- Plastic shims are definitely a solid choice—been using them myself for years under sinks and toilets without any issues.
- Composite shims are nice, sure, but honestly, unless you're dealing with something really heavy-duty or exposed to constant moisture, they're probably overkill.
- One tip though: if you're worried about stability or shifting, add a dab of silicone caulk around the shim once it's in place. Keeps everything snug and prevents any minor movement.
- Also, if aesthetics matter (like visible shims under a pedestal sink), plastic ones trim down super easy with a utility knife, and you can even paint them to match your flooring or fixture.
- Bottom line, plastic shims are budget-friendly, reliable, and easy to work with—no need to spend extra unless you've got a specific reason to upgrade.
Yeah, plastic shims usually do the trick just fine. I've seen composite ones crack under pressure too, so they're not always the miracle solution people make them out to be. One thing I'd add from experience—if you're cutting plastic shims down, watch your fingers. Had a close call once trimming one with a utility knife... those things slip easier than you'd think. Silicone around the shim is solid advice though, definitely helps keep things steady long-term.
- Good tip about watching your fingers—I had one of those close calls myself. Those plastic shims are slippery little suckers, especially when you're trying to trim them down.
- I get what you're saying about composite ones cracking under pressure, but honestly, I've had pretty good luck with composites so far. Maybe it depends on the brand or how they're installed? Curious if anyone else has noticed differences between brands.
- Silicone is definitely a lifesaver around shims. Learned that the hard way after doing a quick fix on my toilet—thought I'd skip it and ended up with wobbling again after just a few months. The silicone really helps keep things steady, especially in a bathroom where moisture can loosen stuff up over time.
- One thing I'm wondering though: has anybody tried using rubber shims instead of plastic or composite? Saw them at the hardware store last week and was tempted to give them a shot. Seems like they'd grip better and maybe handle pressure without cracking...but not sure if they'd hold up long-term or degrade quicker because of moisture and cleaning products.
- Also curious if you guys prefer trimming shims before or after installation? I've always done mine after they're in place, but maybe that's why my knife slips...
I've actually tried rubber shims for a toilet fix once—they worked great initially, but honestly, after about a year or so, they started breaking down from cleaning products and moisture. Ended up swapping them out for composites again. As for trimming, I usually do mine before installing 'cause I hate nicking the porcelain with my knife... learned that one the hard way too.
"Ended up swapping them out for composites again."
Yeah, composites are definitely the way to go long-term. I had a similar experience with rubber shims—worked great at first, but after a while, they just turned into crumbly little disasters. And man, nicking porcelain is the worst... I still cringe thinking about the time I chipped the edge of my brand-new toilet bowl trying to trim a shim after installation. Lesson learned: always trim beforehand.
Speaking of DIY plumbing mishaps, has anyone else ever accidentally overtightened the bolts on their toilet flange? I did that once and cracked the flange itself—talk about turning a simple fix into an all-day project. Curious if anyone has tips on how tight is "just right," because clearly my method of "tighten until it feels secure, then give it one more turn" isn't foolproof...
