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panchoandlefty_gw

Please help me pick a toilet! ADA? Toto?

16 years ago

I'm at the end of a monster kitchen remodel and seem to have become chronically indecisive.

I need a new toilet for a much-used powder room, just off the kitchen.

I'm leaning towards a one-piece Toto (Ultramax or Carlyle) but I have no idea how to choose between the features. Would like to keep the whole thing $500ish. White.

I like the closed trap on the Carlyle. Our house is very modern and the clean line appeal to me, as does the ability to clean quickly.

We have 3 small kids-- ages 7, 5, & 5. Not sure if the taller ADA toilets would be too big. That said, my kids will grow and the toilet will stay. With young twins, we are often all crammed in the handicapped stall in public restrooms and they manage.

DH and I are average height. Our house is on 7 levels with so many stairs it is nuts. No one with mobility issues is going to make it too far in this house so I am not too concerned with "looking forward" and so on.

I think I prefer elongated. I like the idea of Sanagloss.

Any thoughts? Is the ADA height much prefered in a guest powder-room, or does it matter? This bathroom does get a lot of use.

Thanks, Stephanie

Stephanie

Comments (16)

  • 16 years ago

    My house is modern too, and I picked out the Carolina skirted and as I don't have any experience with the ones you picked out, I will say that the Carolina was taller then the stock builder one that we replaced. I love the skirted it stays so much cleaner and is so easy to just wipe it down from time to time. I will eventually replace the other two toilets with the same.

  • 16 years ago

    We have a skirted Toto Aquia II and we love it.

  • 16 years ago

    Go to your local plumbing fixture store, take off your shoes and sit on the toilets of different heights to find your ideal height.

    Try to keep a straight face. ;)

  • 16 years ago

    I thought I was all set to get the ADA height...but when I mentioned it my sister (a registered massage therapist), she thought it was not a good idea. She said those muscles are important to exercise and keep in good shape as we age. Kind of like using the stairs instead of the escalator... Just another point of view to ponder. Particularly as it sounds like your family definitely doesn't require that height anytime in the near future.

  • 16 years ago

    I purchased an ADA toilet for my master bathroom and I really, really dislike using it, because I am 5'2" and it is too tall for me to sit comfortably on it.

    I am now buying a new toilet for my powder room, it most certainly won't be an ADA one :)

  • 16 years ago

    Go to your local plumbing fixture store, take off your shoes and sit on the toilets of different heights to find your ideal height.
    Try to keep a straight face. ;)
    Make sure the toilets are mounted
    or prepair to make a "Hasty restreat" and
    hope they dont know who crumbled their comodes

    Gary

  • 16 years ago

    Stephanie,

    Your question prompted me to share my recent and ongoing experiences with Toto toilets. The following story is a bit long...and they're not even installed yet!

    I just purchased three toto toilets, (two of the Aquia II - "regular" height, and one of the Aquia III = ADA), all with soft close seats. But I returned both of the Aquia II's and exchanged them for two of the Drakes with the Sanagloss finish - supposedly.

    I decided to return the Aquia II's after reading too many mixed reviews of them on another toilet forum, and after reading reviews (HERE) that were very strongly in favor of the Drake with Sanagloss finish.

    When I called my plumbing store to tell them I would be returning the Aquia IIs, I gave him the model number of the Drake I wanted = CST744SG-01.
    After unloading the Aquia's and loading the Drakes in my car I decided then - a little late - to check the model numbers, even though the label clearly said "Drake." The model # on these boxes was different (C744EG#01) than what I requested. And only one of the boxes' labels specified "Sanagloss." The manager said this different model number is the most current model # for the Drake.
    WHile I was still at the store I decided I didn't want a toilet that didn't specify "Sanagloss"
    even if it had the same model # as the Drake that had a label specifying a sanagloss finish.

    When I took the new Drake back home, I noticed that the Aquia's (tanks and bowls) were made in China. THe Drakes' tanks were made in Mexico and the bowls someplace else - maybe another Asian country, I can't remember exactly where now, but a third country at any rate.

    I can't help but wonder if there seems to be so much variation in the reviews of some of these toilets because different parts of them are made all over the world.

    When the manager called me to tell me that the next Drake with Sanagloss was ready for me to pick up I went to pick it up only to see again, that the outer model # label didn't specify sanagloss. This Drake's label was yet a third kind of label - rather a separate "SANAGLOSS" sticker was slapped on the box. But the manager opened the box to show me the "Sanagloss" seal on the bowl.

    What a fiasco! And they have yet to be installed, which I understand can be a bear of an issue for the Aquias, not so much for the Drakes.

    I decided to keep the commode with the ADA height and use it in the downstairs powder room. It also has dual flush and this combined with the ADA height makes it ideal in my mind for the downstairs powder room. We have some relatives who visit who appreciate the ADA height.

    Do you know where the Carlyle or Ultramax are made? - Maybe you want to know, maybe not, but good luck to you!

    Poodledo

  • 16 years ago

    I have a Toto ADA toilet. It flushes better than any toilet I've ever had and is easy to clean. I'm very happy with the ADA height because I'm disabled due to a back injury. However, I don't think this would be a good height for small children. I suggest you take the KIDS to the store and let THEM sit on the toilets. I bet they'd have a tough time managing it.

  • 16 years ago

    I have 2 Toto Ultramax ADA Sanagloss models and am known online here as their biggest fan, both because I love them and because Im 6'4" 300+lbs..lol
    seriously after nearly 2 years not a single problem and as a disabled single guy i appreciate the sanagloss and the height. My best friends wife is 4'11" and has used them many times and she has no problem with them height wise and I get many good comments from visitors about them. So add my AYE vote for the Ultramax and if you shop for the right online dealer you will avoid all the problems that "poodledo" had especially having to haul them yourself.

  • 16 years ago

    I looked at many sites and finally called Toto and they said the Ultramax ADA does not come with Sanagloss. Another site that sells them confirmed that, too.

  • 16 years ago

    Below is the specs on the Ultramax units that I have. Clearly statea that it has "sanagloss" and the SG on the part number means sanagloss. There are other ultramax models that do not have it.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Toto Ultramax with sanagloss

  • 16 years ago

    faucetman, is that one an ADA toilet? I got so confused with everything, I finally ordered a Toto Soiree that definitely had both the Sanagloss and the ADA height.

  • 16 years ago

    faucetman886 -I don't see on your linked site that the UM is ada tho. the only ada's i see on the next site (followed link) the ada ones listed don't say sanagloss. no 'sg' in the # either.
    maybe it's just a higher height anyway?

  • 16 years ago

    Sorry in my rush to find the right catalog number I researched on the "SG", the ultramax with ADA and sanagloss is MS854114ELG. Mine are over 2 years old and apparently the catalog numbers have changed. I just remembered that at the time I got them the "SG" was in the catalog number.
    I apologize for any inconvenience

  • 16 years ago

    no inconvenience - just frustration at myself. i can't seem to find all those I read about when I look on the toto site! then I google by the number to find it if I can.

    I have problems finding them on toto's site for sure!

    do those toilets come with the holes on the bottom to bolt down? someone just posted on another thread about drilling those holes and how long it took - I couldn't deal with that!

  • 16 years ago

    Toto's come ready to install and have a unique feature, on most models, that allows as much as 2" adjustment front to back to give you a good fit on the closet flange and relative to the wall behind the toilet.