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–TOILET BOX? –DESIGN OPINIONS?–

danno7x | Posted in Construction Techniques on March 29, 2009 03:01am

I guess do to lack of space the grinder/pumper for a basement toilet is inside the room and looks awful.  So the homeowner wants a box to cover it up.  Of course it will have to be removable, but I’m looking for opinions on what I came up with or new ideas. 

I have 1 sheet of 3/4 walnut veneer plywood and enough left over trim to make what I’ve shown in my sketchups.  The pipes snake out each way because it picks up a wetbar sink  and the bath sink too.

This one with plywood top recessed about a 1/4″ or so

View Image

This one wit a slanted top not much good for resting much on but magazines but it was suggested so I tried to draw it.

View Image

This one with a solid walnut top I think I can join out of two pieces I have around the whole top would be less than 11″ so its not huge.  I’m leaning toward this one.

View Image

 Looking for opinions, comments, changes or even bad words, just want feedback.  Oh yea Im probably going to do it tomrrow. 


 

Edited 3/29/2009 8:02 am ET by danno7x


Edited 3/29/2009 8:11 am ET by danno7x

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Replies

  1. DanH | Mar 29, 2009 03:13pm | #1

    Whatever yoo do, make sure the bottom is held off the floor by a half-inch or so, to keep water from wicking into the wood.

    The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
    1. danno7x | Mar 29, 2009 04:24pm | #7

      I guess I forgot to mention its a 1/2 bath shouldnt be too bad with the water.  Unless theres a leak then the box will be the least of their problems, considering the money they got tied up in here.

      1. DanH | Mar 29, 2009 05:20pm | #11

        I don't care if it's the Taj Mahal. In a bathroom water will get on the floor eventually. You need to avoid having wood in direct contact with the floor.
        The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith

        1. danno7x | Mar 29, 2009 08:51pm | #13

          What about the baseboard, or the vanity, or the floor itself thats also wood?  I just dont understand where your comming from.  How do you keep all that wood off the floor?

          What are you getting at? Yea water will get on the floor and yea I expect someone to wipe it up.  Do I want it to run under the vanity, this thing, or the baseboard where someone cant get to it and clean it up?  I dont think so.

          1. DanH | Mar 29, 2009 09:45pm | #15

            I'm just saying. This thing is behind the toilet. All toilets leak (or sweat) eventually.Baseboard is generally run horizontally with no exposed end grain to absorb moisture. A vanity generally has a kick.
            The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith

          2. danno7x | Mar 31, 2009 04:15am | #19

            Well this is what I did today, everyone seems to like it so I guess thats all that matters.  Now I did hold that plywood off the floor about a 1/4 just for you.

            But seriously I guess it made me think why not.  Its got to be cleaned up, a little stain and finish applied but you get the idea

            View Image

            View Image

            View Image

            View Image

            View Image

            Edited 3/30/2009 9:18 pm ET by danno7x

          3. peteshlagor | Mar 31, 2009 09:54am | #20

            It needs a matching wall cab up above the box you put in.  For storage of extra TP, tools, and bikini wax.

            Cereally,  I've installed these high rear toilet cabs in our house and they are great.  Maybe even glass doors?

             

          4. egdc | Mar 31, 2009 03:19pm | #21

            I like the looks of the cover much better than without, and I think a cabinet above would be nice too.One question though.. Is that receptacle the pumper is plugged into, now considered unaccessible, code wise?May not be a problem for you, or me, but might be for someone else looking to do this.

          5. DaveRicheson | Mar 31, 2009 09:01pm | #22

            I don't think accessible means just in plane site. We have dozens of receptacles above a drop ceiling. They are all accessible, even though you have to climb a ladder and remove a tile to get to them.

            If the top lifts off the box and you can reach the recpt., then I would think it is accessible.

          6. danno7x | Mar 31, 2009 11:34pm | #23

            Well top comes off the box so its accessable.  Its a weird thing that "accessible" just if someone can get to it its accessible. 

            That dosent mean anyone would know where to find it though

          7. Snort | Apr 01, 2009 03:20am | #24

            Could that unit be replaced w/out pulling the toilet? I haven't had to deal with one of those, but when we have a whirlpool pump, there's gotta be a big enough hole that a doughnut eating plumber can get in, and get the pump out<G>http://www.tvwsolar.com

            I went down to the lobby

            To make a small call out.

            A pretty dancing girl was there,

            And she began to shout,

            "Go on back to see the gypsy.

            He can move you from the rear,

            Drive you from your fear,

            Bring you through the mirror.

            He did it in Las Vegas,

            And he can do it here."

          8. danno7x | Apr 01, 2009 04:33am | #25

            Yep there should be plenty of room, just unhook the pipes unplug and take it out.

            Problem is that when it needs to be worked on usually the outlet pipe is backed up with sh!t, and the other pipes are backed up with more sh!t.  So the box will come out of there fairly easy, take top off and remove two screws, unhook the drain pipe comming from the back of the toilet (supposedly has backflow preventer)and the  water line then the box comes out and maybe could get some buckets under the pipes or something as its unhooked.

            Belive it or not that outlet pipe that goes to the main drain comming from the grinder/pumper is ment to be  3/4", I think he bumped it up to 1" to help with clogs, but I belive it couldnt be any bigger than that either though. 

          9. egdc | Apr 01, 2009 04:37am | #26

            That makes sense.. I hadn't even thought of the top coming off

  2. DanH | Mar 29, 2009 03:14pm | #2

    The recessed top would be a dust collector and look unfinished.

    The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
    1. Snort | Mar 29, 2009 03:37pm | #3

      Why a fancy walnut cover? For behind a toilet, I'd opt for something simple, painted, and easily cleaned<G>http://www.tvwsolar.com

      I went down to the lobby

      To make a small call out.

      A pretty dancing girl was there,

      And she began to shout,

      "Go on back to see the gypsy.

      He can move you from the rear,

      Drive you from your fear,

      Bring you through the mirror.

      He did it in Las Vegas,

      And he can do it here."

      1. danno7x | Mar 29, 2009 04:17pm | #5

        To match the rest of it silly.

        View Image

        View Image

        View Image

        View Image

        View Image

        View Image

        Edited 3/29/2009 9:21 am ET by danno7x

    2. danno7x | Mar 29, 2009 04:25pm | #8

      Recessed top-- I think your right, it was suggested so I went with it.

  3. User avater
    EricPaulson | Mar 29, 2009 04:07pm | #4

    Azek frame with Azek bead board insets.

     

    1. danno7x | Mar 29, 2009 04:18pm | #6

      1/2 bath in basement/ showroom/ poker room/ "man cave".  No water on floor or flying about.

      1. User avater
        EricPaulson | Mar 29, 2009 04:50pm | #9

        1/2 bath in basement/ showroom/ poker room/ "man cave".  No water on floor or flying about.

        Just pee!

        I'd like something impervious. Take the cover out to the driveway and hose it off! 

  4. alwaysoverbudget | Mar 29, 2009 05:17pm | #10

    i would go ahead and continue the cabinet upwards,maybe even to the ceiling,with a couple doors shelves glass doors etc. make it look like that was what was in the  plan ,was cabentry behind the toliet.

    YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T
    MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE
    DUCT TAPE.

    1. danno7x | Mar 29, 2009 09:04pm | #14

      Thats a good thought, although I picture working on it to be much more difficult.  Of all the pictures I have I dont have one of that to show how small it is, but its like 5x7, that piece might feel pretty big for that space.

      Then I thought I could add on to option 3 with an independent top that comes off, screwed to the wall, so that could be taken down then the bottom lifted off, to work on the grinder (which apparently is a question of when not if).

  5. User avater
    Ted W. | Mar 29, 2009 07:22pm | #12

    My vote goes to the walnut top. Don't see any reason to recess the top, and the slanted top looks like a reading pedastal for when your peeing.

    ~ Ted W ~

    Tool Auctions - MyToolbox.net
    See my work - TedsCarpentry.com

  6. sapwood | Mar 30, 2009 12:07am | #16

    Your drawings indicate that this throne is sitting out in the middle of a room. For meaningful advice I suggest a photo of the toilet in its space.

    1. danno7x | Mar 30, 2009 03:40am | #17

      Good point, I dont have one, have lots of pictures but plain ole forgot to do that one

      1. user-51823 | Mar 30, 2009 06:06am | #18

        Personally, I dislike the look of wood in bathrooms. and yea, there's always potential leaks and pee missing the bowl. Ick.
        IMO the covering would look best in sheetrock, painted to match the walls and built to look like a sort of wall bump-out rather than a box in the room. And as someone suggested, have it go up high, possibly to ceiling with shelves and maybe nice cabinet doors. you could make panels on lower sides removable for access. Would look more logical and pleasing that way.

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