 Vanity Light (by JS [CA]) May 20, 2026 7:47 PM
 (by Ken [NY]) May 20, 2026 9:06 PM
(by Richard [MI]) May 20, 2026 9:23 PM
(by JS [CA]) May 20, 2026 11:25 PM
(by W [CA]) May 21, 2026 1:35 AM
(by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) May 21, 2026 2:02 AM
(by zero [IN]) May 21, 2026 9:20 AM
(by Tim [CA]) May 21, 2026 11:19 AM
(by Tim [CA]) May 21, 2026 11:19 AM
(by JS [CA]) May 21, 2026 11:46 AM
(by JS [CA]) May 21, 2026 11:48 AM
(by Oregonwoodsmoke [ID]) May 21, 2026 12:00 PM
(by Gene [OH]) May 21, 2026 2:53 PM
(by Oreo [WI]) May 27, 2026 5:53 PM
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Vanity Light (by JS [CA]) May 20, 2026 7:47 PM
Message:
Hey Landlords
Have any of you found nice, modern looking vanity lights that don’t rust? I know brass or aluminum would be ideal but outside of a lighting store I don’t know where to find those. Those shops are not apartment priced.
The lower end stuff is not appropriate for my rentals. The mid priced items look nice but develop rust after a year and look pretty bad after 3. I usually just replace them although I have been known to spray paint them as well. --162.204.xxx.xxx |
Vanity Light (by Ken [NY]) May 20, 2026 9:06 PM
Message:
my wife picks out our lights for flips and rentals at Home Depot and Home Depot online --208.115.xxx.xx |
Vanity Light (by Richard [MI]) May 20, 2026 9:23 PM
Message:
Try spraying the fixture with automotive clear coat (after you remove any existing rust, if any). It should help stop rust. --24.180.xx.xxx |
Vanity Light (by JS [CA]) May 20, 2026 11:25 PM
Message:
I buy almost all the fixtures at HD as it is the most convenient. Seems like the cheap and more expensive ones rust at the same rate.
The clear coat is a good idea. I should try that when they are new and see if they make it to year 5.
I’ve seen some nice fixtures that are aluminum online. The price is 2-3x but theoretically they should never rust. --162.204.xxx.xxx |
Vanity Light (by W [CA]) May 21, 2026 1:35 AM
Message:
I used to buy exterior lights at HD and install them in the bathroom. Figured they had to be heavy duty to withstand the rain and sun, maybe even tenantproof. --98.97.xxx.xx |
Vanity Light (by BRAD 20,000 [IN]) May 21, 2026 2:02 AM
Message:
JS,
Here's the light I'm using:
amazon.com/dp/B09YGY1CHJ?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_6&th=1
And this medicine cabinet with super cool touch LED built in light. Ladies LOVE IT! Adds a WOW!
amazon.com/dp/B0G7H137J8?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1
(Costco sells just the mirror, no cabinet for $99)
BRAD --68.45.xxx.xxx |
Vanity Light (by zero [IN]) May 21, 2026 9:20 AM
Message:
I shy away from LED fixtures. Sure they are rated for a billion hours, but they do go bad.
When they go bad you better hope they have the same model or your footprint might be different, then you are looking at touching up the wall as well.
I did put LED fixtures in the flip house that I ended up selling to my daughter. Only because I wasn't going to own it forever. So now, when one goes out I will still have to deal with it.
I did get a four foot wide lighted medicine cabinet like the one Brad linked. It has a cool factor for sure. I bought it at auction, new, for two dollars because they took a picture of the back only.
I like the idea of clear coating the fixture first. I will try that with my current rehab. I know that a bigger fan should remedy that problem, but it never seems to do it completely. --47.227.xx.xxx |
Vanity Light (by Tim [CA]) May 21, 2026 11:19 AM
Message:
I agree with Brad - the backlit bath mirrors have a huge wow factor, especially for the women, and they don't rust.
Another option to consider would be to make sure you have a good flow bath fan (with a squirrel cage blower, not the little propeller style) and put it on a humidistat switch so it turns itself on when your tenant decides on a cold winter day to turn the bathroom into a sauna by taking a hot shower without the fan on. --98.255.xx.xx |
Vanity Light (by Tim [CA]) May 21, 2026 11:19 AM
Message:
I agree with Brad - the backlit bath mirrors have a huge wow factor, especially for the women, and they don't rust.
Another option to consider would be to make sure you have a good flow bath fan (with a squirrel cage blower, not the little propeller style) and put it on a humidistat switch so it turns itself on when your tenant decides on a cold winter day to turn the bathroom into a sauna by taking a hot shower without the fan on. --98.255.xx.xx |
Vanity Light (by JS [CA]) May 21, 2026 11:46 AM
Message:
Thanks Brad
I love the light and the price is reasonable. Hopefully iut lasts. I worry about the metal in the cabinet. I started using Kohler Cabinets and they have aluminum construction so don’t rust. The Zaba ones are nice also but eventually the latch stops working.
Zero
I originally felt like you . I would only use fixtures that I could use with LED bulbs. A few years ago I started installing LED fixtures. Except for the commercial hallway ones they have been fairly trouble free. For the 4’ hallway ones I bought more expensive fixtures from a lighting store.
The hallway ones from HD were a nightmare. I replaced all 8 I had in one building over 5 years. Some were replaced twice. After switching to commercial fixtures there haven’t been any failures. As far as inside I have not had any failures. One light was replaced because it filled with water from a leak but that’s it.
Tim,
I really do need to install more fans. Because of this site I know about the switches and it sounds like something I will do going forward. All my bathrooms have windows and some have fans but none have the humidity sensor. The fans are the high quality ultra quiet ones. From now on every bathroom remodel is going to get a fan with a humidity sensor.
--162.204.xxx.xxx |
Vanity Light (by JS [CA]) May 21, 2026 11:48 AM
Message:
W
If I could find exterior lights in a style I like I would consider it. --162.204.xxx.xxx |
Vanity Light (by Oregonwoodsmoke [ID]) May 21, 2026 12:00 PM
Message:
Spend less money and get the plastic ones. Those don't rust and usually tenants do not handle them enough to break them. --76.178.xxx.xxx |
Vanity Light (by Gene [OH]) May 21, 2026 2:53 PM
Message:
This is the vanity light I have used in multiple rentals and they have held up well so far:
menards.com/main/lighting-ceiling-fans/indoor-lighting/vanity-lights/patriot-lighting-reg-seattle-ii-nickel-integrated-led-vanity-light/va1126-nk3-24lfc-t/p-1550302354912-c-7502.htm --23.245.xxx.xx |
Vanity Light (by Oreo [WI]) May 27, 2026 5:53 PM
Message:
BRAD: Nice bath mirror w/lights saved for next need.
JS: To salvage the interior of cabinets that either rust or get trashed somewhat we had mirrors cut to size for the back and bottom of the cabinet. We had thick plexiglass cut for the shelves. Nice WOW factor when it's opened. --216.131.xx.xx |
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