Yeah, tight clearances aren't just about safety either—they can make future maintenance a nightmare. I've seen installations where fixtures looked great but left zero room for repairs later on. Always worth considering long-term accessibility when picking out new plumbing hardware...
Totally agree about accessibility—it's a big deal. But honestly, another thing people overlook is standardization. I learned this the hard way when I bought some fancy imported fixtures online. Looked amazing at first, but when something broke, finding replacement parts was a nightmare... ended up costing me more than if I'd just gone with a common brand from the start. So yeah, clearance matters, but don't underestimate the value of sticking with widely available hardware either.
Been there myself with those fancy imports—looked great until something went wrong. Had a client once who insisted on a sleek European faucet, and when it leaked, took weeks just to track down the right washer... lesson learned the hard way, lol. Standard stuff isn't glamorous, but man, it's a lifesaver down the road.
Had a similar run-in myself—client went for this minimalist Japanese showerhead. Looked amazing, but when the valve went bad, it was a nightmare sourcing parts. Wonder if anyone's found imports that actually hold up long-term...?
Had a similar issue myself a couple years back. Went for this sleek, imported Italian faucet—looked fantastic, super modern, and honestly not that pricey compared to some local options. But about a year in, the cartridge started leaking. Thought it'd be an easy fix, but nope... spent weeks trying to track down replacement parts. Turns out the manufacturer had discontinued that exact model, and suppliers here didn't carry compatible parts.
Makes me wonder if it's worth the hassle going for these imported fixtures at all? Sure, they look amazing at first, but what happens two or three years down the road when something inevitably breaks? Are we stuck with expensive paperweights?
I've since switched back to more common brands—not as flashy, I admit, but at least I know I can find parts at any hardware store. Anyone here actually had good luck with imports holding up long-term without becoming a maintenance nightmare? Maybe some brands are better than others...
