Some toilets are sealed with silicone after installation, with some gap on the back of the toilet, to let seeping water escape, rather than leak to the lower floor. Does it also serve the purpose of preventing the water on the floor (e.g. if the tub has overflown) from entering the under-toilet space?
Our toilets, originally and after repairs, have grout around the base of the toilet. We are first floor, on slab, so I suppose the idea is that the grout prevents any movement and that caulk might allow slight movement. As for your question, silicone around the toilet would help keep water from seeping down to whatever is below....I also caulk around baseboards for the same reason. In kitchen or bath, there will eventually be leaks, overflows or spills....keep the water contained as much as possible.
What happens if the wax seal leaks?
By caulking completely around the toilet there will be no witness leak. The water will be contained within and leak into the subfloor, framing and ceiling below.
cheers Bob
Alfred K. wrote in news:mn.c3e37d99dd9c638c.73263 @visi.com:
I personally don't think where a toilet or baseboard meet the floor should be sealed with anything. Any occasional accidents will dry. Frequent accidents need to be addressed and not Band-Aided.
Where the tub meets the flooring I do caulk.
It is also to keep nasty looking visible black grunge and/or mold from getting started in a nearly uncleanable crevice. Males with bad aim and general bathroom humidity and condensation can get things started even without a tub overflow or toilet leak.
-- aem sends...
All four toilets are sealed all the way around. Makes cleaning easy.
No caulk on ours. I want to know if there is any leak under it before it rots out my subfloor. Clean the gap with a bristle brush on the annual "spring" deep cleaning.
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