That's pretty much what i figured--just thought maybe i was missing something.

Will admit, it looks pretty, but would be crazy to have?!? The whole toilet would have to be removed just to replace that $.99 flapper... and most likely by a PLUMBER... CH-Ching!

I don't see how that would meet code. And what a hassle to repair anything. I have only seen those in apartments, and, not that low.

It's called a "Banjo" countertop. They became popular in the '80's. I've had several in several homes. We considered the pro's and con's...there are versions that flip up too. I have a silestone/granite one in my powder room. LOVE IT! Never been a problem getting to the toilet parts....yeah....I can fix a toilet. Now...with feet on vanities....vanities are 4" - 6" higher and it's really NO problem.

It's not a code violation since the supply valve is accessible. However, it isn't a smart thing to do since it blocks access to in-tank repairs that will need to be done, sooner than later.

I'm more concerned about the lack of toilet paper, unless that bathroom is labeled, "Do Not Enter". Mom.

Personally it does not appeal to me. Besides the access issue, I know I would bang my head on it cleaning back there.

It is a no from me. Not appealing or practical.

I think it's a nice concept, but impractical on some levels.

We have a counter like that in our powder room. The removable lid on the tank is a few inches below the counter, and we have no problem getting to the tank innards for any of the repairs we have done over our 37 years here.

I've seen built ins over the toilet that work, but the one in Annegreit's example looks pretty solidly toilet tank blocking. I had a chuckle imagining what my plumber would say if confronted with that....nothing I could type, for sure ;0) He doesn't mince words.

Hi annegriet,

You said that you were concerned that you might be missing something.

Possibly ... you might not be the only one.

ole joyful ...

... whose friend once said that if her husband and grown sons wanted to stand to do part of their business ... they cleaned the bathroom floor ...

... and, now that he's old, finds that standing to do one part of his business is rather risky, in case the other part of the personal portable waste disposal system demanded to get active, as well.

o j

I had a toilet with a banjo counter in ME. But, since this was in a dorm apt, there was no tank on the back of the toilet - it was like a toilet in a public bathroom. We liked it as it gave us a place to keep a box of tissues and room spray. But with a tank? No!

We have that situation and it's never been a problem. Tank repairs can be done. Not sure how long we have had it, maybe 20 years or more.

The countertop is Corian. The extra bit of space in the small bathroom is helpful.

In our area it's called a porkchop counter and we have one in our ensuite. It's been like that for 27 years but we were careful to buy a low toilet to give enough room for repairs. It's never been a problem.

Hi blfenton,

That arrangement, in your area, would have something of a Victorian atmosphere to it, possibly?

o j

I don't see how it could be a code violation. But the other issue is the picture shows what I call a squatter terlit and if you decide you want to go ADA (or as I call it "adult") height, you could be SOL with that design. But then, if'n it were for me and I was designing it, I would put in a higher than "normal" counter in the bathroom. I don't like those low counters/vanities that people insist are required in a bathroom. I'm not 4'7" tall so it doesn't work for me.

To me it's another example of not wanting something to look like what it is. It's a bathroom. What's wrong with it looking like one?

it looks nice but I wouldn't want it. No one could get in there to repair it.

We moved into our 1982-built home in a 55+ community last year. Both toilets had that counter thing. It did not take me long to get my cold chisel out and break them off. It was messy and ugly, but it was stupid. As it turns out, every house in our community that built between 1982 and 1995 have those things.

Ours even had wallpaper behind it! And, of course, the wall to wall carpet!

The first picture is a bad situation. The second one isn't impossible, but would promote profanity when repaired. Both no. 1 & 2 are bad because often there is a need to see the innards for diagnostic purposes. The most common repair is replacing the flap valve at the bottom of the tank; the next repair is the float and adjusting the float level; The third repair is replacing the entire valve shut-off valve and overflow tube. There has to be enough room to get these pieces out of the tank. It might be possible in photo No. 2, but you'd be working blind. Apparently, photo 3 does not have a tank, but uses a self timed flush valve head, the same as found in commercial buildings. Photo no. 3 is awkward, but doable.

One way to make no. 1 workable is to have the portion of the counter over the stool removable, but then this would present its own problems. There would be a seam between the two counter pieces that would collect dirt, spllls and require frequent cleaning.

Anything knocked off the counter over the stool is in danger of falling into the bowl if its lid is up.

I've used toilets with this extension piece above them. They hit me in the back when fully seated. All this to gain so little space? Not for me.