That late-night toilet panic is a rite of passage, honestly. I’ve definitely been there, wedging cardboard under the flange and hoping for the best. The wax-on-foam approach isn’t in any manual, but sometimes you just need a dry floor more than a perfect install. One thing I’d add—if you ever get a chance to pull the toilet again, check that the flange is sitting above the finished floor by about 1/4”. Makes a world of difference for sealing. But hey, if it’s not leaking now, you did what you had to. No shame in a midnight MacGyver job.
That cardboard trick is a classic—honestly, I’ve used a paint stir stick in a pinch before. Not my proudest moment, but hey, the floor stayed dry. I hear you on the flange height, though. Sometimes those old houses just don’t give you much to work with, and you’re left improvising at 2am. As long as it’s not leaking, I’d call that a win. The “wax-on-foam” combo sounds wild but desperate times, right?
“As long as it’s not leaking, I’d call that a win. The ‘wax-on-foam’ combo sounds wild but desperate times, right?”
Honestly, I’ve seen some wild stuff under toilets, but “wax-on-foam” is a new one for me. Gotta respect the creativity, though. I totally get what you mean about flange height—old houses are a whole different beast. I remember trying to get a good seal in my aunt’s 1920s place, and the flange was so low I ended up stacking two wax rings and crossing my fingers. Not exactly textbook, but hey, it held up until we could do a proper repair.
I wouldn’t stress the paint stir stick either. Sometimes you just need something flat and sturdy to bridge the gap, and if it keeps the water where it belongs, that’s a win in my book. Improvising at 2am is basically a rite of passage for anyone who’s ever messed with plumbing. As long as you’re not seeing leaks or smelling sewer gas, you probably did better than half the “pros” out there.
Stacking wax rings is pretty much the go-to move when you’re dealing with an old, sunken flange. Not ideal, but it works in a pinch. I’ve used shims made from all sorts of stuff—paint sticks, even a bit of tile once. As long as you’re not getting leaks or that nasty sewer smell, you’re good for now. Just keep an eye on it over the next few weeks. Sometimes those quick fixes hold up way longer than you’d expect...
Stacking wax rings always makes me a little nervous, honestly. I get that it’s a quick fix, but I’ve seen those double stacks squish out over time, especially if the floor isn’t totally solid. Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:
- Wax rings are cheap, but water damage isn’t. If you get even a tiny leak, it can go unnoticed for months and then you’re ripping up subfloor.
- Those shims (paint sticks, tile, whatever’s handy) can shift if the toilet rocks at all. Even a little movement can break the seal.
- I tried one of those flange extenders once—costs a bit more, but it actually brought the flange up to floor level and made the whole thing feel way more solid.
Not saying your way won’t work for a while, but if you start smelling anything funky or see water around the base, I’d bite the bullet and fix it right. Learned that lesson after a “midnight save” turned into a weekend-long project...
