"quality does make a difference in how often you'll be reaching for that screwdriver."
Couldn't agree more. I've seen plenty of lever handles loosen up, even on commercial-grade hardware. Had a client once who insisted on budget handles for their rental units—ended up being called back every few months to tighten or replace them. Eventually convinced them to upgrade, and the callbacks dropped dramatically. Regular maintenance is inevitable, sure, but investing in quality upfront saves headaches down the line... Glad your reno turned out well, always satisfying when things finally click into place.
Yep, learned that lesson the hard way myself. Went cheap on fixtures for my own place once and regretted it pretty quickly—nothing like a loose handle at midnight to drive you nuts. Glad yours worked out better, feels good when things finally settle into place.
"nothing like a loose handle at midnight to drive you nuts."
Haha, been there myself—nothing worse than fumbling around half-asleep trying to tighten a handle that's determined to stay loose. One thing I've learned from working on these setups is that even mid-range fixtures can feel premium if you install them right. A lot of times, it's not just about the price tag, but making sure you've got good mounting hardware and taking the extra few minutes to align everything properly. Thread seal tape, silicone grease on O-rings, and snugging up connections evenly (without overtightening!) can make a huge difference in how things feel and last.
Glad your reno turned out well though. It's always satisfying when things finally click into place and you don't have to dread midnight bathroom trips anymore...
I feel ya on the loose handle struggle... I once spent half an hour at 2am trying to fix a faucet drip that sounded like a drum solo. Turns out, it was just a worn washer I'd overlooked. Lesson learned the hard way, haha.
Been there myself—those washers can be sneaky little things. Usually, I double-check washers and seals first, saves a lot of midnight headaches. Ever had trouble with shower pressure after your reno? Curious if that's just me...
