Install a Bathroom Vanity and Sink

Thinking about upgrading your old bathroom and adding some more storage at the same time? Or just tired of looking at that old vanity the builders put in and want something a little more attractive? Whatever your reason, installing a bathroom vanity is a job a competent DIY'er can take on, and it shouldn't shut you out of your bathroom for more than a day.

Things you'll need:

• Adjustable wrenches
• 3" drywall screws
• Slip joint pliers
• Tape measure
• Carpenter's level
• Stud finder
• Shims
• Utility knife
• Hole saws
• Power drill
• Caulking gun and caulk

First Things First

The first thing your need to do is get rid of the sink or vanity that's already in your bathroom and get the space ready for your new vanity. Check under the vanity to see how it's attached - probably with some screws through a rail on the back (often called a "nailer"), or in the corners. While your head is under the countertop, look to see how your countertop and sink are attached to the base. Again there may be screws holding the top in place, or it may just be held in place with glue.

Removing your old vanity will be easier if you take off the top (it will be lighter). Finally use a utility knife and run the blade around the edge, cutting through any caulking holding the vanity edges to the walls or backsplash.

Taking Out the Old Vanity

As in any plumbing project, before you begin, turn off the water to your bathroom. Hopefully this means closing the shut off valves on the water feed lines to the vanity, but in some cases it might mean you need to shut off the water to the whole house. You'll need an adjustable wrench to disconnect the supply tubes from the faucet bases, and a large wrench or slip joint pliers to undo the drain. (It's a good idea to have a bucket handy when you open the drain to catch the water that's remaining in the trap.)

Take off the doors and remove the drawers from the vanity. If there is any molding around the base of the vanity, remove it as well. Now get down on your knees and take out the screws holding the vanity to the wall, and if you're going to take off the top, undo the screws holding it in place or use a pry bar to break it away from the base.

You should be able to slide the vanity out and away from the wall, but in some cases you may have to pry it away from the wall. If you do, use a thin scrap of wood to protect the wall from the pry bar. It's a good idea to put down a thin sheet of plywood or even an old blanket to prevent gouging your floor when sliding the vanity.

Once you've removed the old vanity, inspect the area for any damage. This is when you can repair any dings or water damage in the walls and ensure your floor is sound and level.

Preparing the Space and Plumbing

Carefully measure the height and width of your new vanity. Determine where you want to position it and mark the edge locations with vertical lines. Now, measure and mark up from the floor in three places the height of your vanity. Use the highest mark and draw a level line through it, joining the two vertical lines. You now have an exact outline for the placement of your vanity.

Carefully measure the locations of the water pipes and drain lines coming out of the wall and transfer those measurements onto the back of your vanity. Use a hole saw (at least 1/2" larger than the pipes) and drill holes for your water lines. Cut the cutout for the drain with a larger hole saw or a saber saw.

Verify where at least one stud is in the wall behind your new vanity, measure and mark its location on the vanity nailer, and drill a pilot hole for the 3" screw that will hold it in place.

Finally, Installing the New Vanity

Minimize the chance for damage (and make the vanity lighter and easier to move) by taking out any drawers and removing the doors.

Protect your floors and move the vanity into position, then slide it into place with the water and drain pipes coming through the holes you cut in the back. Check that the cabinet is level (both side to side and front to back), and use shims to level it if necessary. Once the vanity is level, attach it to the wall using 3" screws.

Installing the Top and Sink

If your new vanity has a built in or molded sink, you will need to install the faucet before you put the top in place. Start by putting the faucet through the precut holes and hand tighten them. Now turn the vanity top over and use a wrench to firm them up. Attach flexible water supply lines to the base of the faucet and the tail pipe to the sink drain. Finally spread a bead of silicone caulk all around the edge of the countertop, then turn it over and position it on the vanity with the backsplash tight against the wall.

If you're putting a separate sink into your new vanity, you will need to install the countertop first, then install the faucets to the sink, and finally put the sink into the countertop.

Final Steps

Attach the flexible feed lines to the water supply valves and connect the sink tailpiece to the trap and drain. Run a small bead of caulk around the base of the faucet and where the vanity top butts against the backsplash, and then install moldings around the base of the vanity. Finally, turn the water back on and check for any leaks.

Add Value to Your Home with a Bathroom Remodel

Whether you are planning to sell your home in six weeks, six months, six years or never, increasing its value can be a highly desirable outcome from any home improvement or home remodeling project. There are many great home improvement projects you can do, but remodeling the bathroom can be one of the most valuable in terms of the average home’s resale value.

If the desired outcome of the bathroom remodeling project is an increase in resale value, it is important to plan that remodeling project accordingly. There are a number of improvements that are known to have a strong impact on the resale value of the home, and focusing on those improvements can maximize the value of any bathroom remodeling project.


One Bathroom Just Isn't Enough

One project that is well known to boost the value of the home is to simply add a second bathroom. Homes with only one bathroom can be much harder to sell, and sell for much less, than homes with two or more bathrooms. Adding a second bathroom can also enhance the livability of the home, whether you decide to sell or not.

Installing a second bathroom right off the master bedroom can be a particularly valuable home improvement project, and a very desirable one for your family as well. The parents will love having their own private bathroom space, while the kids will love not having to share the single bathroom.

Bathroom Upgrades Worth Every Penny

Adding a Jacuzzi tub to the master bathroom can be another valuable home improvement project. These great tubs are wonderful places to relax, and their presence can add luxury and elegance to even the most ordinary home. And if you shop around carefully adding such a touch of elegance and charm may not be as expensive or difficult as you may think.

A steam shower can be a luxurious addition as well. Like a Jacuzzi tub, a steam shower can add a touch of elegance and charm to any room, and a steam shower is a relaxing and welcome addition to nearly any bathroom. Potential buyers will also welcome this addition. Some of the fancier steam shower installations even include such modern touches as built in radios, MP3 players and aromatherapy machines.

Installing a special shower can be a great touch as well. A special shower can greatly enhance the beauty of the bathroom and the value of the home. There are a number of beautiful shower enclosures, in a number of different shapes and sizes, that can add a distinctive “wow” factor to any room. Adding one of these unique shower enclosures, or simply retiling or redoing the shower itself, can perk up even the ugliest bathroom.

Give Your Bathroom a New Face

Speaking of retiling, adding a new set of tiles to the bathroom can have an incredible effect on the value of the home. There are many wonderful tile designs that can have a significant impact. Simply changing the color or style of the tile in your bathroom can be a remarkably effective, and remarkably inexpensive, way to redesign your bathroom.

Doubling Bathroom Usefulness

Adding a double basin to your bathroom is another very effective remodeling project, in terms of both your own enjoyment and the value of your home. Adding a double basin to the sink can instantly double its usefulness, and allow both partners to get ready for work at the same time. In today’s busy world the installation of a double basin can more than pay for itself in saved time and frustration.

As your bathroom remodeling plans go forward, it is important to give the room a unified look and feel. It is important that the colors, styles and designs you choose for your remodeling project fit well with each other, and with the overall design of the home. It is important to choose a single theme for the bathroom, be it contemporary, classic, modern or antique, and stick with it for all parts of the project. Taking the time to decide on a theme will make finishing the project a great deal easier and less of a hassle as well. A unified look and feel will also present a more attractive picture to all those potential home buyers.

Design Ideas for Small Bathrooms

Small bathrooms are often cramped, unpleasant spaces. But this doesn't have to be so. Use some purposeful design elements to make your small bathroom look and feel bigger.


Sink and Vanity

The sink and vanity are, in all probability, the monstrous duo that shoves you into a corner every time you enter your tiny bathroom. While there are many small bathrooms, the choices for vanities and sinks are limited - they must be large enough to be functional, but this often means they take up most of the space in your half bath or bath with standing shower.

Where possible, try a corner sink basin and vanity. If the placement of the existing plumbing makes this impossible, go with a simple pedestal sink, chosen for ideal depth and width, and place a shallow, mirrored cabinet overhead. Corner cadies or over-the-toilet space savers can make up for space lost after you remove bulky vanity cabinetry.

Standing Shower

Standing showers can be useful and convenient, but they sure can take up a lot of space. The best standing showers for small bathrooms are ones that tuck into a corner and are made of a clear material. Showers that have opaque sides only serve to make the space smaller; glass doors will allow the shower space to be visually included in the bathroom area.

Round showers are also great for small bathrooms. Purchased as complete units, they are similar to rectangular standing showers. However, it is possible to build up a tile base, install a round curtain rod, and create a round shower without any solid sides. This is both an attractive and ingenious way to make the best of a small bathroom space.

Colors, Styles, Materials

Be sure to use light, pleasant colors throughout your small bathroom, accenting with small touches of a darker complementary color. Use high-quality fixtures that are useful as well as streamlined. Keep frills to a minimum and shoot for a contemporary look - this reduces clutter and keeps the space open.

Tiled walls and floors keep a small bathroom clean-looking. Mirrors add the illusion of extended space. A small real or artificial plant, as well as a candle, soft towels hanging on a towel ring, or a fuzzy mat will keep the bathroom from looking too sterile.

Try out different design elements. For small items, like hardware, you can always purchase with the intent to return the item if, once you get it home, you find that it is not what you want. For vanities, sinks, and showers, be sure to measure everything carefully and bring the tape measure to your local home improvement store or furniture gallery. In addition, a simple gridded floor plan is always useful for putting items in their place.

With a little forethought, your small bathroom can be a cozy, welcoming space. It may not be any larger, but it sure can feel that way!

How to Intro Guide to Bathroom Renovation

Common Sense and Safety

Before undertaking any plumbing project, please review these safety notes:

1. Safety glasses or goggles should be worn whenever power tools are in use and when chiseling, sanding, scraping or hammering overhead, especially if you wear contact lenses.
2. Wear ear protectors when using power tools as some operate at noise levels that damage hearing.
3. Be careful of loose hair and clothing so that it does not get caught in tools.
4. The proper respirator or face mask should be worn when sanding or sawing or using substances with toxic fumes.
5. Keep blades sharp. A dull blade requires excessive force, can slip and cause accidents.
6. Always use the right tool for the job.
7. Repair or discard tools with cracks in the wooden handles or chips in the metal parts that could fail and cause injuries.
8. Don't drill, shape or saw anything that isn't firmly secured.
9. Oily rags are spontaneously combustible. Take care when you store and discard them.
10. Don't abuse your tools.
11. Keep a First Aid Kit on hand.
12. Do not work with tools when you are tired. That's when most accidents occur.
13. Read the owner's manual for all tools and know the proper use of each.
14. Keep tools out of reach of small children.
15. Unplug all power tools when changing settings or parts.

Plumbing Codes and Standards

Standards have been established in the plumbing industry to protect the health and safety of the community. Faulty plumbing can result in serious health and safety hazards such as noxious gas backups, back siphoning, bursting pipes, floods or electrical shorts. To see that these standards are adhered to, we have plumbing codes and permits.

Although there are several model plumbing codes in print, regulations regarding design, methods, and materials may differ from one state, county or municipality to the next and will be spelled out clearly in local code manuals (most use the Uniform Plumbing Code Book).

The main areas of code enforcement include:

1. The size of drain and vent pipes,
   
2. Size of supply lines,
   
3. Type of materials allowed,
   
4. Distance from trap to vent arm,
   
5. Slope of drain,
   
6. Height of drains above the floor,
   
7. Number and type of fixtures sharing a vent or drain pipe,
   
8. Height of horizontal section of vent pipe above floor,
   
9. Distance between pipe supports,
   
10. Placement of cleanouts, and
    
11. Use of certain fittings, sanitary wyes, 45 degree bends, etc.
    

Contact your local town or county building department or inspector for a copy of the codes and permits you will be required to follow, as local codes always supercede the model codes. Materials are of great controversy and are constantly being updated. In some areas, plastic pipe is prohibited entirely while in others it is permitted for the drain/waste and vent system only. Some areas may require insulating your water pipes or puffing vacuum breakers on your outside hose bibbs. The list can go on and on.

All areas are different and change quite often. Before beginning any work, be sure your plans conform to ALL local codes and ordinances. Discuss your plans with the local building inspector and obtain the necessary permits at the same time. Find out what work you may do yourself and what must be done by a licensed plumber. Be certain to follow these codes to the letter or you will run the risk of having to rip out all of your hard work.

Plumbing Inspections

Your plumbing work may require inspections at several different stages from the rough to the finished work. Inspection officers can be tough on plumbing as faulty work can cause health problems if raw sewage leaks out. Also, a licensed plumber may be required to attach your pipes to the public sewer line and water supply.

Usually the plumbing is inspected in the rough and finished plumbing stages. The code office may require that you fill both supply and waste system with water or air under a specified pounds per square inch of pressure to check leaks. They will check the entire waste system for:

1. Size of pipes and pressure rating,
2. Number of fixtures on a drain or vent pipe,
3. Slope of pipe,
4. Leaks,
5. Fittings used in an improper way,
6. Height of drains,
7. Height of the horizontal runs of the vent pipes, and
8. Air gap fitting on dishwasher waste line.

They will also check the supply system for:

1. Leaks,
2. Vacuum breaks on outside hose bibb valves,
3. Size of pipes,
4. Galvanized pipe touching copper pipe, and
5. Air cushions (chambers) installed on supply lines to prevent banging.

CAUTION: Never cover your rough plumbing pipes until they have been inspected.

Your Dream Bathroom Renovation Made Simple

Your bathroom is ready for a major overhaul. Where do you begin? You know which tub you want. The shower is uncertain. You saw a great vanity you'd love to have. The old tile floor looks terrible, yet you don't know how you want to replace it. You want the commode moved but you don't know if that's possible ... the list goes on.

A bathroom renovation involves many decisions that will impact how much you enjoy the space once it's renovated. There are a few ways to make sure you'll be happy with your choices once your new bathroom is complete. As with any renovation, the key is in the planning.

The best place to begin planning your bathroom renovation is to draw up a blank floor plan of the entire space you'll be using to do your bathroom renovation, including the size of each wall. You'll need these measurements as your bathroom renovation plans progress. You can find software to help with this step.

Bathroom Renovation

The creation of the floor plan for your bathroom renovation is where you can begin to develop the bathroom of your dreams. You can also begin to collect pictures and information about items you're considering using for the renovation.

It's important to take your time during this phase of the bathroom renovation. It's much easier to make changes on paper than after the work is done. A complete bathroom renovation involves several steps. Components of the construction process like tear-out, electrical, plumbing and HVAC plans along with details for materials, accessories and lists of decorative items should all be complete and carefully evaluated before any work begins.

Evaluating each step in the process before you begin serves more than one purpose. First, it ensures all aspects of your bathroom renovation have been considered and that nothing will be left to chance. Second, it helps give you an idea of the cost involved in your bathroom renovation and will help you stay within your budget.

A bathroom remodel is a major project. You may want to consider hiring a professional to help with the project. It's important to decide what you want before you hire anyone. It makes the process flow more smoothly and helps to ensure the contractor understands your needs, style, and desires before the project starts. This will also help you get both accurate pricing and a better estimate on the timeline of your project from your contractor.

For help finding a reliable contractor and other remodeling ideas, go to www.reliableremodeler.com.