaning of the toilet.

I went with plastic because it doesn't have paint to wear off and I'm guessing won't break on the load bearing area like the old molded wood one did and will hold up better over time.

What's the benefit of a molded wood seat? Some of them were pretty expensive, so it doesn't seem to be just a "cheap" alternative.

[Rod Speed]

Depends on how much of a hippo you are.

Depends on how much of a hippo you are.

Some dont like plastic.

alternative.

Corse it isnt.

[Don Phillipson]

Canadian stores sell wood seats, none apparently moulded: they are of solid wood (spliced from about

4 sections), shaped by cutting tools. Today's stock is much lighter in weight and more thinly varnished than 10 years ago. The "brass" fixtures are as flimsy as 10 years ago, allowing a service life of about 5 years.

Some users find wood seats more comfortable than plastic, i.e. judge the extra comfort is worth $5 or $10 extra over 5 years.

[Seerialmom]

Not as cold as plastic?

[The Real Bev]

What actually is "molded wood"? Compressed sawdust like that heavy stuff they use for cheap shelving or home siding?

Temperature is irrelevant where I live. What IS important is that real wood (generally oak) can split and pinch your skin, which is an unpleasant surprise in the middle of the night.

[Seerialmom]

=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-=3D-

That's true...and could you imagine the embarrassment of having to get a splinter pulled at the doctors office (presuming you couldn't reach, of course).

[HeyBub]

Raise the seat when you have to go. Be sure to hold the seat up, else it could fall on your junk.

[The Real Bev]

Uh, my "junk" is located internally, safe from the ravages of vengeful toilet seats. Unless you mean the junk I store on top of the toilet tank, which, as long as gravity works, is still pretty safe unless I knock it into the bowl, a not-unheard-of occurrence.

[clams_casino]

"As a rule, wood toilet seats are slightly more expensive than plastic toilet seats.

Generally speaking, wood seats are thicker, warmer to sit on, sturdier, and more durable than plastic.

Plastic lids are less durable & likely to show scratches -- even from soft sponges used when cleaning. They are also more likely to crack."

[aemeijers]

Sounds like a sales pitch from a wood seat manufacturer. I never found wood seats to be very durable, and they are definitely harder to keep clean. Once the finish degrades, they tend to go downhill quickly. This house came with plastic seats, and aside from the mounting bolts being a little too small in diameter so the seats need to be tightened every few months, I've been quite happy with them for three years now. Previous places I've lived, I could count on replacing the wood seats every 3-5 years when the finish started flaking off.

-- aem sends...

[Vic Smith]

That's pretty much my experience. Every "wood" seat I've seen looks "worn" in some fashion. The vinyl padded seats - our previous - develop tears, and have seams to collect dirt before that. I put on a solid white plastic seat about 6 years ago and it still looks new. Never had to retighten it. Never noticed any difference in heat either. It wasn't the cheapest seat they were selling at the store, and cost only a few bucks less than a solid wood seat. But it has solid hardware. The only issue with it is the outer edge is flush with the bowl outer edge, so you have to get a finger just right to lift it. It's all mostly a matter of personal taste anyway.

--Vic

[Nate Nagel]

One comment about toilet seats... even the fancy one that SWMBO picked out for our bathroom, with chromed brass hinges, still had plain old zinc plated steel screws to hold the hinges to the toilet seat. She, of course, has watched me slowly build my '55 Stude's engine and drivetrain, and knows that I insist on stainless whenever possible and anti-seize is more popular in my garage than beer, so she insisted on picking up stainless wood screws to put the seat together. Overkill, maybe, but it is a nice touch to not have to see rust when you take your morning constitutional.

nate

[Qas]

they are not more durable than plastic. Plastic seats last longer as they dont discolour or stain

[micky]

How do you feel about molded trees vs. plastic trees?

[Ed Pawlowski]

Same ideal Had the same plastic Christmas three for about 20 years now. Does not shed any needles and you don't have to haul it home in the cold.

Yep, toilet seats and trees are best plastic.

[Wade Garrett]

My favorite toilet seats are the ones with a built in damper so they self-lower slowly by themselves. No more seat slamming if it slips out of your hand.

I picked up a couple of round ones at the HD several years ago and despite my concern that the damping action would fade over time with use, they're still doing fine. Just cost a few bucks more than a mid-grade seat...

[Ed Pawlowski]

Had them in my last house. When we moved here with everything brand new, it was one of the first things I did,change the toilet seats to the slow close.

One of those things you don't miss if you ever had them but once you do, never want to be without.

[micky]

Wait a second. I saw one with a damper but I thought it was like my fireplace damper and it would stop everything.

Then I talked to a friend who said since got one he kept getting constipate. So I was right; dont' get one.

You must be drinking prune juice.