How To Change A Toilet Seat On A Skirted Toilet?

Do you have a skirted toilet that you want to change the seat, and do you want to know how to do it? You’ve come to the right place, for we have researched this question and have the answer for you.

Here are the simple steps to change a toilet seat on a skirted toilet:

  1. Open the screw covers.
  2. Loosen the screws.
  3. Lift off the old toilet seat.
  4. Position the new toilet seat.
  5. Insert the screw one at a time and then tighten it.
  6. Close the screw cover.

Let’s talk more about toilet seats and skirted toilets in the succeeding sections. Learn about installing a toilet seat on a skirted toilet without a toilet seat below.

Read on!

WC toilet bowl white color on black tiles floor and wall background, How To Change A Toilet Seat On A Skirted Toilet?

What is a skirted toilet?

When you look at the bottom of a standard toilet bowl, you’d easily see the trap that prevents the gases from inside the septic tank from escaping into your home. The trap is the large, curved tube that you see at the bottom of your toilet bowl.

A newer version of a toilet bowl has smooth sides that hide the trap. The sides follow the lines from the rim of the toilet all the way down to the floor. The smooth surface around the base of the toilet makes the toilet look more elegant.

Some toilet manufacturers make their skirted toilet seem like a single piece of ceramic. Modern designs no longer have a gap between the toilet bowl and the water tank. This makes the toilet look more luxurious.

Most unified designs also make use of unusual shapes for the bowl and the tank. Some make use of box-like designs instead of round shapes.

A modern bathroom with bright colors and wooden

What is a toilet seat?

Cropped image of young woman holding Toilet seat cover by a wet wipe in public restroom.

A toilet seat is a piece of plastic or wood that you install over the rim of the toilet bowl. A toilet seat helps make it more comfortable to sit on the toilet.

Toilet seats also include a cover that goes over the seat to cover the toilet bowl when it is not in use. Some toilet seats and covers have foam to make them soft and more comfortable. Some even have heat pads for those cold winter days.

How to pick the right toilet seat for you?

You will need to replace a broken toilet seat or one that you do not like because it is not comfortable enough.

Picking up a replacement toilet seat can be more complicated than you think—especially if you’re not picking up a toilet seat from the same manufacturer as your toilet bowl.

Here are some basic guidelines on how to choose the right toilet seat for your toilet bowl.

Picking The Right Size

There are two basic toilet seat sizes in the US—round and elongated. Unless you have a toilet bowl that you imported from outside the US or your toilet bowl has an unusual shape, the toilet seat that you need will fall under one of these two.

You pick up a toilet seat from any brand, and it will fit in your toilet bowl if you get a toilet seat the same size as the old one. But first, you need to find out what size toilet bowl you have.

To find out which toilet bowl you have, measure the distance from the middle of the two bolts that hold the toilet seat all the way to the front of your toilet bowl.

If you get 18.5 inches, then you have an elongated toilet. If it measures 16.5 inches, then you need a round toilet seat. The distance between the two bolts is a standard 5.5 inches for US toilet bowls.

Choosing The Right Material

You have two options when it comes to the material—plastic or wood.

Some plastic toilet seats can feel flimsy and brittle. On the plus side, they don’t stain easily, and they can last a long time.

There are different quality levels when it comes to plastic toilet seats. So, pick one with better quality if you prefer to use a plastic toilet seat.

Wooden toilet seats feel sturdier than plastic seats. However, the finish of wooden seats does not last very long.

Choosing The Color

This is when white is not always white.

Toilet seat manufacturers use different shades of white for their toilet seats. Some manufacturers even have their own shade of white that you will find hard to match with the white from other manufacturers.

Check the toilet seats from the manufacturer of your toilet bowl and look for a toilet seat with a shade of white that matches your toilet bowl.

Additional Features

The last thing you might want to consider is the special features that are nice to have on your toilet seat.

One of the most popular special features of toilet seats is the slow close. This feature prevents your toilet cover from slamming on your toilet seat when you close it. Instead of slamming down, the slow close feature will slowly bring the seat cover down.

Another useful feature is the no-slip feet under the seat. This feature prevents the toilet seat from sliding or from moving too much while you’re using it.

If you have or plan to have children, you might like to have a toilet seat with an integrated child seat. The child seat is perfect for your little one and saves you from having a separate child seat.

A heated toilet seat is also a nice feature that adds to the comfort level of the seat. However, you need to have an electrical outlet near your toilet bowl to have this feature.

Finally, a good special feature that makes it easy to clean the toilet seat and cover is the quick-release lock. This feature includes a lock at the hinges of the seat with a button that you can push to release the hinges. Unlocking it allows you to simply pull the toilet seat out and clean it more thoroughly.

How to change a toilet seat on a skirted toilet?

A new toilet installation done during a bathroom renovation.

You can always get the same brand and model of toilet seat to replace the old one to make it simpler. However, if you’re considering a toilet seat with some of the features above, you will want to check the following.

If you already have an existing toilet seat and all you need is to replace it, check the type of mounting hardware that you have. Your replacement toilet seat can use the same mounting hardware or you will need to replace everything.

If your old toilet seat has a quick-release feature that we mentioned earlier, you need to get a replacement toilet seat that fits into the same locks. 

Look for a replacement toilet seat that can make use of the mounting bolts that you already have. This saves you the time to install a new set of bolts for the replacement seat.

However, if you can’t find a replacement toilet seat that can make use of your old hardware, you will need to replace it and consider the task a new installation.

How to install a toilet seat on a skirted toilet?

plumber at work in a bathroom

If you plan to replace your existing seat with a model that does not use the same mounting hardware, then the process will not be as straightforward. Maybe the mounting hardware on your old seat is no longer usable, and you need to replace them too.

In either case, the steps below to install a new toilet seat will apply. Here are the steps to install a toilet seat on your skirted toilet.

Installing The Rubber Tube

  1. Unwrap the hinge hardware and check that the contents are complete.
  2. Insert the rubber tubes into the hole where you normally bolt the toilet seat. You might need the help of a screwdriver to insert the rubber all the way into the hole.
    • Skirted toilets do not allow you to reach the bottom of the holes. Thus, you will be unable to hold on to the nut as you install the bolt to fasten the toilet seat.
    • To go around this dilemma, manufacturers use rubber tubes that have a bulging spherical center. Think of this rubber as a special type of anchor that will hold the bolt in place for your toilet.
    • The bulge in the center of the rubber prevents the tube from slipping out of the hole.
    • If your toilet seat doesn’t come with this type of bolt, you can get a bolt with the rubber tube separately.

Click here to see this toilet seat rubber top nut on Amazon.

Installing The Toilet Seat

  1. Position the hinge base over the rubber tubes. Some models have a rubber bottom to prevent the base from scratching the finish of your toilet.
  2. Insert the square washers into the hinge base slots. Insert the bolts and loosely fasten the hinge base.
  3. Get the toilet seat and insert the hinges into the hinge bases. Move the hinge bases until the seat is at the center of your toilet.
  4. Remove the toilet seat.
  5. Tighten the bolts on the hinge base to keep them in the right position.
  6. Reinstall the toilet seat and recheck that it is in the correct position.
  7. Install the cover of the hinge.

In closing

Replacing the toilet seat on a skirted toilet can be an easy DIY task if you have all the hardware that you need. If you enjoyed reading this article, you might find the articles below equally helpful:

Dropped Plastic Cap Or Small Item In Toilet? Here’s What To Do

Should You Caulk The Toilet To The Floor?

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