Dry-fitting definitely saves a lot of headaches down the road, learned that the hard way myself. Alternating bolt tightening is solid advice too—porcelain cracks are no joke and can turn a simple afternoon project into a weekend nightmare. Curious though, has anyone here tried using those rubber or silicone toilet shims instead of the plastic wedges? I've had mixed results with them. Sometimes they seem to hold up great, other times they shift around after a few months. Maybe it's just me not installing them right... Would love to hear if others have had better luck or if there's a trick I'm missing.
"Sometimes they seem to hold up great, other times they shift around after a few months."
I've had similar experiences with silicone shims—sometimes they're rock solid, other times they just won't stay put. Have you tried cleaning the floor and toilet base thoroughly with rubbing alcohol before placing them? Residue or moisture can make them slip around over time. Also, trimming excess shim material flush with the base seems to help stability. Curious if you've already tried these methods or found something else that works better...
I've found silicone shims to be pretty hit-or-miss myself. Honestly, switched to recycled rubber shims a while back and haven't had any shifting issues since. They're eco-friendly too, which is a nice bonus... might be worth considering if silicone keeps giving you trouble.
I've actually had decent luck with silicone shims, but I get why some folks find them unreliable. The trick I've found is making sure the surface underneath is completely dry and clean before placing them—any moisture or grime and they'll slide around like crazy. Rubber shims are solid too, though personally I've noticed they can degrade a bit quicker in humid bathrooms. Still, can't argue with the eco-friendly angle... might give recycled rubber another shot next time around.
Totally agree on the moisture issue with silicone shims—seen that firsthand. Curious though, have you tried composite plastic shims? They're pretty durable and moisture-resistant...might be worth checking out if humidity's a recurring problem.
