Abstract: A cover plate has an inner surface shaped to contact a closet flange and an opposing outer surface. The cover plate is adapted for covering a drain pipe end having a closet flange that extends perpendicular to the drain pipe end. The inner and outer surfaces terminate in an outer cover perimeter having approximately the same diameter as an outer flange perimeter of the closet flange. The outer cover perimeter has a protective sidewall that extends upwardly, normal to the outer surface, for protecting the closet flange and facilitating the installation of floor tile adjacent the closet flange. The cover plate includes cover apertures positioned to coincide with flange apertures of the closet flange. The cover plate further includes cover locking bolts and cover locking nuts adapted to be positioned through the flange apertures and the cover apertures for removably fastening the cover plate to the closet flange.