Installing a new vanity isn't an impossible job for a home DIY'er--but it's seldom as straightforward as it appears on some DIY shows. All vanities aren't the same--and there are a number of potential problems you need to keep in mind when picking the one that's right for your home. Here are some thoughts on things to keep in mind when choosing a replacement vanity for your bathroom.
Instructions
1. Decide on what you want the totally finished new vanity to look like before buying any components, since all the components of your new vanity (top, sink, faucets) need to fit and work together. For example, while a flat cabinet top with a vessel sink may be stylish, a vessel sink requires a different style of faucet than a traditional overmount sink.
2. Remember, even a prefabricated vanity with a built-in sink won't accept any and all faucet designs. While the standard width of a bathroom faucet is 4 inches, faucets come in a number of configurations such as a single hole or three holes with two faucet handles and a central spout. The holes in the vanity you choose need to align with the faucet.
3. Keep the size of your bathroom in mind. While you may want the largest vanity you can squeeze in for the extra storage space, be sure not to oversize your vanity and make it difficult to move around in your new bathroom or impossible to open or close the door. As well, a large vanity in a smaller bathroom, may visually overpower the room and look out of place.
4. Changing the size of your vanity may mean you will need to undertake some tile changes. Quite likely, the existing floor tiles are installed right around the base of your vanity, and changing the vanity size could mean you will need to remove or replace some of the original floor tiles or flooring. Another concern is matching tile colors may be difficult if your floor is a few years old.
5. When figuring where a new vanity will fit in your bathroom, you need to determine whether the opening in the back of the vanity will accommodate your existing plumbing. If the opening doesn't line up with your plumbing, you'll either be faced with a carpentry job on the back of the vanity to create an opening for the plumbing or repositioning the plumbing to fit the vanity opening. It's also important to measure and see how far back the drawers or shelves extend. Some manufacturers install half depth drawers or shelves to allow space behind them for the plumbing to fit in. If there isn't any space, and you still want that particular vanity, you'll need to reconfigure the existing plumbing or pay a plumber to come in and do the job.
Tags: your bathroom, your vanity, back vanity, drawers shelves, existing plumbing