I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had the opposite luck with Kohler.
Maybe it’s just my water, but my Kohler faucet’s finish has held up better than my Moen in the same bathroom. Sometimes it feels like it’s more about water quality and cleaning habits than brand.“Some of their stuff looks great out of the box, but I’ve seen finishes pit or flake off way sooner than they should.”
Also, on the “archaeological dig” for American Standard parts—totally agree, but I’ve found that if you stick to their current models, parts are everywhere and usually cheap. The real pain is when you inherit a 1980s relic... then it’s eBay or bust.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing with finishes—my Moen kitchen faucet started showing water spots and some weird discoloration after just a couple years, but the Kohler in the laundry room still looks almost new. I’m starting to think hard water is the real villain here, not the brand. And those old American Standard parts...man, I once spent two weeks hunting down a weird flush valve for a ‘90s toilet. Ended up paying more for the part than the toilet was probably worth. Sometimes it’s just easier to swap the whole thing out if it’s ancient.
Sometimes it’s just easier to swap the whole thing out if it’s ancient.
I totally get that. I tried to fix an old faucet in our bathroom and ended up spending hours at the hardware store, only to realize the replacement parts didn’t fit quite right. Is it just me, or do newer models seem way easier to install? Also, has anyone actually had luck with those “spot-resistant” finishes? I’m skeptical, but maybe I’m missing something.
Yeah, I hear you—sometimes it feels like the new stuff is practically plug-and-play compared to wrestling with old plumbing. I’ve had mixed results with “spot-resistant” finishes, honestly. They help a bit, but water spots still show up if you’ve got hard water.
Spot-resistant finishes are like those “miracle” cleaning sprays—great in theory, but my 1920s sink still looks like it’s been through a dust storm after a week. Hard water just laughs at those coatings. I’ve had better luck just wiping things down with vinegar every so often, honestly.