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Installing Vanities

Installing a new vanity isn't the easiest do-it-yourself project to undertake. But it is one of the most rewarding. At the end, you have a whole new area that is not only functional but livens up the bathroom decor.

Removing the old sink and cabinetry is the first step, of course. As always, turn off any water valves and open the faucet to get as much out of the pipes as possible before disconnecting the hoses and pipes.

One literal sticking point is that most will be attached to the wall not only by easy-to-remove screws, but by caulk as well. That requires a patient, but necessary, slow chipping away with a utility knife until the sink is free of the wall and/or floor. The alternative is to simply rip it out, creating a much larger refinishing job at the end.

Once the old stuff is gone the fun begins.

Some re-finishing will be helpful. With such an open and easily accessible area, it's the perfect time to do any needed sanding. Some will be tempted to paint or wallpaper at this stage. That's an option but keep in mind that it really raises the bar on the need to be careful putting the new vanity in place.

Measure the height from the floor and distance from one wall of all pipes and hoses. We assume you considered those before buying a replacement to fit the space. So this step is to ensure that the replacement slides in to just the right place.

Part of that effort may involve cutting and/or drilling any needed holes in the back of the new vanity. Hot and cold water hoses have to snake through these in the under-the-sink section. Ditto the drain pipe(s) from the wall.

Now for a key task: make sure that everything is level.

Very few floors are perfectly level and even a custom-made vanity will not have had the base cut to compensate. The easiest way to deal with the problem is to shim around the base to prevent any wobble or excess pressure on one side. Then the remainder can be caulked to close up any gaps. It's theoretically possible to shave the base of the vanity instead, but the effort would rarely be worth the trouble.

Once that's taken care of, the easy steps are all that's left. Locate a couple of wall studs behind the vanity and under the countertop. Use them to provide a secure mounting area to fasten the nailer (a flat section of the vanity at the rear) to the wall. Pre-drill a couple of holes with a bit a little smaller than the wood screws. Then fasten.

Lay a bead of plumber's putty around the rim of the vanity for the sink and lower the sink into place. It will squeeze out some of the putty, top and bottom. Scrape the excess from the top using a cuticle tool or ice cream stick, then wipe the remainder off with a slightly damp sponge before it dries.

Install the faucet, reconnect the hoses and pipes and turn on the water. Voila! A beautiful job.