Plumbing Rehab - Share Your Fixture List?

[Eric La Pratt]

I'm rehabbing a small multi-family in Chicago proper right now and am selecting plumbing (and lighting) fixtures. This is my second deep rehab in ~5 years, so it's not my first rodeo but it's also been a while. I want quality plumbing fixtures with good internal workings (typically brass), but aren't sure if that's still possible at a decent price.

If you're holding - not flipping - what type of fixtures are you using? Brand, line, finish, etc.? I've used some Delta product before but it's tough to find the quality ones online as they don't tell you how the internal workings are crafted.

[Jim K.]

@Eric La Pratt

Hey, Eric. Holding, not flipping.

1. In recent years, precision-machined ceramic quarter-turn valves on bathroom faucets have really come in because they're what the ADA wants. IMO, Grohe makes the best ones. Grohe stuff is made all over these days, but the valves still all come out of one facility in Germany. I like Grohe for bathroom faucets, specifically, the one-hole installation models.

2. Delta has the most popular basic rough-in shower valve these days, the MultiChoice. The Kohler shower valves are much thicker, beefier brass. And yeah, again, the Grohe stuff is really in a different league, not sure it's worth it for anyone's needs.

3. For ease of installation, quality support, and reliability from Day 1, it's always been Moen in America. Nothing has changed.

4. @JD Martin recently recommended Lowes Project Source Pro Flush toilets, made with all-Fluidmaster parts. I just put in two of them. This was really, really a surprise for the price, and I'm very happy to second the recommendation.