Did you run into any issues with uneven floors too? My house is from the 1920s, and when we put in our clawfoot tub, the plumber spent half a day just figuring out how to level it properly. I thought the plumbing itself would be the headache, but nope—turned out the floor was sloping enough to notice once water was in the tub. Ended up having to shim one side and then redo some tile work around it. Vintage fixtures look great, but man, they always seem to come with surprises. Did your remodel include flooring adjustments, or was it mostly plumbing headaches for you?
Weirdly enough, I've found that uneven floors aren't always worth correcting entirely—especially in older homes. Sometimes trying to level everything perfectly can actually highlight other quirks you didn't notice before. In one remodel, we spent ages trying to get a vintage pedestal sink perfectly level...only to realize the door frame next to it was slightly crooked. Suddenly the "perfect" sink looked off because of the surroundings. Honestly, a slight slope can sometimes be part of the charm, as long as it's not causing functional issues (like water pooling in corners). Did you ever consider leaving it slightly uneven and just adjusting visually instead? Curious if anyone else has embraced the imperfections rather than fighting them.
Totally agree with you on this. I've done a few remodels in older houses, and chasing perfection can be a rabbit hole. One time, I spent days trying to level out an old clawfoot tub only to realize the entire room was slightly tilted. Ended up just shimming it enough so water drained properly and visually adjusting the trim around it. Honestly, as long as it's functional and doesn't scream "crooked," embracing those quirks usually works better than fighting them.
Been there myself with an old farmhouse remodel. Spent hours trying to square up a vanity, only to realize the floor dipped nearly an inch from one side to the other. Ended up shimming it just enough so drawers didn't slide open on their own and called it good. You're right—sometimes chasing perfect alignment just isn't worth the headache. As long as it looks decent and works fine, no one's gonna notice those quirks but you anyway...
"Ended up shimming it just enough so drawers didn't slide open on their own and called it good."
Ha, relatable. I've found that older homes often have these quirks, and chasing perfection can sometimes lead to unnecessary waste or environmental impact. I'm curious—did you consider using reclaimed or sustainably sourced materials for your remodel? Wondering how much that might've affected your overall budget or if it was even practical for your project...
