I doubt the builder is going to cover replacing the toilets. After all, they aren't defective just poorly designed.

That being said, I would replace them if you are not happy with their performance. Replacing a toilet is actually very simple and any plumber can do it. Was the toilet installed before the floors were finished? If that's the case, then you might have some floor work to do if the new toilet base doesn't cover the unfinished part of the floor.

Toto is the best. I have three of them (2 Ultramax EL SG & 1 Carlyle EL G-Max SG) and have not had any problems at all in 10 months. We had a Kohler at our last house and the plunger was used regularly.

We were fortunate that two builders agreed to replace defective/poorly designed toilets (Gerber and Kohler) with Toto toilets. The first was a production builder and the second was a custom builder (who was actually harder to convince.) I was told that the toilets had been "bad pours" and excess porcelain seeped out of the mold to form little fingers that caught paper and caused the backups. Once they were replaced with Totos, we had no more trouble.

As for your hardwoods, it's possible that they'll need a little touch up on the finish, but otherwise you should not have any problems.

I would put it on your list and see what he says. perhaps you can cut a deal--you pay for the new toilets but he covers the labor.

If you look on the plumbing or baths board there are links to toilet ratings. Suffice to say Toto Kohler and American Standard all make some toilets that flush really well and others that are quite poor. Look for the flushing systems that get high ratings (for example, Class 5 on Kohler) and find a model with that system.

Sometimes it isn't the toilet. Sometimes it's how it is plumbed. Low flow toilets have to be done right or they don't work properly. Still, some work better than others.

Terry Love rates toilets the old fashioned way. :-)
Link is below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Toilets That Work

In our last house, we put in power flush Gerber "Maurice" one-piece models. Really expensive IMO, but in 8 years we had only one clog. The only problem was that the noise of the power flush used to scare the grandkids ;-)

In our temporary house, we replaced the teeny-tiny very old round bowl with an elongated bowl American Standard Cadet. Reasonably priced, and have had absolutely no problems with it. Planning to use them for the house we are building.

Hey Lindy! Long time, no see, huh?!! :) Sorry to hear of your potty problems...haha! I understand HATING a toilet that's not right. We had a new kohler in our old house and I despised it. You had to turn and run immediately after flushing or it would shoot water all over you!
We got all comfort-height Totos. And I LOVE them. We haven't had a single problem with them-they flush like a dream (if that's possible!). It would be nice if the builder would warranty them, but even if you had to replace them all, it wouldn't break the bank. I think our Toto cost about $50 more than the Kohlers that the plumber originally bid.

On a side note...at least you still HAVE a builder...ours is apparently fixing to go belly up and didn't pay some of our subs, so now we have two liens on our house! And all the punch list stuff will have to be contracted out by "yours truly"! SIGH...

Superchick...LOL on the potty spray...yuck! I'm so sorry about your builder, that stinks (pun on the potty thread). What can you do though? At least you got it built and it's beautiful!

Allison, that's a good idea about getting only one replaced. I hate to change them all out only to have the same issues.

Seems like all of you are recommending Toto's.

Does anyone think the flushable wipes my kids use could be the culprit? My plumber didn't think so but does anyone have a different opinion? They only use one (usually) so it's not like they are making a big ball of paper...although they make a big ball of something else. ROFL!

Are you on a septic tank? I hope not. If so, do not throw anything down the commode but toilet paper.

The people who bought our last home had 2yo twins. They had never had a septic tank A year into owning the house, they called us to ask (even though we told them) where the clean-out was. They had no idea. :-/

We did ADA height toilets too....and the Soft Close lids. LOVE them!

Septic tank...gosh no! I'm a city girl! LOL! Remember, I have to be within smelling distance of a Starbucks.

They are common here, so you can be within smelling distance of a Starbucks and have a septic tank too. With the areas Sewer Board in so much debt, I'd rather not be paying sewer fees anyway. They are 3x+ the water.

I don't know much about septic tanks at all but I always thought they were only in the country. ;c)

I forgot to ask you Allison, why the Toto Drake? Is that their top of the line model? If I'm going to change them out, I want to make sure I get a really good one.

Nope. That's outhouses. ;D

I like the look/shape of the Drake, ADA compliant (or not, they have both), elongate bowl. They are easy to keep clean too - smooth edges on the tank top, nothing fancy about the bowl. I looked at the Sana Gloss, but decided to skip since it doesn't come in the Drake.

If you get Toto's, spring for the SoftClose seats. They are like Blumotion for the bathroom! lol

Here is a link that might be useful: SoftClose seat

I have the SoftClose seats as well and while I love them they do have one drawback: you tend to slam the seat down at other people's houses! Very embarrassing!

I had written out "Only drawback is, you'll be slamming lids all over town when you go out." I think the benefits far outweigh the risks. lol Just like with Blumotion - DH and I both push the refrigerator drawers and Dish Drawer expecting them to finishing closing sometimes.

LOL, I slam the lids when I'm out of the house all the time too. We also have a non-softclose seat in the guest bathroom, and I slam it almost every time I have to use it.

BTW, Bemis (and probably others) makes softclose-style seats for non-Toto toilets too. We've had one on one of the original (ca. 1988) Briggs toilets in our house since we moved in about four years ago, before we even knew about Totos. So, while we love our new Toto and wouldn't discourage anyone from getting one, if you just want a softly closing seat for your existing toilets, they do exist.

Hey Lindybarts!!!

We had Kohler in the other house and have 4 Totos in our new home. The Kohler's always backed up and in almost a year (you're right has it really BEEN a year now?) we have had NO problems with the Totos (we have the Whitney).
I have to laugh at the "slamming of the lids"....been there, done that....and it IS embarrasing!

I don't remember did you have to pick out your toilets or did the contractor? If you did there's probably not much he'll do for you. Even if he did and the job was done correctly there's probably not much chance if it's the toilet design... though if it was installed slightly off balance it could be his fault. Another option might be to contact Kohler and see if you can upgrade (though you'ld still have a Kohler).

On a side note.....Superchick...
On a side note...at least you still HAVE a builder...ours is apparently fixing to go belly up and didn't pay some of our subs, so now we have two liens on our house! And all the punch list stuff will have to be contracted out by "yours truly"! SIGH...
That kind of thing just eats at you doesn't it! But I know exactly how you feel. We didn't know it when we signed him but our GC's wife had just moved to Texas with their kids (her family lives there). As our build progressed (or should I say stagnated) GC spent more and more time in Texas and finally moved there. But, we hear he's now divorcing and moving back to California (lucky for Texas-bad for California). He still won't return calls and didn't KNOW the meaning of the term "punch list". But I'll bet you anything he'll want to show our house off to his next victim...uh I mean client.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1456382}}

Thanks Kats! He had spec'd out Kohler's for all the bathrooms but a different style. So, in effect I guess we chose them. It's the one in the kids bath that is the worst so I might just see if he'll replace that one and decide down the line if we want to do the others. I'm definitely sold on the Toto and the fancy lid from all of you!

THANKS to ALL!

I have 3 Kohler Cimarrons, with the class 5 system. Two of them were the Lowe's 'toilet in a box' variety at $200 apiece and one was a slightly snazzier version that my plumber bought from a supply house, still called a Cimmaron though. I flush about every third tinkle so there is plenty of paper in the bowl and I have never had a problem, the flush is fast and quiet and the fill is fast. Also I send flushable feminine hygiene products down them all the time.

As regards baby wipes, at the office we have had a terrible time with our toilets and the plumbers told us in order of awfulness it is tampons #1, wipes (especially the plush ones) #2.

So I would agree with the poster above who said that Kohler has some bad toilets and some good toilets.

Thanks rileysmom...every third tinkle, eh? ROFL! TMI

We don't use baby wipes, we use the flushable wipes for big kids. They are much thinner and "supposedly" able to flush quite well. But who knows if that's why we're having problems????

I'll check out the Cimarrons too! Thanks

We'd heard all the raves about Totos, so got 5 of them (all Carlyles). They never get clogged and we like the soft-close feature. Our only complaint is that several of them have required that the fill valve be replaced within the first year. (We're on a well, but still....) And of course Toto's warranty doesn't cover any plastic parts and the fill valves are naturally plastic. (The symptom is a constant, slow dripping in the tank.)

Just one caution if you're considering switching to Totos: Some require different hole placement in the floor (and maybe pipes too). Our Carlyles did. Since you'd be replacing existing plumbing, you'll probably want to check any special adaptations you might need to make, depending on the model you select.

Thanks for the heads up home_nw!

Another angle dh and I were discussing is not trying to get the builder to spring for the changes but maybe go through the Kohler dealer where we ordered them from. Maybe they would be willing to swap out for another Kohler like the one rileysmom recommended. Just talking out loud this morning! Thanks for letting me ramble!

Mind if I ask something? For those of you who have the Totos (and I'm jealous) do you know which model is compatabile with existing plumbing? I have no idea what type of toilet we currently have in the master bath but if I was to give it a name it would be "The Wimp." I'm sure I could get DH to change it out but it would be a lot easier if it would work with the existing plumbing!

Neesie, I believe the thing you need to work with is the "offset", which is to say the distance from the back wall to the exit pipes on the floor. Toto toilets with the "Unifit" system allow a 10", 12" or 14" offset, so one of those will probably work for you.

Thank you so much, bestvalue. I almost forgot about posting on this forum although I still want a new toilet. I wrote down what you posted about the Unifit and will be doing some research.

Now I feel like I'm getting closer to having a toilet that actually goes down instead of round and round! Yipee!