I hear you on the wax ring—those things are tried and true, but I’ve actually seen caulk do more than just keep mop water out. If you use a good quality caulk and apply it right, it can help anchor the toilet a bit, especially on tile or uneven floors. Not saying it’s a substitute for a solid install, but it does add a little stability.
That said, I get the worry about hiding leaks. The trick is to leave the back edge uncaulked. That way, if there’s ever a leak, water will show up behind the toilet instead of getting trapped and rotting out the subfloor. I’ve fixed a few nightmares where folks sealed the whole thing and didn’t notice a slow leak for months... not pretty.
Shims are hit or miss, totally agree there. I’ve had better luck with composite ones over plastic, but nothing beats getting the flange height right from the start. Sometimes you just gotta work with what you’ve got, though.
not pretty. Shims are hit or miss, totally agree there.
Leaving the back edge uncaulked does make sense, but I’m still on the fence about caulking at all. Even with a gap, I’ve seen water sneak under and get trapped if the floor’s not perfectly level. Maybe I’m just paranoid from too many bad experiences, but I’d rather rely on a solid wax ring and skip the caulk unless the floor’s really uneven. Guess it comes down to how much you trust your install.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve had the opposite luck—skipping caulk once led to a slow leak that ruined the subfloor. Wax ring was fine, but a tiny wobble let water sneak out over time. I know some folks say caulk hides leaks, but honestly, I’d rather spot a puddle on the floor than find out months later when the floor’s soft. For me, a cheap tube of caulk is worth the peace of mind, especially in a house with kids who treat the bathroom like a water park.
Totally get what you mean about kids turning the bathroom into a splash zone. I had a similar issue—thought the wax ring would be enough, but a tiny gap let water seep under the vinyl for months.
Same here. I’d rather clean up a mess than rip out a whole floor. Caulk’s cheap insurance in my book, even if it means checking for leaks gets a bit trickier.“I’d rather spot a puddle on the floor than find out months later when the floor’s soft.”
I get the appeal of caulking around the base—nobody wants water sneaking under the floor. But I’ve seen too many jobs where caulk just hid a slow leak for ages. Personally, I leave a gap at the back so any water has somewhere to escape... not everyone agrees, but it’s saved a few headaches in my experience.