Stylise your loo with a concealed cistern

In-keeping with the trend toward wall-hung or streamlined bathroom fittings, concealed cistern toilets have become an increasingly popular choice. Using the wall or ceiling cavity to hide the cistern, only the bowl of the toilet is visible, creating a modern, streamlined look. They utilise much less space, which is ideal for smaller bathrooms or spaces that may be awkward. 

A concealed cistern toilet can either be wall faced, which sits directly on the floor, or wall hung, leaving the floor space underneath visible. Wall-hung toilets generally make a bathroom appear larger, but they may need additional support to hold their, and your, weight. The toilet is flushed via buttons on the wall behind, and these can be installed up to four metres from the cistern, making them ideal for the disabled.

Fitting a concealed cistern

The best location for a concealed cistern will depend on your bathroom layout. Where there is no access to the roof space, an in-wall system will be used. This typically occurs in flats and units or where the bathroom is located on the ground floor of a two-storey house. In-ceiling cisterns are installed where access from outside the room is possible, such as from the roof space or an adjoining room. Cisterns can also be concealed in vanity units or behind mirrors.

Cost

But all of this beauty and elegance comes at a cost, with concealed cistern units being much more expensive than regular models. They are also more costly and complicated to install, a factor which may deter some people. And then there's the question of what to do if you need to access the concealed cistern once it's been installed.

If concealed in the wall, an access panel will be required for service and repairs. This is usually a large plate mounted on the wall above the toilet, which is where the flush buttons are located. For cisterns concealed in the ceiling or in vanity units, this panel is not required, as external access is possible, so the flush buttons on these can be mounted directly on the wall, or with only a small panel.

Consult with your plumber before making any decisions, to determine the most suitable and cost-effective concealed cistern solution for your bathroom space. They will be able to tell you whether your walls need any further reinforcing to support the weight, and advise what models are suitable for your needs.