Plastic shims are decent, but honestly, composite shims have been my go-to lately. They're a bit pricier, sure, but they're way more stable long-term, especially in bathrooms or kitchens where moisture's always lurking. Had a job last year where the homeowner insisted on plastic shims under the toilet base—seemed fine at first, but after a few months of regular use, they started shifting slightly. Not a huge deal, but enough to notice and annoy the homeowner.
Composite shims don't compress or shift nearly as much, and they're easier to trim flush without cracking or splintering. Plus, you don't have to worry about sealing them like plywood. Learned pretty quickly that spending a little extra upfront saves headaches down the road. Just my two cents...
Good points on composite shims—I get why you'd prefer them. Personally, I've stuck with plastic shims for budget reasons, but I found that if you take the extra step to secure them with a dab of silicone caulk, they hold up pretty well. Did that under my kitchen sink cabinet last year, and it's still solid. But yeah, if I had a bigger budget, I'd probably switch to composite too... fewer worries down the line.
Plastic shims with silicone work fine in a pinch, but honestly, I've seen them warp over time, especially in damp spots like bathrooms. Composite might cost a bit more now, but fewer callbacks save money in the long run... learned that the hard way.
"Composite might cost a bit more now, but fewer callbacks save money in the long run... learned that the hard way."
Wish I'd read this sooner. Just redid my bathroom and used plastic shims thinking they'd hold up fine. Already noticing some slight shifting near the shower base after just a few months—composite next time for sure.
Yeah, plastic shims near showers are always risky. They seem fine at first, but moisture and temperature changes usually cause issues pretty fast. I've swapped out plenty of those setups after just a year or two because things started shifting or squeaking. Composite shims definitely hold up better—worth the extra few bucks to avoid headaches later on. Lesson learned, right?