Caulk keeps your toilet secure the floor, and avoids any chance of injury or toilet malfunctioning. Its actually required by the International Plumbing Code to caulk a toilet to the floor, and now knowing the reasoning behind it, why would you not want to?

Should you put caulk around a toilet?

Caulk helps to keep the toilet secured to the floor. The bolts are really supposed to keep the toilet secure, but caulk helps. Some people prefer to caulk all around the toilet and leave about a one-inch gap in the caulk at the back of the toilet to allow water to escape out in the event of a leak.

Why you shouldnt caulk around a toilet?

The point of contention is leak detection. The main reason people give for not caulking around toilet bases is that they feel it could hide leaks. If left undiscovered, the resulting damage could become severe. Without caulk, the leaking water would flow out freely and be noticed right away, the theory goes.

What is the best caulk to use around a toilet?

Caulk that utilizes silicone or latex is best for bathroom use. Silicone formulas (like GE Advanced Silicone caulk, available on Amazon) provide a stronger seal against moisture, but latex tends to be easier to work with.

Are rubber toilet seals better than wax?

Using a wax-free seal makes clean up easier and theres less room for error. If you need to remove the toilet base with a wax ring, youll need to purchase another ring to reinstall the toilet. When you use a wax-free seal, its reusable as long as its in good condition.

How long after caulking a toilet can you use it?

Its not recommended to expose the silicone to moisture before the caulk cures completely to ensure the caulk is completely waterproof. However, if you cant wait 24 hours, you should at least wait 12 hours.

How long does a toilet wax ring last?

The wax ring is exactly what it sounds like: a ring made of sticky wax that helps form a watertight seal between the bottom of the toilet and the sewer pipe. It requires no maintenance and can last 30 or more years, often as long as the toilet itself.

Do Waxless toilet seals work?

All of the wax style rings, waxless rings, or gasket seals will work if installed properly. Some of the new waxless style toilet seals have a longer seal or can be stacked which can make it easy for anyone to set a toilet without leaks.

What happens if you get caulk wet before it dries?

If caulk gets wet before it is allowed to completely cure, its formula wont perform as intended. That could mean itll take longer than advertised to dry and cure or, worse, the tight seal you were hoping to create will be compromised. If the latter happens, youll have to remove the caulk and start the project over.

How long after silicone can I shower?

As long as you leave the sealant around 24 hours you can then use the shower. Full cure is 72 hours but it will have skinned over and cured sufficiently in 24 hours to use the shower.

How often does a toilet wax ring need to be replaced?

It requires no maintenance and can last 30 or more years, often as long as the toilet itself. But sometimes wax rings can dry out, crumble, and fail prematurely. When that happens, they need to be replaced.