Dependable Bathroom Materials?

[Sam L.]

I'm in the process of turning over a property. What brands do you guys prefer for dependability and servicing in a rental? 

I'm looking for input specifically on:
*Shower mixer valves (serviceability is big with this one, if you've ever had to replace a cartridge you'd know why)
*Toilets (I prefer Vormax toilets from America Standard)
*Tubs (Open to suggestions)
*Fixtures (I like Pfister "push and seal" for vanities, gets rid of that stupid linkage that always seems to break)

What brands have ya'll had success with?

[Johann Jells]

Most of the showers now are pretty easy, some have shut offs right in the frame. I like Cadet 3 toilets, they NEVER clog because they have a huge 3" tank valve. Seriously, 14 installed and no problems. I forgot the name of the tub but it's porcelain on steel with a layer of resin inside to mute sound. Seems like cast iron but MUCH lighter and cheaper.

[Sam L.]

Originally posted by @Johann Jells:

Most of the showers now are pretty easy, some have shut offs right in the frame. I like Cadet 3 toilets, they NEVER clog because they have a huge 3" tank valve. Seriously, 14 installed and no problems. I forgot the name of the tub but it's porcelain on steel with a layer of resin inside to mute sound. Seems like cast iron but MUCH lighter and cheaper.

 Do you remember where you bought the tub from?

[Brian Pulaski]

@Johann Jells are you referring to "Americast" for the tub? I have used these on most of my projects and they do feel better than steel, and 1/3 the weight of cast iron. I did find out however the ones I have installed from the big box store are very slippery. Only realized this when I had to shower in a bathroom I remodeled with one.

[Johann Jells]

Originally posted by @Brian Pulaski:

@Johann Jells are you referring to "Americast" for the tub? I have used these on most of my projects and they do feel better than steel, and 1/3 the weight of cast iron. I did find out however the ones I have installed from the big box store are very slippery. Only realized this when I had to shower in a bathroom I remodeled with one.

Yes, I think that's it. It seems unlikely they're slipperier than cast iron.

[Brian Pulaski]

@Johann Jells unsure, I have only ever had Fiberglass tubs or the one experience with an Americast. However it was very slippery (everyone who used that tub slipped at one point).

[Dave Melton]

I use only Delta faucet and tub valves. When you get the lab faucets at a supply house they come with brass pop ups instead of plastic. I use plastic tub drains from the supply house with brass guts. I use Kohler toilets.

[Account Closed]

@Sam L. American Standard Americast, Bootzcast/Mauicast. The Bootz tubs are sold at Home Depot and have a slip-resistant coating.

These are all really porcelain-on-steel tubs with additional undercoatings that help deaden sound and insulate for soaking bath temperature. Really, they're all DIY products. The American Standard Princeton tub is the non-undercoated version of the same thing. The Bootz Maui and Aloha are the "plain" Bootz versions. 

If you heavily insulate a standard 16-gauge steel alcove tub like the Bootz products with a roll of unfaced insulation, you get much the same results. In the age of acrylic and fiberglass tubs, there are a large number of "professional bathroom designers" who either do not know this or make up total BS excuses for why they choose to stiff you for an additional $100-$200 on materials costs for the "cast" versions of these steel tubs (because they're easier and faster for unskilled people to install).

Here's an out-of-the-box idea on your shower, invest in a European shower bar mixer system where most of the plumbing is outside the wall. That way, if something goes wrong with the shower, you can pull the whole thing off the wall and replace it with another quickly.  Do a search on Amazon for "Rovate Complete Thermostatic" and you'll see a bargain-brand one that you can put in cheap. If you want to upgrade, there's always something like "Grohe 26490000." Replacing the whole shower system once you have the basic plumbing in is a handyman job, no plumber/license needed, and there are far fewer soldered connections behind the wall.

A thing to watch for with these is that American pretentious middle-class wannabes just love them, but actual Europeans are not always impressed. Great stuff in Pittsburgh, probably great stuff in Joliet, not so good with European immigrant populations.

[Todd Fithian]

I've done a ton of remodels as a contractor, and if there was ever anything I could recommend to homeowners was, the higher priced items, a lot of times the harder it is to find replacement parts. Not meaning that in a cheap out way because quiet honestly they are paying for it anyway, but stick with a nice setup from a local Home Depot or Lowes etc, you'll always be able to find replacement parts easily. Plus they make nice things.

[James McCormick]

Bootz bathtubs, steel, white, plain tub. I will only use Moen facets. The tub/shower mixer valve use a cartrage that is easy to change out (20 minutes), takes longer to drive to property. They have been using this vale for over 25 years. 

[Mateo Carrera]

I recommend sourcing your stuff from a supply house not Menards or Home Depot . I use moen comercial for everything. I got a 9 unit that is really old and all the plumbing fixtures are moen commercial. Never had a problem or leaks. On my houses I did Menards n Home Depot stuff. Before I found a comercial supplier. But will be switching out. As the need replacing. More expensive but worth it.

I don’t do tubs in my rentals. I do the base with ceramic tile it is indestructible all the way up to the ceiling. U could power wash it if u wanted and good a new lol.

[Anthony Angotti]

@Mateo Carrera I've used a lot of the Moen stuff because of the lifetime parts replacement. I've only have had to use it once though and have never bought the commercial items. Same policy on the commercial line?

[Mateo Carrera]

I think the Commercial lines are 5 year full warranty. And all of these are designed for like public places with a very high volume of people. The ones i have have not leaked I know they have been in here for 10 + years. Last couple of days I started having an issue where my aerators got clogged up. Found out there was a major water main break and rust and sand looked like came into the building and clogged them. Hopefully that does not damage the Cartridge. Never thought about a main strainer but considering now.  

[Mateo Carrera]

@Anthony Angotti couldent get the link to work on the first reply lol

[Anthony Angotti]

@Mateo Carrera assuming you buy them at a plumbing supply store?

[Mateo Carrera]

Yeah Supply house.  But hopefully find an online place for cheaper.  What I like is they are all brass And have ceramic discs. Not those flimsy 1/4 in copper lines that bend when u touch them 

[Sam L.]

thanks for the replys everyone! I went with the bootz aloha tub, unfortunately upon opening the box I the porcelain coat was chipped. I went with moen for the shower valve.

[Samantha Klein]

I use the Niagara Stealth 0.8 GPF Toilet from Home Depot in all my rentals. It doesn't not have a flapper and I use the Perfect Seal wax ring by Danco. My tenants love that the toilet has the button on the top unlike most toilets. I install these whether I pay the water or they pay. It has been saving money. They are also fairly cheap less than $150