One Piece Vs Two Piece Toilet – Everything You Need To Know
There’s a common debate between One piece vs Two piece toilet when you intend to buy one. It’s often hard to choose between these two toilet types. So, picking the right toilet type according to your needs requires an in-depth understanding of their differences.
Both one-piece and two-piece toilets work well when they are used for the right reasons. Like, when you need a smaller tank toilet, then the one-piece variation will be the right choice for you.
On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, two-piece toilets are the way to go.
However, there are other factors too to discuss between one-piece and two-piece toilets before you decide to buy one.
But first, let’s understand what we meant by one-piece and two-piece toilets.
What is a One Piece Toilet?
A one-piece toilet is a type of toilet in which the tank or cistern is directly attached to the bowl, forming one complete unit. These one-piece toilets are heavy, contemporary-looking, and follow comfort height guidelines.
What is a Two-Piece Toilet?
A two-piece toilet is composed of two independent components that are linked together. You will find the tank on the rear of the commode as usual, but it’s a distinct section from the bowl. Two-piece toilets come with several designs, and they are lightweight compared to one-piece toilets.
One Piece Vs Two Piece – The Main Difference
As you know already, the main difference between these two toilet types is in their physical construction. The three essential components (Pedestal, Bowl, and tank) of a one-piece toilet are forged into a single piece, whereas for a two-piece toilet, the tank is a separate entity from the bowl and pedestal.
However, this only difference generates some crucial factors that provide enough information on a one-piece and two-piece toilet in different sectors like price, appearance, installation, etc.
Now, let’s get a grasp on those points.
One Piece Vs Two Piece – Factors To Consider
1. Appearance
One-piece and two-piece toilets are available in a variety of styles. However, one-piece toilets seem to have a more sleeker appearance than two-piece models.
That’s why some individuals believe that single-piece toilets are a superior alternative for modern bathrooms.
Due to the visible separation of the tank and bowl, two-piece toilets provide conventional appearances in terms of design and styles. They have more corners and grooves, as well as noticeable trapway outlines.
So, one-piece toilets outperform two-piece toilets in terms of appearance.
However, there are a few toilet types where you may have a one-piece or two-piece toilet with the same style and appearance.
2. Weight and Size
One-piece and two-piece Toilets exist in a variety of sizes. However, most one-piece toilets take up slightly less room because of their construction type. The tank and bowl are melded together, so they don’t take much space.
Also, one-piece toilets are significantly heavier than two-piece toilets. A single-piece toilet weighs around 90 pounds, whereas a two-piece toilet weighs approximately 60 pounds. It’s because the one-piece is effectively a three-in-one structure. Therefore, it will weigh more than toilets with separate parts.
Two-piece toilets are lighter in weight and greater in size than one-piece ones. Because two-piece toilet comes with separate units, they can be shipped easily.
However, when it comes to standard one-piece and two-piece toilets, there isn’t much of a difference in size and weight between these two toilet types.
3. Height
Most one-piece toilets are built to meet comfort height standards. So, the height reaches 17 inches from floor to seat rather than 15. A comfort height toilet is one of several bathroom renovation ideas to make it more accessible. However, conventional height one-piece toilets are also available on the market.
Two-piece toilets, on the other hand, are available at regular and comfort heights. So, before you begin your bathroom renovation project, examine whether extra features are required to make it more accessible.
4. Flushing Power
They pretty much work and function the same way. You will find the same flushing system for both one-piece and two-piece toilets. There are flapper flushing systems to tower flushing systems, plus low-flow variants for minimal water use.
Depending on your demands, flushing power is a crucial consideration when purchasing a new toilet. Any toilet can have up-to-date flushing technology, whether it’s a one-piece or two-piece version.
5. Durability
In the case of durability, you will find different quality toilets from various manufacturers. In fact, there isn’t a huge gap between one-piece or two-piece toilets in terms of quality and durability.
However, to be more specific, you may find one-piece toilets with better quality and long-lasting internal parts (flush valves, flappers, etc.). In other words, you can expect one-piece toilets to function longer without having any problems compared to two-piece toilets.
It’s because two-piece toilets might leak between the tank and bowl when the rubber gaskets wear out with age. Moreover, because of their two-piece construction, these toilets occasionally develop fractures between the tank and the bowl. However, this arises only in rare instances.
6. Installation Procedure
One-piece toilets are the best in the business when it comes to installation. Although one-piece toilets are heavier and more difficult to transport due to their single unit appearance, they are simple to install.
For two-piece toilets, the scenario is the exact opposite. A two-piece toilet will be easier to transport and manage, but it needs to be fastened together. So, these toilets are kind of difficult to install.
In some cases, the two-piece toilet does not come with a wax ring and a toilet seat.
Furthermore, some one-piece toilets may be wall-mounted, which is an excellent method to save space in a tiny bathroom.
7. Maintenance and cleaning
The ease of maintenance and cleaning is one of the reasons behind the popularity of one-piece toilets. Because there is less area for bacteria to become trapped and proliferate, the molded shape of the toilet makes these toilets easier to clean.
Single-piece toilets almost remove the difficult-to-reach nooks and crevices between the tank and bowl where germs thrive.
Furthermore, because there is no tank-to-bowl fitting to worry about, there are no difficulties with degrading gaskets and O-rings.
When cleaning one-piece toilets, you normally wipe them down to prevent mold and bacteria buildup.
Because of the joints and hard-to-reach areas, two-piece toilets are more difficult to clean. Furthermore, filth and bacteria are more likely to accumulate in the nooks and crevices of two-piece toilets than in one-piece toilets.
So, one-piece toilets will get the upper hand in this sector.
8. Price
It’s likely the most crucial consideration when purchasing a toilet.
Single-piece toilets are typically more costly. It’s an unavoidable byproduct of the production process. It just costs more to manufacture a one-piece toilet.
Simply explained, a one-piece toilet is constructed of multiple tiny components. It takes a lot to assemble and fire all the components into a single unit.
Moreover, because one-piece toilets are heavier and more difficult to carry, they are more expensive to ship. So, their shipping costs are higher.
On the other hand, two-piece toilets account for around 80% of all toilets sold according to ConsumerReports.org. The primary reason is that they have been around for a longer period of time, and homeowners are familiar with it. Therefore, the economies of scale deliver a significantly lower production cost for these toilet types.
Depending on the model, two-piece toilets can be half the price of one-piece toilets!
9. Toilet Replacement
It is the factor where a two-piece toilet has an advantage over one-piece toilets. Because two-piece toilets come with distinct sections, you can quickly repair the individual parts if something goes wrong.
For example, if you have a problem with the toilet tank, simply the tank can be changed, leaving the bowl alone, and vice versa.
However, since one toilet does not have individual parts, you need to replace the entire unit.
So, in the long term, a two-piece toilet is less risky and less expensive than a one-piece toilet if something goes wrong with your system.
One piece Toilet Vs Two piece Toilet – The Pros and Cons
Every toilet has its own set of advantages and disadvantages in terms of features and functionality. It’s no different for one-piece and two-piece toilets. However, the preceding debate brought to light some of the benefits and drawbacks of two of these toilet types. But for simplicity, let’s give it a brief overview –
One-Piece Toilets
Two-Piece Toilet
One Piece Vs Two Piece Toilet – Which One Is Better?
The above comparison of one-piece and two-piece toilets should have given you an idea of which type of toilet to choose according to your needs.
Overall, there isn’t much of a difference between a one-piece and a two-piece toilet.
However, if you don’t want to go with inexpensive toilets, we recommend a one-piece toilet for its convenience of installation and simplistic upkeep. Also, you will get an all-in-one design and the wall-mounted option with single-unit toilets.
We do, however, see the benefits of purchasing a two-piece toilet. If price is an issue, go with the two-piece versions. Also, it’s not the case that all one-piece toilet models are better than two-piece models. You may find the best two-piece toilets that are far more superior and suitable for your needs in the market.
So, which toilet type is “best” for you will be determined by your priorities. Your selection will be influenced by whether you favor flushing power over aesthetics or comfortable seating over the convenience of cleaning.
In other words, comparing your appropriate variables with the target product qualities will yield the best selection that will maximize the value of your purchase.
FAQ
Why buy a one-piece toilet?
There are several reasons why you should consider purchasing a one-piece toilet. For starters, single-unit toilets are easier to clean and require less maintenance.
Second, one-piece toilets are usually made of high-quality materials and are long-lasting.
Third, in terms of installation, single-unit toilets are simple to put up.
Finally, in terms of aesthetics and design, these toilets are sleek in appearance and modern in build. As a result, it complements any bathroom design.
Is it necessary to replace the one-piece toilet if the seat breaks?
There is no need to replace the whole unit just because the seat is damaged. However, for one-piece toilets, if the ceramic or porcelain is broken, then you may have to replace the entire unit.
Can you replace a two-piece toilet with a one-piece toilet?
Yes, in most circumstances, you can install a one-piece toilet to replace a two-piece toilet without it becoming a major undertaking. Just make sure you utilize the same rough-in dimensions and bowl size as your current toilet.
