Can we lay tile and install a toilet in our new 2bd1bath house on the same day, or do we need to rent a porta potty?
Asked by Miguel Warren 
2 months ago
Last Updated: October 21, 2024
We’re moving into a new 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom house and we’re thinking of tiling the bathroom floor. Do we need to rent a portable toilet while we do this, or is there a way to tile the floor and still have the toilet installed on the same day? 😂
We spent a night in a hotel while it dried, and also went to the nearby Mcald’s.
Just one day? I’ve always heard you need to wait 3 days for the mortar to set and then 2-3 days for the grout.
I don’t recall it taking that long. It was back in 1987, so things may have changed since then. We frequented Mac ald’s a lot!
It takes 24 hours for the tile to set. Personally, I wouldn’t install a toilet any sooner.
Pick up two or three wax seals and reapply them daily at the end of the day. It might seem like a hassle, but I’ve had to do it for clients who have only one bathroom.
I don’t get it. Are you suggesting putting the toilet back on tile that is still drying in mortar?
Well no. However, during the initial days of demo and preparing the floor for tile, there will definitely be a day when you cannot put it back.
Got it! Only 30 sq ft. Hoping we can finish the job in a day, maybe stay at a hotel that night and return to install the toilet the next day. But that might be wishful thinking. Thanks for your advice. I’ll purchase a couple of extra wax rings just in case.
Is it possible to grout on the same day using quick set mortar?
I rarely use it, but the bag says the grout sets in three hours. I would personally wait five.
Are you saying you wouldn’t use grout?
Haha, . I never rush with the quick-setting mortar. I’m never in that much of a rush, haha.
Oh my goodness, ! That’s hilarious!
Quick-drying mortar.
Ph Wylie, I’ll definitely check that out, thanks!
If you want, you can mix in a little baking soda to regular thinset, just be cautious. Adding too much will make it as heavy as a boat anchor.
Ph Wylie hahaha! Got it, thanks for the advice.
Make sure you’re super careful not to mix too much rapid set at once. It’ll start to harden in the bucket pretty quickly once it’s exposed to air and starts to thin out as you take it out of the bucket. So, only do about a third of the bucket at a time and make sure to clean it in between. Also, remember to wait at least 4 hours before walking on the tile with rapid set.
I really appreciate it! I saw the same feedback in a few reviews of rapid set. Good to keep in mind!
I might book a hotel room for a couple of days.
‘t have any friends, family, or neighbors willing to lend you their bathroom?
Negative. This is our new spot and it’s a 2-hour drive from anyone we know
I’m not sure about the price of a Porta-Potty but you could look into getting a camping toilet. If you’re up for a challenge, you could even purchase a toilet seat that fits on a 5-gal. bucket
I appreciate your perspective. I’ll take it into account
Just a suggestion: When using those facilities, grab some clumping kitty litter to sprinkle after each use 😉
Whenever we’re camping and using those 5-gallon buckets with camping seats, we line them with a garbage bag. We add RV septic solution mixed with a little water to keep it from smelling when you go #2. That’s another suggestion.
That’s exactly what I did when I renovated my bathroom, but I borrowed some of kitty’s clumping litter =)
Crash at a buddy’s place. Or you could rent a hotel room for a similar price. After 24 hours, you should be good to go back to using the restroom and flushing the toilet, just be careful not to spill water on the floor.
We’re staying at the hotel! We’re feeling pretty isolated from everyone we know 🥲
Man, how frequently do you need to go to the bathroom?
There are 4 of us 😂 If it were just me, I’d probably dig a hole outside lol!
I’ve personally done this. Create a spacer the thickness of the floor and use a waxless seal. You can easily pop the toilet on and off. Use Speed Set thinset. Mix a small amount at a time. It’s ideal to have two people present.
A friend of mine recently redid their bathroom and came up with a creative solution. They bought a camping toilet, a portable potty tent for privacy, and even constructed a makeshift shower using a play pool enclosed in a frame. They used a pump to drain the water out of the pool through a window and connected a hose to the kitchen sink for a shower. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it got the job done. The whole project took them a little over a week, but they had a system that worked for them.
They placed a puppy pee pad in each bag for easier disposal.
Your determination is awesome! We should definitely consider getting a camping toilet.
Day 1, start by demoing the floor, prepping the floor, then re-installing your toilet
Day 2. Take out the toilet, tile the floor, then re-install your toilet
Day 3. Remove the toilet again, grout the floor, install the trim and finally put the toilet back for the last time.
I’ve helped clients with just one toilet in the house through this process
Composting toilet. My family used one when our plumbing was out for a few days
You could also opt for a camping toilet for a few days. Just pretend you’re out in the woods…
Consider renting a Porta-potty or staying at a hotel for a night or two.
Can I borrow a travel trailer or motorhome?
‘t tell me you’re not into hunting or don’t own a pickup truck?? Because if the new neighbors catch sight of this even once, they might extend an offer to use their bathrooms…
Hahaha we’re actually thinking about getting a camping toilet, but we might need a tent to go with it 😂😂
Are there any woods close by?
How good are you at aiming?
Why not just go with renting a porta potty? They usually cost between 100-200 a month, depending on the frequency of servicing.
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We typically use a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat attached. You can place a trash bag inside and toss in some pine pellets to absorb liquids.
There are toilet seats available that fit on a five-gallon bucket with a black trash bag. Alternatively, there are seats designed to attach to a two-inch trailer hitch (provided your closed garage is long enough). Just be sure to check the tongue capacity of the hitch – my sports car couldn’t support my weight of over 150 lbs, but my SUV can handle up to 500 lbs.
Another option is to wait before installing the toilet and place the trash bag in the dry bowl for privacy while the tile sets.
One time when I was a kid, I accidentally got locked out of the house. I had to improvise using a contractor trash bag, a five-gallon bucket, and two blocks turned sideways as a makeshift toilet seat.
https://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/concrete-cement-masonry/construction-concrete-blocks/8-x-4-x-16-half-high-construction-block/1796389/p-1444441451843-c-5647.htm
Consider booking a hotel room for the evenings without bathroom facilities.