Yeah, totally agree on tackling the real problem first instead of slapping a quick fix on it. I've been guilty myself—thought I was clever by just tightening bolts and adding some caulk around the base of my toilet. Looked fine at first, but after a few months, that telltale wobble came back worse than ever. When I finally pulled it up (begrudgingly), turns out water had seeped into the subfloor and caused some serious rot. Had to cut out and replace an entire section of plywood, which was way more work than just doing it right from the start would've been.
The thing is, plumbing issues like this are sneaky... you think you're saving time or money by skipping steps, but you're really just kicking the can down the road. Plus, water damage is one of those problems that never fixes itself—it only gets worse and spreads silently until it's a full-blown disaster.
Also worth mentioning: if your subfloor is compromised, you might wanna take a good look at your floor joists too while you're at it. Moisture can travel further than you'd expect, and it's better to catch any structural issues early rather than dealing with bigger headaches later.
Honestly though, I get why people try shortcuts—I mean, who actually enjoys pulling toilets or crawling around inspecting joists? But trust me, biting that bullet upfront saves you from a weekend of misery down the line. Learned that lesson the hard way once... never again (hopefully).
"if your subfloor is compromised, you might wanna take a good look at your floor joists too while you're at it."
Good advice right there. Had a similar situation last year when a client called me in for a "quick fix" wobbling toilet. Turned out the flange was cracked, letting water seep into the plywood underneath. Ended up replacing part of the subfloor and reinforcing two joists that had started to rot. Definitely pays to check thoroughly—these hidden issues escalate quicker than you'd think.
Had a similar headache a couple years back—tenant called about a "minor leak." Pulled the toilet and found the plywood underneath was mush. Ended up sistering joists and replacing half the bathroom floor. Like you said...
"these hidden issues escalate quicker than you'd think."
Better safe than sorry.
Been there myself—thought I was just swapping out a wax ring, ended up knee-deep in rotten subfloor. Before you panic, here's what I'd do: first, pull the toilet and get eyes on the damage. If it's soft or crumbly plywood, bite the bullet and cut back to solid wood. Sistering joists isn't rocket science, just measure twice and cut once... or three times if you're me. It's annoying, but better than falling through the floor mid-business, right?
Man, reading this thread is giving me flashbacks to my first DIY plumbing adventure. Thought I'd save a few bucks by replacing the toilet myself—how hard could it be, right? Famous last words.
Anyway, I pulled the toilet and found the plywood underneath was basically oatmeal. I panicked, called my dad (who's about as handy as a potato), and he suggested just patching it up with some plywood scraps and calling it a day. Against my better judgment, I listened. Fast forward two months later, and I'm sitting there minding my own business when I hear this ominous creaking sound... let's just say I nearly had a heart attack mid-flush.
So yeah, definitely agree with cutting back to solid wood. But honestly, if you're new to this stuff like I was, sistering joists might be biting off more than you can chew. It's doable, sure, but if you're not confident or don't have the right tools, it can turn into a weekend-long nightmare pretty quick. I ended up hiring a handyman friend-of-a-friend who knocked it out in half a day for way less than I expected. Sometimes it's worth paying someone who knows what they're doing rather than spending your entire weekend cursing at lumber and power tools.
Also, quick tip: if you do decide to tackle it yourself, invest in knee pads. Seriously. My knees still haven't forgiven me for that weekend spent crawling around on plywood splinters.
Good luck—hope your bathroom adventures end better than mine did.
