Everything you need to know about toilet types

Whether you’re new to the bathroom trade or have been working in the industry for a while, it’s always useful to stay on top of trends and products. With this in mind, if you’re working with customers and are asked about what type of toilet might be best for their bathroom, then it’s good to have the basic facts to hand about the different types on the market.

Being able to explain in a clear and concise way what the various toilets are, along with their key features and benefits, will help your customers make more well-informed decisions, as it can be confusing, with so many choices available. It will also ensure that they’re clear on what they’re getting and whether a certain type of toilet is suited to their particular bathroom and their individual tastes.

Top toilet styles

Close-coupled toilets: A popular fixture across the UK and Ireland, the close-coupled toilet has the cistern located directly behind the toilet bowl, unlike more traditional models where the cistern used to be located higher above. The result is a more efficient toilet which is closely coupled together, the pipes neatly concealed within the unit making it easier to clean. This also makes the close-couple toilet more hygienic, as there are fewer places for dirt to gather.

The flush is activated either by a push-button on top of the cistern or by using a more traditional style of handle or lever fitted at the side. More compact and discreet, close-coupled toilets are ideal for any bathroom, but work especially well in smaller areas, if space is minimal.

An example of one of our close-coupled toilets at Tradeshack is the Aida Rimless Close-coupled Toilet with Clip-off Soft-close Toilet Seat.

This white ceramic toilet has a push-button flush on top, along with a rimless design, for better hygiene and easy cleaning. It also comes with a handy removable seat – all you have to do is unclip it to clean.

The ceramic further makes this a robust toilet which is scratch-resistant and strong enough to hold up against general wear and tear.

The Aida Rimless Close-coupled Toilet with Clip-off Soft-close Toilet Seat.

Back-to-wall toilets: Another popular style, the back-to-wall toilet can also be close-coupled and is another space-saving variety which minimizes cleaning and has a compact look. This type of toilet is installed flush against the wall, so there’s no gap between it and a frame isn’t required. As a result, the toilet plumbing and waste pipes can run directly into the wall, providing a more aesthetically pleasing look. It also makes things more hygienic, as these don’t need to be cleaned. The cistern, meanwhile, can either be concealed within the wall or you can add a back-to-wall unit to do the same job.

The Linea Comfort-height Rimless Back-to-wall Toilet and Soft-close Seat.

An example of this style is the Linea Comfort-height Rimless Back-to-wall Toilet and Soft-close Seat, a stylish design which has a rimless pan for improved hygiene and an attractive white gloss finish. The soft-close seat also eliminates noise by preventing the lid from slamming shut.

Rimless toilets like the Ari Design Talinn are more hygienic and have a seamless style.

Rimless toilets: Another design with efficiency and hygiene in mind, rimless toilets are much easier to clean, without those hard-to-reach areas under the rim which are found on more standard varieties. They therefore have a more streamlined and aesthetically pleasing appearance. From the outside, these toilets don’t look any different from other styles. However, once you lift the lid, the rimless bowl is evident, with the pan flowing seamlessly to the top of the toilet without hinder.

Rimless toilets also tend to use less water, as they have a circular flushing mechanism which dispenses water from the back of the bowl and then pushes it around this in circles. So, they’re more efficient to operate and therefore better for the environment.

The Ari Design Talinn Rimless Close-coupled Comfort-height Toilet and Soft-close Seat is an example of one of our rimless toilets at Tradeshack. With all the above features, it also has a comfort-height pan and comes with a push-button dual-flush and removable soft-close seat.

Wall-hung/floating toilets: With a modern minimal design, the wall-hung or floating toilet is great for smaller bathrooms, as it saves on floor space, while also giving the illusion of having more space within the room. These toilets are ideal for cultivating a more minimal look and will bring a slice of contemporary style to your customer’s interior.

Thanks to the wall-hung option, they’re also more flexible in terms of where they’re positioned, so can be installed anywhere near that’s close to a water source. They’re also fully adjustable, so your customer can easily choose what height they want the toilet. Cleaning is also straightforward as it’s easy to reach underneath the bowl to do this, while that streamlined design means there are less nooks and crannies for dirt to gather in.

Wall-hung or floating toilets like the Dearne Wall-hung Toilet have a minimal style.

Additional toilet types

Other features for toilets include low and high-level toilets, along with comfort-height and accessible toilets.

With a more classic style, high-level toilets have the cistern positioned high above the toilet pan, with a stainless-steel pipe connecting the two elements and an accompanying long pull-chain flush attached. The low-level toilets have a similar aesthetic, with the toilet pan and cistern placed apart, though this time the cistern is positioned lower down and a lever flush is fitted. If you like the idea of a high-level toilet but don’t quite have the ceiling height for it, then a low-level version is a good alternative.

The Henbury Traditional High-level Toilet is an example of a classic high-level style.

The Ari Design London Low-level Toilet is an example of a low-level style.

As already mentioned, comfort-height toilets are those which offer enhanced comfort, being raised slightly higher from the floor than a standard toilet. These are great for taller people or anyone with mobility issues and are increasingly popular in many households because of their convenience. Benefits also include reduced pressure on joints and the lower back, thanks to that raised height.

Accessible toilets are also included within the comfort-height range and, again, are those which are designed to ensure ease of use.

The Cali Comfort-height Rimless Fully Back-to-wall Toilet is an example of a comfort-height style.

If your customers are looking for high-quality toilets, then you’ll find a fantastic range here at Tradeshack, with great-value prices guaranteed for our trade clients. With a wide variety of different styles, sizes and features, our toilets are made from the very best materials and there’s something to suit all preferences. Just chat to our expert team for more information about any of our products.

Contact Tradeshack for all your trade bathroom needs. Alternatively, email our team at info@bathshack.com or give us a call on (028) 9077 0188.