KOHLER Corbelle – 4 Outstanding (Flawless) Advantages

KOHLER Corbelle Advantage

KOHLER Corbelle – The Long Awaited Level Playing Field

Talk about a rimless bowl, a cyclone style flush, and a proprietary glaze; it is near impossible not to mention TOTO and American Standard. And now, KOHLER. The arena for flushing power and bowl scouring rinse is getting a little crowded.

With its two-piece Corbelle, it seems KOHLER is re-inventing itself and adding more water power to its already powerful AquaPiston Flushing System. The days of complaining about the dismal rinse that the rim holes provide are numbered.

But is it too late for the party?

Never too late when you have got something that’s proven to work even better. The bigger question is the direction that KOHLER will be heading. Does that mean you can expect more KOHLER toilets will be designed like the Corbelle?

That will depend on how KOHLER Corbelle is fairing in the marketplace, and how receptive you (the beloved user) are towards this revamped KOHLER toilet design.

So is it time to discard that old Cimarron or Santa Rosa of yours and replace it with a Corbelle? That’s entirely up to you, and it doesn’t hurt to read through this KOHLER Corbelle toilet review and find out its true mettle.

A Rimless Bowl Rim

OK, that sure sounds contradicting. In fact, the Corbelle still has the rim, or rather a lip that goes around the inside perimeter of the bowl top. But, without the tiny rim holes to stream water into the bowl for rinsing.

Instead, the Corbelle bowl spots a large opening at the top side of the pan. And this is where water from the tank jets out and spiral down to the bowl outlet, and scouring the entire bowl surface for a thorough flush and rinse.

New Bowl Design

So now, the purpose of the rim is to prevent water from splashing out during a flush and for guiding the water flow. Such a bowl design is often referred to as rimless because there is no need for distributing water through rim holes lined throughout the bowl rim.

A rimless bowl is easier to maintain because there are no hidden areas for bacteria, limescale, and grime build up. Any dirt or debris will get washed down the pan instead of getting caught under the rim. And cleaning is simply a wipe round underneath the lip with a soft cloth or sponge.

No more hard brushing and spraying to dislodge dirt that is blocking the rim holes because there aren’t any now.

Compare to the conventional rimmed bowl; this sweeping water motion is a lot more effective in removing sticky waste off the bowl surface. Add to that; the Corbelle uses a proprietary glaze, the CleanCoat which enhances rinsing efficiency.

CleanCoat Ensures A Clean Bowl Every Time

The CleanCoat is KOHLER’s version of TOTO’s CeFIONtect and American Standard’s EverClean surface glaze. The Corbelle bowl surface is coated with an ultra-thin layer of nanoparticles to iron out crevices at a micro level. The result is a super-smooth bowl finish that prevents waste from sticking stubbornly onto the surface.

So it offers tremendous help to the swirl flushing and leaves you with a clean bowl with every flush. Besides, it makes the unsightly skid marks difficult to form.

CleanCoat

And according to KOHLER, the CleanCoat surface can inhibit the growth of water scale and mineral stains usually associated with hard water. That makes a lot of sense since an ultra-smooth surface offers no micro-crevices for microbes and debris to accumulate and grow.

The treated surface repels water and dirt, letting it run off in droplets instead of calcifying in place. It also minimizes debris from sticking for an effortless clean.

An AquaPiston Flushing System On Steroid

When you give wings to an already powerful flushing system, the result can only be phenomenal. The AquaPiston is undoubtedly a powerful flushing machine. Given its unique design that provides more volume and speed, together with the CleanCoat and a rimless bowl, the overall flushing and rinsing efficiency can only be better.

Rimless Bowl + CleanCoat + AquaPiston = Revolution 360

Revolution 360 Swirl Flush Technology

So the KOHLER Corbelle is using the Revolution 360 Swirl Flushing Technology. This is a flushing system which comprises the AquaPiston canister flush valve, a rimless bowl, and the CleanCoat finish. And it is definitely a better flushing system compared to the old rimmed bowl and conventional glaze.

And in case you are new to the AquaPiston, the benefits it offers is unprecedented during the times when the flapper rules every toilet flush valve.

AquaPiston Benefits:
AquaPiston Flush Valve

  • Its canister form allows water to flow out of the tank from all sides (360 degrees). Higher water flow rate compared to the flapper valve.
  • It has a 3:2 ratio funnel that directs and streams the water flow for optimum flush power.
  • It has 90% less exposed seal material than a 3-inch flapper assures a leak-free performance.
  • The lower actuation force (than a flapper) means it only requires a light touch to pull a flush.
  • It is more durable than the flapper valve.

You Hate To Clean Toilet

Who doesn’t? But it’s a necessary task if you want to keep your bathroom in a clean and hygienic condition at all times. And you should.

Fortunately, this KOHLER Corbelle is a skirted toilet. So at least you don’t have to deal with every nook, crevice, and corners that the trapway poses. You will sure love the flat skirting surface as cleaning is one smooth wipe across or down. No more scrubbing with the finger in those hard to clean crevices. So ladies, if you have to do the manual work, your nails are safe.

And if cleaning the bowl is just as frustrating, despite having the CleanCoat, there is another Corbelle model that comes with the feature, ContinuousClean. It self-dispense a consistent amount of toilet bowl cleaner with every flush to keep the bowl clean between flushes. With this feature, the bowl stays clean longer and helps reduce the frequency of manual cleaning.

ContinuousClean

So, whether you find this feature a must-have or otherwise, the Corbelle is designed for easy upkeep and improve the overall hygiene and cleanliness of your bathroom.

Advantage Of 3 Rough-in Size

Trapway AttachmentThis KOHLER Corbelle toilet offers the flexibility of 3 rough-in sizes. So whether you are with a 10″, 12″ or the rare 14″ rough-in, you are well covered. A separate trap attachment makes it possible to swap sizes. Just make sure you order the right rough-in attachment with your toilet purchase.

This concept of not having a fully molded trapway is not new. The main advantage it offers is the flexibility to change the toilet rough-in. So even if you made an error with your purchase, just re-order or exchange for the right attachment size. Or when you need to relocate the toilet to a different rough-in size, you only need to buy the right trap attachment.

Especially convenient when you acquire a pre-owned property; you can consider moving the Corbelle to your new home. Though usually, people will replace the existing crapper with a new one, after all the toilet is a very personal item. But if it is still in good condition, and the rough-in is no issue why not.

You may not agree with the suggestion. However, the option is there for you to explore. Think of the money you can save for the other essential items you need for your new home. These days a dollar saved is better than a dollar earned. And there’s a good chance that you will agree this is a viable option when you discover how easy it is to install this KOHLER Corbelle toilet.

Installation Made Easy For The Novice DIYer

And here is another money-saving opportunity with this Corbelle toilet. If you don’t mind a little dirty work, you can install the toilet yourself. That’s because the toilet has a quick install feature, the ReadyLock installation system.

Anyone who has installed a skirted toilet before will understand the challenge, even for a seasoned plumber. But with the ReadyLock, this KOHLER Corbelle toilet is easy even for a first timer. So why pay for a plumber when you can do it yourself.

Unlike the typical skirted toilet, you don’t need to drill any holes on the floor. In fact, the power drill is not required for the installation. All you need is a socket wrench and a screwdriver for securing the bowl to the flange.

Watch the video below and see if this is easy enough for you.

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Of course, not everyone is keen to DIY a toilet replacement. So the ReadyLock may not be an advantage at all if you intend to hire help. But again, you have the option should you decide to save the money for hiring a plumber. And in case you decide to try, please do not do it alone. The fragile porcelain bowl weighs about 100 lbs. So do get a friend or family member to help.

Is The Corbelle Really Flawless?

Every product is designed to solve problems. If you were to extrapolate that notion, the more problems solved, the closer it gets to perfection. So does that mean the Corbelle is flawless in its design? Let’s list out the problems it helps to solve and those it didn’t.

Powerful Flushing. This is not an option and should not be compromised. A strong flush is useful when you have a heavy load to clear. And the dreadful clog can be reduced. The Corbelle uses the AquaPiston which is known for its flushing power.

Revolution 360 Swirl Flushing. Compare to conventional flushing (rim holes and vertical flow), a sweeping swirl is more effective in bowl rinsing. The scouring motion gets you a clean bowl with every flush. Besides, the rimless bowl offers an easy clean to remove any dirt which may have survived the flush.

CleanCoat Finishing. When skid marks is a pain, an ultra-smooth bowl surface can alleviate the problem of water scale and mineral stains formation. And it prevents waste from sticking onto the bowl surface. So the need to flush a second time for a clean bowl is significantly reduced.

Skirted Design. The benefit of a skirted toilet is pretty obvious. It has more flat surfaces than one with its trapway exposed. That means cleaning is a lot easier and faster.

Two-Piece Design. While it has the advantage of replacing the tank and bowl separately, a thorough clean still requires some attention to details. Like the area underneath where the tank sits and the tank-bowl joining area. That’s where mold and dirt are likely to gather. So this is the only disadvantage of the Corbelle.

Finally…To Buy Or Not To Buy

KOHLER toilets are known for its elegant exterior. The luxurious exterior of the Corbelle is another testament to KOHLER’s undivided attention to aesthetics. And now with the rimless bowl, a better bowl glaze, and the Revolution 360 flushing system, the KOHLER Corbelle toilet certainly has the traits of a winner.

As you can see, the Corbelle has all the better features that solved the problems associated with the common toilet. Except maybe a one-piece design will totally squash the little imperfection of a two-piece crapper.

Perhaps a future one-piece or a round bowl Corbelle model is in the making for those without the luxury of space in the bathroom. The probability is high, and you may see that happens sooner than expected. But don’t forget, the price of a one-piece toilet can never be lower than the two-piece.

So are you going to wait for the perfect one-piece Corbelle? Or grab this two-piece KOHLER Corbelle now and start to enjoy a cleaner and more hygienic toilet.

Buy Corbelle On Amazon

23 Comments

  1. Hi, Bud,

    Please do tell, what is the rim to water height measurement?

    My husband loves the very large rim to water height in our Caroma Sydney Smarts (I think—we had them installed in 2016). I have not found another rim to water height that comes close. However, I’m not so impressed with the glazing of that Caroma toilet and we need to buy a toilet and I’m trying to find one with rim to water height that will be acceptable. I do not understand why this measurement is SO hard to find!

    Thanks very much.

    Thanks!

    • Hi Laura, as it’s shown in the spec sheet of the model K-3814, the rim to water surface is 6-1/4″. So I presume they are all the same or vary slightly.

      Not many manufacturers state this in their spec sheet. Probably only Kohler and Toto and they don’t show them in every toilet model. So if it’s crucial for you, you’ll have to contact them directly.

      Hope that helps.

  2. Do you have the measured water surface for this toilet?

  3. I recently bought 2 of these and had a plumber install them. I find that when ‘waste’ goes in it immediately offsets water into the trap. So water is actually leaking from the bowl into the trap. I’ve called Kohler and their response was ‘that is normal’. They are level, etc but I think they may have been installed wrong. Thoughts?

    • Hi Peggy,

      Some water will be displaced, the amount depends on the waste mass. But what’s important here is the flushing. If the water being displaced is too much that affects normal flushing then that’s a problem. Did the toilet flush normally? As in completely got rid of the waste?

  4. Do you know if the Toto Washlet C5 would fit on the K-5709. I love the style and features of the Corbelle, but would love to pair it with a Toto washlet. Thanks for any insight & advice.

    • Hi. Yes the C5 should be able to fit on the K-5709. The only disadvantage is the cable and hose will be exposed on the side, if that’s fine with you.

  5. Hi there! Thank you for your site and all the great information – I’ve learned a lot!

    So, I really want this Corbelle toilet! It seems to have all the things that make a toilet great these days (love the AquaPiston and the 360 rimless action)…

    It’s a bit pricey for me though, since I need 3 of them…so my question is, what is the difference between this and the Kohler Transpose? The Transpose also has the AquaPiston and the 360 rimless water thing, but it’s $100 less…is there something wrong with it? Does it have a flaw? Apparently Kohler is discontinuing it.

    I appreciate any info you might have on it, and would love to know if you recommend it (even if it’s being discontinued).

    Thanks again for the info…getting closer to a decision!! …someday!!! lol!
    t.

    • Hi TL.

      Since Corbelle, Kohler has come up with other similar models. Not sure why they do that though, and I’m not surprised if they discontinue, in this case, the Transpose. Seriously I don’t see any difference between the 2 besides the nuance in dimension. And that’s precisely why I don’t see the need to review it.

      So, to your questions, it’s probably a commercial decision that only Kohler can answer.

      • I was wondering the same thing, but I think there are to differences that I’ve found. One is the style of the seat – the Corbelle has a seat cover that “wraps” over the edge of the seat when closed, so it looks like one piece on top of the bowl (just aesthetics). The second looks like the ContinuousClean system on the Corbelle is beefier – battery powered, etc, while the Transpose doesn’t have the battery powered function with the status lights/reset button, etc. Other than that, it looks identical.

        • Yup, I didn’t verify but I think you can swap the seat between Corbelle and Transpose depending on your preference. And maybe that’s where the $100 dollar difference is.

  6. I’m going to buy this Kohler toilet. Here’s hoping. What’s the difference between the K-3814 model and the slightly more expensive K-5709 model? Thanks for your answer and review.

    • Hi David.

      The K-3814 is a regular comfort height toilet. Whereas the K-5709 comes with the ContinuousClean feature which “self-dispense a consistent amount of toilet bowl cleaner with every flush to keep the bowl clean between flushes”.

      Hope that helps.

      • Bud, thank you for your reply. Yeah, I figured out the difference and bought the continuous clean model K-5709. It gets great reviews. I’ll let you know how it works for me, and thanks for your review here. I feel much more comfortable buying this toilet after reading your review. Great service to all of us.

  7. I actually did purchase the Kohler Corbelle toilet and have to say that I love it. I stays cleaner much longer than any other toilet I have purchased. It flushes everything easily with one flush. It’s quiet. It is exactly what I was hoping it would be.

  8. I purchased this toilet and it won’t even flush toilet paper. No swirling water happening. Thanks for any input.

    • Hi Pamela.

      You may want to contact Kohler. Or use your phone to record the flushing and send the video to me via info @ toiletfound.com

      Martin

  9. Thank you for this review. My big concern is the noise of a flushing toilet. Have you heard it flush? Is it super loud to do all that water swirling? The last time I flushed a TOTO in a public space, it was so loud, I had to plug my ears! I want a toilet that won’t wake the neighbors. Thanks!

    • Hi Margaret.

      The loudness depends a lot on the environment, the surrounding. The same toilet can sound loud in a small space (a cubicle) compared to a larger room filled with furniture and fixtures. But I don’t think a swirling flush can be as loud in a home setting as one in public. Then again, what’s loud to you could be just a pin drop for me. 🙂

  10. Thanks for all this information, however what I’m looking for is a 19/20 inch toilet bowl for comfortable seating, where do I find that?

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