That’s a great point about the environmental side—lighter materials mean less resource use, which is a plus. I do wish the new stuff felt a bit sturdier, though. For faucets, I’ve had good luck with Moen and Grohe; they seem to last and don’t give me grief with leaks. Toto toilets are solid, too—maybe not as heavy as the 70s tanks, but the flush is reliable and they’re so much more efficient. Sometimes I miss the old-school weight, but not the water bills...
Honestly, I get the appeal of brands like Moen and Grohe—they do seem to last. But I’ve had some surprisingly good luck with Delta, especially for the price. My last kitchen faucet was a Delta and it’s going on year six without any issues (knock on wood). Not as fancy-feeling maybe, but it didn’t break the bank. With toilets, I went with American Standard because Toto was a bit out of my range... haven’t had any regrets yet. Sometimes I wonder if the extra cost is really worth it or just peace of mind, you know?
haven’t had any regrets yet. Sometimes I wonder if the extra cost is really worth it or just peace of mind, you know?
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve had the opposite experience with Delta. My bathroom faucet started leaking after about three years, and the finish wore off way faster than I expected. Maybe I just got a dud, but it made me a bit wary. I ended up switching to Moen for the replacement and it’s been solid so far. As for toilets, I went with Toto even though it was pricier—never had to use a plunger since, which is worth something in my book. Sometimes that extra cost really does buy you less hassle down the road...
Interesting to hear about Delta wearing out that fast. I was actually leaning toward them because of the warranty, but maybe that’s not the whole story. I’ve been comparing Moen and Kohler too—seems like people have strong opinions either way. For toilets, Toto keeps coming up as the gold standard, but I’m still trying to justify the price tag.
Has anyone had luck with the “off-brand” stuff from the big box stores? I keep seeing Glacier Bay and Project Source for way less, but I’m skeptical about how long they’ll last. Is it just a gamble, or are there some hidden gems out there?
I’ve swapped out more faucets and toilets than I care to admit, and honestly, the “off-brand” stuff is a mixed bag. I put a Glacier Bay faucet in a rental thinking, “Hey, it’s cheap, how bad could it be?” Well, it worked fine for about two years, then started leaking at the base. Not catastrophic, but enough to annoy my tenant (and me). The finish also dulled pretty quick.
On the flip side, I tried a Project Source toilet in another property just to see if it’d hold up. It’s been three years and no complaints yet—flushes strong, no weird noises, nothing falling apart. Maybe I got lucky? Or maybe toilets are less finicky than faucets.
I get tempted by those prices too, but I’ve noticed the cheaper stuff sometimes means more headaches down the line. If you’re flipping or renting and don’t mind swapping things out every few years, it might be worth the gamble. For your own place though... I’d probably stick with Moen or Kohler for faucets and maybe splurge on Toto if you want that “forever toilet.”