Yeah, flange extenders are definitely the way to go long-term. Wax rings stacked up can get messy fast if things shift even a little. Learned that lesson the hard way at my brother-in-law's place... thought we'd save some time doubling wax rings, and it worked fine for a few months. Then one day he calls me in a panic—water leaking everywhere. Ended up pulling the whole toilet again, cleaning up a nasty mess, and installing the extender anyway.
Also, good tip on not overtightening bolts. People think tighter is always better, but porcelain isn't forgiving at all. Snugging them down evenly until the toilet doesn't rock is plenty. If you're still getting wobble after that, shims are your friend—plastic ones work great and won't rot out like wood does.
"Snugging them down evenly until the toilet doesn't rock is plenty."
Couldn't agree more. I once helped a buddy who thought cranking down the bolts would fix his wobble issue... ended up cracking the base and turning a simple afternoon project into a weekend ordeal. Lesson learned: porcelain doesn't play nice with brute force. And yeah, flange extenders are worth every penny—stacked wax rings always seem like a quick fix until you're ankle-deep in regret (and worse).
Been there myself... had a tenant who thought tightening bolts was the magic fix for everything. Ended up cracking the porcelain, flooding the bathroom, and costing me a new toilet plus flooring repairs. Best approach I've found: shim it level first, snug bolts evenly (just enough to hold steady), and always check flange height before setting the wax ring. Saves headaches every time.
"always check flange height before setting the wax ring"
Great point about flange height... curious, do you prefer wax rings or have you ever tried those newer wax-free seals? I've had mixed luck—sometimes they're a lifesaver, other times a headache. Thoughts?
Wax-free seals can be hit or miss, honestly. I've had times where they're total heroes—especially if the flange height is a bit sketchy. But other times... let's just say I've had to revisit the scene of the crime more often than I'd like. Wax rings are messy and old-school, sure, but they're reliable as long as you nail that flange height and alignment. Plus, there's something oddly satisfying about squishing one down (maybe that's just me?). If you're comfortable with your flange setup, wax is usually my go-to. But if you're dealing with uneven floors or questionable flange conditions, wax-free can save your sanity. Just keep a spare wax ring handy—trust me on this one.