I hear you on the “throwing good money after bad” part. I’ve tried to rescue water-damaged cabinets with wood hardener too, and while it technically worked, the end result was... let’s just say “character-filled.” Honestly, by the time I factored in the hours spent sanding, patching, and cursing under my breath, I probably could’ve just bought new ones.
When I finally gave up and replaced them, I went with stock cabinets from the big box store. Custom was tempting, but the price difference was wild—like, double or more. For a bathroom, I just couldn’t justify it. The stock ones have held up fine, and with some decent hardware, they look pretty sharp. If it was a kitchen, maybe I’d think harder about custom, but for a bathroom? Stock all the way.
I always wonder if the price difference is really worth it.
In my experience, unless you’ve got a weird layout or super specific needs, stock cabinets do the job just fine. Plus, less stress if you mess something up during install—ask me how I know...
I hear you on the time sink. I’ve spent way too many weekends trying to “save” stuff that, in hindsight, just needed to be replaced. Sometimes it’s more about stubbornness than logic, at least for me.
I’m with you on stock cabinets for bathrooms. I went down the custom rabbit hole once—got a quote that made my jaw drop, then circled right back to the big box options. Honestly, unless you’re working with a really funky space or want something super specific, it’s hard to justify the cost difference.
Out of curiosity, did you end up doing the install yourself or hire it out? I found installing the vanity wasn’t too bad, but wrestling with the plumbing connections was another story. Wondering if people here are factoring labor into their remodel costs or if most are going the DIY route. Sometimes I think the “savings” of DIY get eaten up by extra trips to the hardware store and a sore back...
Stock cabinets all the way here too—my wallet just couldn’t handle the custom quotes. I did the install myself, but man, the plumbing was a pain. Ended up making three trips to the hardware store because I kept forgetting random fittings. By the end, my “savings” felt pretty questionable, especially after factoring in the ibuprofen. Still, there’s something satisfying about doing it yourself, even if it’s not perfect.
By the end, my “savings” felt pretty questionable, especially after factoring in the ibuprofen.
That’s so real—DIY always seems cheaper until you’re knee-deep in weird pipe fittings and mystery leaks. But honestly, even if it’s not perfect, you probably avoided a ton of waste by reusing what you could and skipping the custom stuff. I always tell myself the learning curve (and the sore muscles) are part of the investment. Next time, maybe jot down a checklist before heading to the hardware store? It’s saved me a few headaches... sometimes.
I swear, every time I take on a bathroom project, I end up with a pile of receipts and a sore back, wondering if I actually saved anything at all. Last time, I thought I’d “just” swap out the vanity and somehow ended up repainting the ceiling at 2am because I couldn’t unsee the old paint lines. But hey, I did manage to salvage the old mirror and some hardware, so it wasn’t a total budget buster. I’m convinced half the cost is just the price of learning what not to do next time.
