My elderly female customer wants her elongated toilets removed and replaced with round toilets.
My small amount of research indicates that the only reason to get a round toilet is to fit in a tight space.
Space is not an issue here.
So is there a reason that she is going to like the round toilet better??
I’m trying to avoid that conversation with her.
I’m gonna make it an ADA height toilet, regardless.
Rich Beckman
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Replies
ADA in a round bowl configuration is not common.
Those "donut ring" seat extensions are more common, but look like crap IMO.
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Did a quick survey of the females in the house. They don't get the round thing either, except that sometimes it's the toilet seat that has a different "feel" to it. Has nothing to do with toilet shape. Maybe she just needs different seats, but you definitely need to sell her on ADA residential height toilets. So, her toilets are getting replaced for whatever reason.
You can avoid the "why" conversation about elongated by switching to the comfort height issue. Then just mention that these new ones have a lot of different seats available and she'll have to pick the comfortable one. Oh, you might sell her on some grab bars if she's into tearing into the walls to do the proper blocking behind there. You know, SHE might not need grab bars, but visitors who're less spry than her might. Vanity never ends with a female so I never insinuate that they're old.
I was told a long time ago that rounds were for females and elongated were for males or both. I don't have anything to back this up.
I myself can't stand round bowls.
I was told a long time ago that rounds were for females and elongated were for males or both. I don't have anything to back this up.
Elongated bowls are like urinals with the extra lip in front - it's a drip catcher. “The richest genius, like the most fertile soil, when uncultivated, shoots up into the rankest weeds..” – Hume
I always thought it was so a mans junk didn't hit the rim when he was sitting. Some have that problem and some don't. lolLegal Disclaimer: The preceeding comments are for entertainment purposes only and are in no way to be construed as professional advice. The reader of these comments agrees to hold harmless the poster, EJCinc, from any and all claims that EJCinc offered professional advice, ideas, or comments to the reader that may or may not have resulted in the damage, injury, or death to the readers property or person.
I was keeping it family rated. :-)I was also told that it catches more dribble from some "shorter" people.Clearly a combo of both aspects.
Thanks for the responses.After reading the thread I was able to talk convincingly about the benefits of going to the plumbing supply and picking out a toilet by sitting on them herself.We will probably do that on Wednesday.
Rich BeckmanThis signature line intentionally left blank.
"After reading the thread I was able to talk convincingly about the benefits of going to the plumbing supply and picking out a toilet by sitting on them herself."
Be sure she doesn't go too far in "trying out" the toilet. Awhile back, I went to a local showroom to check out some shower modules for a remodeling project that I'm doing. I happened upon a really nice looking MAAX unit and stepped inside of it to see how much elbow room it afforded. I turned this way, and then that way, and then casually reached out and flipped up the shower valve. Imagine my suprise and embarassment when I was immediately soaked with a gush of cold water. THEY ACTUALLY HAD THE &%#*@ THING PLUMBED UP!!! There was no sign, no nothing, to warn anyone that it was a working shower unit. There wasn't even a door installed. The saleslady rushed over and apologized and somehow felt that I would take great consolation in knowing that there had been many other victims before me...but she was wrong. I squished my way to the parking lot with my soggy checkbook and haven't been back since.New knowledge is priceless.
Used knowledge is even more valuable.
On the subject of trying out a toilet. (sorry big video file)
It is inconcievable that they didn't have a stop valve on that supply! Especially with previous victims. Bet they had a warped sense of humour.
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If CaseyR's info. is correct about the round bowls cleaning better, and if you want your client to be really, really thrilled with you, then suggest she be sure to try out Toto's. They have several elongated, ADA "comfort height"(i.e., meets ADA's residential standards rather than commercial) with a new Sanagloss glazing for "self-cleaning". While self-cleaning is a myth, at least people who have them tell me they don't have to clean them nearly as often and when they do it's just a quick swish--much easier.The Sanagloss Toto's, as I remember, include a variety of styles, including some elaborate looks and some one-piecers. I'm down in GA with Toto's factory, so we can pretty much find them in showrooms here.Your elderly lady's willingness to test-drive in the showrooms just shows that the oldsters' values change and they get real practical and comfort-focused. More power to them (I'm not far behind.)
<<I'm down in GA with Toto's factory>>
My Toto said "Make in China", so you must be in GA, China.
Ozlander
I think they make the easy parts here; things we rednecks can comprehend. The rest, like most everything else, is made in China, the new stronghold of ambition and the next major world power (along with India). I'm learning Mandarin Chinese so I can communicate. It sho' do come out funny wif a suthun accent tho'.
Probably so, I'm pretty sure the china parts came from China based on the rice paper cardboard they were shipped in.
Ozlander
The conversation to have is that she should visit a plumbing supply store and park herself on a wide variety of fixtures for a coupla minutes each. Pick the one she likes. You install it. Don't care if it's round, oblong, rectangular, or triangular. Not all elongated bowls are the same comfort. So she needs to find the specific model that suits her. Avoid the round v elongated debate and focus on specific brand/model. "Why" doesn't matter as long as she selects something specific.
<<she should visit a plumbing supply store and park herself on a wide variety of fixtures for a coupla minutes each>>
Kind of like "musical chairs" for geriatrics, huh? So he should take her over to their showroom, tell them to put on some waltz music, then hand her over to a well dressed salesman who will dance her around, plopping her on a new commode each time they circumnavigate the dance floor.
And that's the best scenario I could come up with for that concept. Forget about any elderly woman test driving toilets in a showroom. That whole idea is funnier than my musical chair analogy could ever be.
Edited 5/10/2007 11:28 am ET by Hudson Valley Carpenter
If she has elongated toilets and wants round bowls she makes the call; why has very little to do with it.
Does she have a lowboy tank? Perhaps she is trying to say she wants to lean back...
I have an elongated Kohler lowboy and the cover has nothing to support it when opened, so i can't lean back and enjoy my Dwell magazine while performing a more useful function. The round bowls seem to all be on upright tanks. Maybe this isn't the issue, just checking...
I was discussing with a prospective young couple some of the features that we put into our homes. I mentioned elongated bowls. She started to giggle and playfully slapped her husband and said he was so gross. ???
I wasn't goin' anywhere near that one! But he liked the elongated bowls.
Legal Disclaimer: The preceeding comments are for entertainment purposes only and are in no way to be construed as professional advice. The reader of these comments agrees to hold harmless the poster, EJCinc, from any and all claims that EJCinc offered professional advice, ideas, or comments to the reader that may or may not have resulted in the damage, injury, or death to the readers property or person.
Rich,
Your customer may want the round bowl because it is easier to stand up from. The long bowls stick farther forward, blocking one's ankles from getting under one's weight when standing up off the unit.
The ADA height might sell her on elongated. Then again, it could simply be an aesthetic thing with her, that round bowls are simply "how toilets ought to look."
Bill
I read an article a little while back by someone who had tested a number of toilets. He claimed that, generally, low flush toilets with round bowls did a better job of clearing the bowl than did the elongated bowls. Like most other products, however, I would guess that the best elongated bowl is much better than the worst round bowl. (But don't quote me on that...)
One must properly consider the posterior dimensions of the customer.
Too much coffee, sorry!
FWIW, my friendly plumber recommends the Sterling Windham/Riverton models. I swapped an older 1.6gal toilet for one of these. Unlike the first one, the Sterling model flushes completely and quickly, every time.
if she ever had morning wood when she sets down, she'd go with the elongated
I don't Know what I am doing
But
I am VERY good at it!!
I can't believe you posted that.
:)
Rich Beckman
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somebody had too
;]I don't Know what I am doing
But
I am VERY good at it!!
we are always amused how many streets are named.... "morningwood" had to be a chick.... or a dude building for his soon to be EX
"morningwood block party"
"Morningwood community"
"you'll love living with us .. ... "morningwood"
the ever painful... "Morningwood BBQ"
but better is the "Morningwood pool party"
p
I have experiance with both elongated and round. I think my big butt gets a better seal with the round bowl....then the elongated one...seriously I think its like most things its just personal preferance.
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ya know how sometimes an advertising jingle can get stuck in you head until it drives you crazy?I'm wishing I had not read you visual here this morning before heading out to the job!
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SorryJust a little...:)I don't Know what I am doing
But
I am VERY good at it!!