Toilet lid: varieties, selection tips, installation instructions

Although the toilet lid is just an accompanying accessory, it provides convenience when using the bathroom, and this is appreciated by many.In addition, the aesthetic component is important. Therefore, a potential buyer should not purchase the first model that catches his eye. Do you agree?

We will talk about how to competently approach the choice of material, shape, and size of the seat for a very important plumbing attribute. The article we presented describes the design of the device and its popular varieties. Taking into account our advice, finding the right cover will be extremely fast, correct and easy.

Features of the lid device

Today, manufacturers are mass-producing both universal lids that fit most classic (oval) toilets, as well as model lids designed for a specific type of toilet.

Each such product serves to provide comfort to the user, prevent moisture, bacteria, and odors from entering the toilet. Why does this type of equipment consist of two independent parts that perform different functions?

These include:

• seat — its task is to provide sufficient convenience;
• lid, eliminating the spread of odors, bacteria, and moisture.

In addition, the entire structure must have aesthetic and hygienic properties.

To make the best choice, you should know that all equipment of the presented type is divided not only by shape, size, but also by a number of other features. This is done because the needs and ideas about comfort among users are radically different.

The lid of this toilet is made of duroplast - a durable modern polymer plastic with high decorative qualities.

The following types of lids exist:

1. Standard — intended for adults without special needs.
2. Special — they are produced for users with disabilities or for other categories. For example, there are folding models for travelers.
3. Children's — this includes small-sized options made taking into account the anatomical structure of small users. For convenience on the road, they can even be folded.

All the varieties listed above are divided into a number of features to meet people’s needs. This allows you to take into account many nuances, and the potential buyer just needs to make the right choice.

Types of plumbing fixtures

Currently only the toilets are supplied with a pre-installed lid electronic models And hanging options. For ordinary plumbing products, the seat must be selected separately.

However, for a person who wants to purchase such a product, this choice will not be complicated, since only a few factors should be taken into account when purchasing: size, shape, material, functionality.

That is, all that is required from a potential buyer is to combine the necessary parameters belonging to four different groups together, and then it will be possible to purchase the best option for a product that will serve for a long time.

Why is cap size important?

The user should always remember that the covers are only, at first glance, similar in size. In fact, everything is more complicated - there are hundreds of variations of toilets and accessories for them.

To purchase the right model, you need to take measurements from the model you are using or from the toilet itself, this will help you make the best choice.

But everything is simplified by a universal rule for determining the size of the desired product. It indicates that the size of such a product should correspond to the dimensions of the toilet or slightly exceed them. Moreover, the last option is considered optimal. This is necessary to ensure that the body does not come into contact with the cold and not always clean surface of the toilet.

Decide on sizes toilet seats quite simple - to do this you need to measure the maximum width and length. And look for an identical option, taking into account the shape of the toilet used.

With the dimensions of the attachment points, everything is even simpler, since the distance between them is always standard. Therefore it is equal to 150 mm, which will avoid any error.

Form is always important

It should be remembered that the comfort of using the toilet depends on the shape of the lid, so you should treat it carefully. When choosing, you need to ensure that the product matches the dimensions of the toilet and is comfortable.

On sale there are lids of various shapes, for example, made in the form of musical instruments, frogs, ducks.But such design solutions do not always improve comfort, especially when it comes to protruding parts.

In addition, protruding sections of the structure may be subject to a load that they cannot withstand for a long time, which will lead to premature failure of the cover.

Creating a template will help you avoid mistakes when purchasing. To do this, apply a piece of polyethylene, paper or cardboard to the installed toilet and trace its contours as accurately as possible along with the fastening points. The resulting drawing needs to be cut out - it will be more convenient.

Today, the industry offers a huge selection of lid shapes, but before purchasing you should make sure of their practicality and reliability

When choosing a lid, you should always have the blank with you and, applying it to the sample you like, select the best option. You can also take a photo of the toilet or old lid, which, together with measurements, will also help make a successful purchase.

All of the above indicates that it is not worth choosing the shape and size you like among all the variety of options. It would be correct to select the specified parameters to match the corresponding characteristics of the existing toilet.

Manufacturing material is the key to durability

Strength, wear resistance, and functionality depend on the material, which directly affects the service life of the purchased cover. Additionally, antibacterial properties and comfort depend on it.

For example, it is precisely because of this that metals are not used for manufacturing. They are always cool, which does not add a pleasant sensation when the body comes into contact with steel, aluminum and other similar materials.

In view of the listed features, lids are made from the following substances:

• plastic;
• duroplast;
• PVC;
• wood and other lumber.

Since any type of raw material has its positive and negative sides, a potential buyer needs to become familiar with each of them. Or after the acquisition, all sorts of surprises are possible, most often disappointing ones.

Budget option made of plastic

Plastic has only one important advantage - its low cost. At the same time, all technical characteristics are mediocre. In addition, it is susceptible to even mild mechanical influences, so its most loaded part, the attachment point to the toilet, often breaks.

Plastic covers do not shine with aesthetic qualities, reliability and do not provide the necessary comfort, but they are affordable and therefore in demand

The decorative qualities of this material are also relatively low. The level of comfort is also one of the disadvantages of any plastic cover - they are the coldest of the other types.

All of the above indicates that a plastic accessory should be treated with the utmost care and only in this case will it last long enough and have a decent appearance.

Optimal material for the lid

We can say with a high degree of confidence that today Duroplast is the best material from which lids for all kinds of toilets are made. Although this is also plastic, it belongs to high-tech modern products. This is confirmed by excellent characteristics.

Thus, duroplast is durable, therefore it can easily withstand significant mechanical loads, including impacts. In addition, it does not react to exposure to many chemicals.

The photo shows a duroplast lid with a microlift.This combination gives the user everything they need: comfort, durability, high aesthetic qualities.

The aesthetic qualities are also high. Duroplast looks like ceramics, and it shines throughout the entire period of use, creating the impression of purity and newness.

Operational characteristics allow the lids to be equipped with additional equipment that adds comfort during use:

• microlift;
• auto drain;
• water heating;
• other functions.

And the polymer plastic from which Duroplast is made is often mixed with antibacterial additives. This solution provides the lids with high hygienic qualities throughout their entire operation, and this is a significant advantage over other types of materials.

PVC base and soft top

All lids with a soft top were given the name PVC because of the base material, because in fact, the frame of the structure is hard plastic, duroplast, and the softness is provided by foam rubber. The product is multi-layered, which ensures use with high levels of comfort. This option has excellent aesthetics.

Any PVC cover has high decorative qualities and practicality, but its service life is short, which is a significant disadvantage

In addition, the PVC coating material perfectly repels moisture, is easy to clean and always looks like new. But such an idyll will not last long - polyvinyl chloride wears out quickly, so the seams come apart and abrasions appear. As a result, such a product will have to be changed frequently.

Moreover, you need to know that it is not worth repairing the PVC lid, since the decomposition process cannot be stopped.Attempts to revive the coating will lead to nothing - time and money will be wasted. Typically, the lifespan of any PVC-coated lid will not exceed a moderate 3 years.

Expensive and not always practical wood

We can definitely say that wood, chipboard, MDF are environmentally friendly and warm materials, that is, they provide sufficient comfort when in contact with the body. Otherwise, such covers give users mixed impressions.

As for the service life, it directly depends on the level of the manufacturer and the quality of the materials used. That is, a wooden lid can be quite durable, attractive and comfortable.

But in many cases, everything is exactly the opposite, so the service life of such products does not exceed 5 years. This happens due to low-quality treatment with moisture-repellent agents, as a result of which the wood begins to rot after contact with moisture.

In addition, aesthetic qualities and comfort are often mediocre. And products made from wood itself are, in addition, quite heavy and can even cause injury to a child or damage to the toilet.

You also need to know that a wooden lid will be an appropriate design solution if other elements made from this material are used in the decoration of the bathroom. In other cases, such a product will look out of place.

The wooden lid must be combined with other elements of the bathroom decoration, or it will simply be an alien and offensive object

Wooden equipment is also much more expensive than its plastic counterparts, and for many potential buyers this is also a compelling argument to refuse to choose a wooden lid.

A purchased plywood product will only provide durability, as it has an impressive safety margin. All other characteristics are below any criticism, in addition, sets in the form of a seat and a cover are not made from this material, because it is suitable for making seats only.

A few words about the functionality of the products

Modern lids are capable of providing not only traditional operations, which significantly expands their capabilities.

For example, microlifts have become far from uncommon. Its job is to lower the lid without making any of the harsh and unpleasant sounds that are a depressing feature of many toilet accessories. Additionally, this mechanism protects structural elements from damage.

Multifunctional products are becoming increasingly popular equipped with bidet, control panel, and other technological solutions.

With their help, the user is able to regulate the water heating temperature and activate various functions, including ablution and drying. You can also simply control the height of the lid, program its automatic closing and opening, and set other commands.

How to choose the right cover?

The first point when choosing a device should be to check whether it matches the size of the toilet. This point is especially relevant due to the fact that the standardization of such equipment is rather conditional. This feature can lead to annoying errors. As mentioned above, the best option is if the product is slightly larger than the toilet itself.

A children's folding cover can be useful both at home and at a party or on a trip. Its advantage is that manufacturers take into account the characteristics of this category of users

Next, you need to address the issue of strength, because only this will ensure durability. To do this, pay attention to the quality of materials, read reviews about the chosen model, and also make sure there is no damage, which could be cracks or chips.

In addition, the following points should be monitored:

1. Comfort to use. This concerns not only the appropriate shape, but also checking the sharpness of the closing sound - it annoys many users. Additionally, it is worth paying attention to checking for the presence/absence of roughness and nicks, because such defects are a significant disadvantage.
2. Functionality, which must fully meet the requirements of potential buyers themselves.
3. Aesthetics. The lid, in addition to being liked by future owners, must fit into the interior of the bathroom.

If the buyer can allocate a round sum to purchase a lid, then it is necessary to take a closer look at multifunctional products, as they can provide a significantly greater level of comfort than traditional equipment.

DIY installation features

The procedure for installing the cover is quite simple, so you can easily do it yourself. And without using any special and rare tool.

First you need to remove the old cover. An appropriately sized wrench or pliers will help with this if it is attached to the toilet using plastic or brass bolts. The listed fasteners are not subject to corrosion, so they are easy to unscrew.

Removing the old cover can be the most difficult part of the job, but there are many simple ways to remove rusted bolts

Next, you need to clean the toilet shelf from traces of dirt. To install the purchased cover, you should use plastic or brass fittings. They do this because steel products quickly corrode in the humid environment of a bathroom.

Installing a new cover consists of attaching and tightening the connection, that is, this is a very simple operation that any owner of this thing can handle

The next step is to place the purchased lid on the toilet and attach the prepared screws. Next, the connection is simply tightened, after which the work is considered completed.

If a multifunctional device is purchased, then the owner will definitely have to use the services of professional installers.

Will familiarize you with the selection rules and installation instructions for a bidet attachment for a toilet bowl. next article, which we recommend reading.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The first video will give you a better understanding of the types of toilet lids:

The following material explains how to choose the correct cap size:

You can learn about the advantages of a cover with a microlift and how to install it in the video:

Choosing the optimal type of cover is quite easy. All that is required for such a procedure is a little knowledge and attentiveness, because this kind of product is not subject to strict standardization.

And this leads to the fact that there is quite a large number of standard sizes and shapes of toilet lids on the market. Installing a new accessory on your workplace will be easy.

Tell us about how you chose and installed a seat for your own toilet. Share what was the decisive argument in your choice.Please write comments in the block below, post photos related to the topic of the article, and ask questions.