Been there myself—silicone rings look promising until reality hits. Wax might be messy, but it forgives those uneven flanges every time. Live and learn, right? Glad you got it sorted without too much damage.
Yeah, silicone rings always seem like the cleaner option until you're knee-deep in frustration. Wax is messy, but at least it's forgiving—I learned that the hard way after my own DIY toilet fiasco last year. Speaking of uneven flanges, anyone ever tried those flange repair kits from the hardware store? Saw them last weekend and wondered if they're worth keeping around just in case...
"Speaking of uneven flanges, anyone ever tried those flange repair kits from the hardware store?"
Yeah, I grabbed one of those flange repair kits a couple months back when dealing with a similar headache. Honestly, it saved me from having to rip out the whole flange and start fresh. They're not miracle workers, but if your flange is just slightly uneven or cracked, they can definitely do the trick. Way easier than messing around with silicone rings, IMO... learned that lesson after wasting half a day trying to get one to seat properly. Wax might be messy, but at least you know when it's sealed right. I'd say grab one of those kits and keep it handy—better to have it ready than make another emergency run mid-project.
Yeah, those flange repair kits are pretty handy. I used one last year when I discovered my flange was cracked after pulling up the toilet—talk about a nasty surprise. Like you said, they're not magic, but if your flange isn't totally destroyed, they're a solid fix. Personally, I still prefer wax rings over silicone too... silicone always seems fussier to seat properly. Just make sure the flange kit you grab matches your existing setup, or you'll end up making another trip anyway (ask me how I know...).
I've been considering switching over to silicone rings actually, mostly for eco-friendly reasons (wax rings aren't exactly sustainable, ya know?). But hearing your take makes me pause a bit. I've heard silicone can be reused if you need to adjust things, but if it's tricky to seat properly, that kinda defeats the purpose of convenience.
Also, now you've got me curious—are these flange repair kits generally universal or do you really have to hunt down the exact match? Seems like it should be standardized by now...but then again, plumbing always seems to have its own quirky standards. A while back I tried using a "universal" connector for my bathroom sink, and let's just say it was anything but universal. Ended up with three trips to the hardware store before finally getting the right piece.
Wondering if anyone here has found a flange kit that's reliably compatible across different setups, or is it still trial and error?
