If you’re worried about longevity, focus on keeping water where it belongs, not on the vanity finish itself. That’s where I’ve always seen the real issues start.
Couldn’t agree more—my last “budget” remodel turned into a money pit thanks to a sneaky leak behind the vanity. Here’s what I learned (the hard way):
- Poly holds up, but caulk is the real MVP. Skimp there and you’re toast.
- Water-based poly = less yellow, less regret.
- Marine varnish? Only if your kids treat the bathroom like a splash pad.
Honestly, my biggest expense was fixing what water ruined, not picking out fancy finishes. Keep a towel handy and check those pipes... your wallet will thank you.
Had a similar experience, though I went the “eco” route and used recycled materials for my vanity. The finish held up fine, but a tiny gap in the caulk let water seep behind the wall. Ended up spending more on mold remediation than on the entire vanity itself. Lesson learned: I’d rather reapply caulk every year than deal with hidden leaks again. Poly’s great, but if water gets in, it doesn’t matter what you used on top.
- Had a similar issue with caulk a while back—water finds the tiniest spots, doesn’t it?
- My last bathroom redo ran about $7k, but I did most of the work myself. Materials were mid-grade, nothing fancy.
- Agree on the yearly caulk touch-ups. It’s tedious but way cheaper than tearing out moldy drywall.
- Curious—did you use silicone or acrylic caulk? I’ve had better luck with silicone in high-moisture spots, though it’s a pain to clean up.
- Polyurethane finishes look great but yeah, once water gets behind, it’s game over for any surface protection.
My last bathroom reno came in just under $10k, but I hired out the plumbing and tile work—those two always eat up the budget fast. Did splurge a bit on fixtures, though, which probably wasn’t strictly necessary. On caulk, I’m with you—silicone’s a pain to work with but holds up way better in showers. Tried acrylic once and ended up redoing it within a year. Water’s relentless... I’ve learned to check for leaks obsessively after a couple costly surprises.
Hitting under $10k is pretty solid, especially with pro plumbing and tile. I totally get what you mean about the fixtures—those little upgrades add up fast, but sometimes it’s worth it for the stuff you use every day. Silicone caulk is a pain, yeah, but I’ve found painter’s tape on both sides of the seam helps keep things neat. Water damage is sneaky... I always run the shower and check around the base for drips before calling any job finished. You’re right to keep an eye out—once burned, twice shy.
