Good points here, especially about overtightening bolts—been there, done that, and it's not fun cleaning up porcelain shards. I'm a bit skeptical about doubling wax rings though... seems like a messy shortcut. I'd rather use one of those flange extenders if the height's off. But yeah, warming the wax slightly is spot-on advice; makes it way easier to seat properly without squishing everywhere. Good luck, toilets can be a pain... but you've got this.
"I'm a bit skeptical about doubling wax rings though... seems like a messy shortcut."
Agreed, doubling wax rings can work in a pinch, but it's usually more trouble than it's worth. Flange extenders are definitely the smarter long-term fix. If you haven't used one before, they're pretty straightforward—just clean around the flange thoroughly, apply silicone sealant underneath the extender, screw it down securely (but don't overtighten!), and then set your wax ring as usual. Saves headaches later... learned that lesson the hard way myself. Good luck!
"Flange extenders are definitely the smarter long-term fix."
Yeah, flange extenders saved me from a plumbing nightmare last year. Doubling wax rings just felt like putting a band-aid on a broken leg—messy and temporary. One thing I'd add: make sure your floor is level before installing the extender. Mine wasn't, and it turned into a mini DIY comedy show trying to shim it properly... Has anyone else had trouble with uneven floors complicating their toilet repairs?
"Mine wasn't, and it turned into a mini DIY comedy show trying to shim it properly..."
Haha, been there myself. My bathroom floor slopes just enough to make every toilet install feel like a circus act. Last time, I ended up using composite shims and trimming them flush—worked pretty well, actually. Flange extenders are definitely solid, but honestly, getting the toilet stable on an uneven floor is half the battle. Sometimes you just gotta embrace the chaos and laugh it off...
Yeah, composite shims saved me too. My floor wasn't just sloped—it had this weird dip right under the toilet. Thought about self-leveling compound, but seemed like overkill for such a small area. Ended up trimming shims and caulking around the base to hide the mess. It's stable enough now, but honestly, every time I sit down I'm half-expecting it to wobble again...
