Toilets come in an abundance of shapes and sizes, from the conventional close-coupled toilet to the many types of modern toilet. With so many options it’s easy to get bogged down in the choice available and the industry jargon used to describe them. So to help you make your choice, we've put together this buyers guide on toilet types.
Types Of Toilet:
- Close Coupled
- Wall Hung
- Back To Wall
- Rimless
- Short Projection
- Comfort Height
- High Level
- Low Level
- Corner
- Traditional
The toilet type you choose will be determined by a number of factors. The amount of space you have, the style of your bathroom and the amount of money you have to spend.
Close Coupled Toilets
A closed-coupled toilet consists of two separate ceramic pieces - the pan and the cistern. The cistern is mounted directly on the top of the pan, and typically has a dual flush button on the top, or sometimes a lever handle. Closed-coupled toilets are the most common toilet-type in the UK. They are available in a large number of styles and shapes, so let your personal style shine through when choosing yours. As close coupled toilets are very popular, they are often cheap to buy and are available in a huge range of sizes and styles. The soil pipe can usually go out to the left, right, down or back which makes them easy to install.
Wall Hung Toilets
Wall hung toilets as the name suggests are hung from the wall. This leaves extra space underneath which helps to make your bathroom appear more spacious. The space underneath also makes cleaning both the toilet and floor a breeze. Wall hung toilets can be mounted at different heights which is ideal for people who find their toilet is too tall or short. Wall hung toilets are supported by a strong wall frame that houses the concealed cistern and holds the toilet. A wall-mounted toilet can usually be fitted to any wall, even a stud wall provided it is reinforced and supported correctly. The mounting frames can typically support around 200kg in weight when properly installed, so you don’t need to worry about it falling off the wall when you sit down.
Back To Wall Toilets
Back to wall toilets are ideal for creating a modern, minimalist look. They have the cistern concealed in the wall or a piece of furniture to provide a neat finish and a clever way to maximise space in the bathroom or cloakroom. Access to the cistern is either through an access panel if fitted within bathroom furniture or via a flush plate if fitted in a wall. Either way, maintenance is usually no more difficult than with a standard toilet. Back to wall toilets offer the same contemporary look as a wall hung toilet without the additional costs required in mounting the toilet to the wall. The lack of a visible cistern also helps to create a clutter free space.
Rimless Toilets
Rimless toilets are one of the most exciting developments in toilet design in recent years. Rimless toilets lack the rim of a traditional toilet. Instead water is directed all the way around the pan to ensure the entire toilet bowl is cleaned with each flush. Although the flush of a rimless toilet appears powerful, it is actually more economical than a traditional flush which will help you save money on your water bill. As there is no rim for bacteria or limescale to hide, rimless toilets are also incredibly hygienic. The absence of a rim also makes them very easy to clean.
Short Projection Toilets
Short projection toilets are designed to take up a minimal amount of space in your bathroom. This makes them ideal for installation in small UK bathrooms or cloakrooms. At Drench, we classify a compact toilet as not ‘projecting’ out into the room more than 62cm. Although the size of your toilet may not seem important, this toilet type can be really useful if you are trying to create a clutter free space. They may also allow you to convert an existing space that you thought was too small into a bathroom.
Comfort Height Toilets
Comfort height toilets are 4 or 5cm taller than a regular toilet which is designed to make it more comfortable for the user. The extra height may not seem like a big difference, but for those that are slightly taller, elderly or have mobility issues, it makes getting up and down from the toilet much easier. Just because your toilet is comfort height, doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice on style. At Drench we have a fantastic range of comfort height toilets from traditional styles to modern designs.
High Level Toilets
High Level Toilets will help you bring a touch of traditional elegance to your bathroom. In the past, the cistern of a toilet was kept high up and the water pressure for the flush was created by the water falling down the flush pipe. Although this is no longer required, the traditional look of high level units makes this toilet type a popular choice. Traditional toilets will consist of a wall mounted high cistern, a long flush pipe and a traditional toilet pan. Although these aren’t ideal for smaller bathrooms or rooms with low ceilings, they are a great statement piece for anyone looking to create a traditional, elegant bathroom.
Low Level Toilets
Low level toilets are perfect for creating the traditional look of a high level toilet, without the complexities of a long flush pipe and mounting a high cistern. This toilet consists of a low level cistern, a connection flush pipe and a low level toilet pan.
Corner Toilets
Corner toilets are perfect for small bathrooms, or for people who are looking to fill an empty space. This toilet type features a triangular shape cistern which is designed to fit into the corner of a room.
Traditional Toilets
Traditional toilets are designed to bring a touch of elegance to your bathroom. Sometimes also referred to as Victorian toilets, many of these are styled like an older toilet but contain all of the modern touches you would want including dual flush cisterns, soft close seats and easy clean coatings.
As you can see, gone are the days of boring toilets. There is now a toilet available to fit all manner of different sizing and style requirements. The fun doesn't stop there though! Remember you can always personalise the look of your toilet with different flush plates, toilet seats and accessories.
