There are multiple bathroom toilet types out there. Nowadays we take the toilet for granted. It was not until the early 20th century that many homes were connected to a public sewer system.
Go forward for about 100 years and the toilet is as much a statement of style as it a practicality.
Toilets come in a wide arrangement of shapes, sizes and typed. This can be from the conventional close-coupled toilet to the more recent wall-mounted one. With so many options out there, it is easy to get lost in the choices and the industry jargon used to describe them. To help you make a choice, we have put together a small buyer’s guide on bathroom toilet types.
Bathroom Toilet Types:
Close-Coupled Toilets
A close-coupled toilet consists of two ceramic pieces. These are the pan and the cistern. The cistern is mounted directly on top of the pan. It typically has a lever handle but you can get those who have dual-flush button on the top.
Close-coupled toilets are the most common type of toilet in the country. They are available in a large number of styles and shape.
When they are compared to the other types, they are the cheapest overall option in terms of purchasing and installation.
Features and Benefits
- Often cheap to buy.
- The quickest and cheapest option in terms of installation.
- Huge choice of shapes and styles.
- The soil pipe can usually go out and to the left, right, down or back.
Back-to-Wall Toilets
Back to wall toilets are ideal for creating a modern and minimalistic look. They have the cistern concealed in the wall or a piece of furniture to provide a neat finish. Some concealed cisterns measure 10cm or less in depth, so the overall depth used can be less than a close-coupled toilet.
Access to the cistern is either through an access panel if it is fitted in furniture or a flush plate if it is fitted in a wall. The maintenance is no more difficult than a standard toilet.
Features and benefits
- Offers a stylish, contemporary look without the space of a wall-hung toilet.
- Creates an illusion of space in a bathroom with less clutter.
- Cheaper and easier to install than a wall-mounted toilet as no support frame is needed.
- Perfect for use with a run of furniture.
Wall-Mounted Toilets
Wall mounted, or wall hung toilets, have the cistern hidden away inside a wall or furniture unite. It is a chrome flush plate that provides access to the cistern.
The toilet is supported by a strong wall frame that houses the concealed cistern and supports the toilet. A wall-mounted toilet can usually be fitted to any wall, even a stud wall if it is reinforced and supported correctly.
The mounting frames can typically support around 200kg in weight when properly installed.
Features and Benefits
- Creates the best illusion of space by leave the floor free.
- It looks stylish.
- Can usually support about 200kg of weight.
- Saves a lot of space.
Closed-Back Toilets
These are sometimes referred to as fully-enclosed toilets. They are a type of close-coupled that goes fully back to the wall to create a neat and tidy look. Please note that you will not be able to install this type if your waste pipe exits to the left or right of the toilet.
Features and Benefits
- Covers unsightly pipework.
- Space saving.
- Easy to keep clean.
Comfort Height Toilets
Comfort height toilets are 4 or 5cm taller than a regular toilet. They are designed to make it more comfortable for the user.
The extra height might not seem to make a huge difference but it helps out a lot. The elderly, infirm and those slightly taller can get up and down from the toilet much easier.
Features and Benefits
- High seating position.
- Less pressure on the knees and other lower body joints.
- Easy access for both the elderly and the less able.
- Sitting down and getting up is made easier by the extra height
