Brass behind the walls is the gold standard—pun intended—but I’ll throw in a little love for PEX too. I’ve seen some PEX jobs that were so clean and well-supported, you’d think they were done by a surgeon with a plumbing fetish. But yeah, if you’re talking about spots you can’t easily reach (like behind showers or deep in ceilings), brass or copper valves just sleep better at night.
One thing I always tell folks: don’t cheap out on shutoffs. Those little quarter-turn brass valves are worth their weight when you need to kill water fast. Had a call once where a plastic valve crumbled like a stale cookie—let’s just say the homeowner got an impromptu indoor pool.
If you’re set on PEX, at least use quality crimp rings and fittings, and make sure everything’s pressure-tested before closing up the walls. But if your budget allows, stick with brass or copper where it counts. Water damage is sneaky... drywall doesn’t forgive mistakes, and neither do insurance adjusters.
yes,
Yeah, I hear you. Picking out new plumbing fixtures can be a bit of a rabbit hole. I’ve seen folks get caught up in the fancy finishes and forget about stuff like ease of repair or how easy it is to find replacement parts down the line. Personally, I’d go for something sturdy over flashy—learned that the hard way after a “designer” faucet started leaking six months in. If you’re not into surprises under the sink, stick with brands you know you can get parts for at your local hardware store. Makes life way easier when things inevitably go sideways.
Couldn’t agree more about sticking with reliable brands. Seen too many “statement” fixtures that look great but are a pain to fix or find parts for. Sometimes the simple stuff just works better in the long run. I get wanting something that looks good, but honestly, if you can swap out a cartridge without ordering it from overseas, that’s a win in my book.
if you can swap out a cartridge without ordering it from overseas, that’s a win in my book.
I get where you’re coming from, but I gotta admit, sometimes those “statement” fixtures really do hold up better than you’d think. Had a client with a wild Italian faucet—looked like it belonged in a spaceship—but the thing’s been running smooth for years. Parts were a pain once, but honestly, it’s rare. Sometimes you just gotta roll the dice if you want something unique. Just don’t blame your plumber when you can’t find the manual in English...