What is shimming?
Shimming is a method that is done to stabilize a shaken toilet. A lot of plumbers suggest shimming as one of the most effective methods of backdropping a flushing toilet. There are so many alternatives to shimming a toilet, but not all the methods need to be fully effective in stabilizing the toilet. Shimming is actually the method of revitalizing or reinstating the previous version of the toilet. Shims are the pieces of small and innovative plastic sets placed under the shaky toilet to make it better.
The importance of shimming a toilet:
You won’t realize the true value of the shims until you use them. Shimming a toilet on a tile is one of the most underrated but most unique and crucial methods of them all. A little shimming can make a wobbly toilet almost the same as before. A wobbly toilet can cause great harm if you are in the position of making the toilet shaky and invertible. Shimming a bathroom makes it more powerful and capable of balancing the toilet, and it can bear the maximum weight that can be put on it.
How to shim a toilet on bathroom tile?
Shimming a toilet on floor tile is always considered a handy job, and it can be more effective if the plumber can methodically shim the toilet. But here is the complete procedure of shimming a toilet in a highly professional manner.
Find out the space between the toilet and the floor
The first chore you must do is to find the necessary space between the toilet and the floor. If you can find the space between the floor and the base of the toilet, it will become easier for you to place the shims in particular places.
Apply the shims in the gaps
When you have identified the specified parts and the gaps, it is time to place and position the shims. You need to place one shim on the floor at the base of the toilet. You can enter and fill the required gap by pushing the shim with your fingers. When you cannot press the shim for further dimension, use a small hammer to give it the extra push, and that will seal the gap entirely.
Position and trim the shims
The next step is to trim the shims according to the needs of the toilet. Most of the shims are longer than needed, so the back of each piece will remain visible to the human eye. Use a sharp utility knife to carefully slice the shims and cut them at the right angle to make them nearly invisible. The shim is slightly higher on one side, and the other side is much leaner so that the shim can fit into the gap of the toilet base.
Caulking around the base
After you are done with shimming, the next thing to do is manage the caulking around the base of the toilet. Clean the toilet base with a soft cloth or sponge and the floor around it. Apply some masking tape around the bowl to prevent the caulk from spilling on the floor, and use your thumb to press the fresh caulk after you have applied the caulk. The next thing is to dry the caulk as needed. To achieve the best results in terms of a stable toilet, leave the caulk overnight.
Final verdict: Does shimming a toilet work?
The reason for not ignoring a wobbling and shaky toilet is that it can permanently devastate the floor. Even if the floor seems sturdy enough, deep and adamantine dents and scratches may appear as you are using the toilet as the toilet moves back and forth. One hit from a toilet is more than enough to ruin the surface of the floor. Shimming is important because it eliminates the rocking toilet issue and improves the bathroom’s overall appearance. The best thing is that shimming a toilet is very easy and you can do it on your own. If shimming does not stop the shaking of the toilet, then the last cure is to seek help from a professional plumber.
Hi, I am Jose S. Franz. Currently, I am working as a professional plumber, and our team offers various plumbing services at an affordable price. After my college education, I completed a vocational certification course in plumbing systems and worked with several construction companies. Since then, I have fixed lots of different toilet models, from older to the latest versions. So I have more than 22 years of experience installing plumbing systems and toilets in both residential and commercial buildings.
