Next, run the blade of a utility knife along the seam where the vanity
joins your bathroom wall, cutting through any caulking that might be holding
the vanity edges or counter backsplash to the wall.
Next, take out the aforementioned screws or nails holding the vanity to
the wall. If it was fastened with nails, you’ll have to pull them with a nail
puller such as a cat’s-paw. Use a thin scrap of wood against the wall if your
nail puller will come in contact with the wall, to prevent damaging it.
At this point you should be able to pull the vanity away from the wall.
If doesn’t pull away freely, use a pry bar. Again, use a thin scrap of wood to
protect the wall from the pry bar.
Once your old vanity is removed, inspect the open area for damage and
place a level on the floor to make sure it’s level. If you suspect water damage
in the walls or floor, now is the time to make the repairs.
If your old vanity was larger than your new vanity, you’ll want to make
sure that the newly exposed bathroom wall matches the rest of the room. If
the texture or paint color doesn’t match, consider hiring a professional to
resolve these problems.
Tools of
the trade
Before you try to tackle this project,
make sure you have the following tools:
• Adjustable wrenches
• Tape measure
• Teflon tape
• Carpenter’s level
• Utility knife
• Appropriately sized hole saws
• Power drill
• Water bucket
• Pry bar
In with the new
If the new vanity/sink unit you purchased doesn’t have the faucet installed,
you’ll need to purchase a faucet that matches your bathroom’s décor and carefully follow the instructions included. If the faucet on your new vanity is
already installed, hooking up the new vanity is not especially difficult. Place
it where the old vanity was, with the faucet spout lined up above the drain.
If the back of the new vanity is open, as many free-standing units are, connecting the water supply lines and drain is especially easy. If the back is not
open, carefully measure the locations of the water pipes and drain line coming
out of the wall and transfer those measurements onto the back of the vanity.
Measure up from the floor for horizontal reference point, and use a mark from
the center of the drain for vertical reference. Use a hole saw with fittings at
least a half inch larger in diameter than the pipes, and drill the holes for your
water lines. Cut the hole for the drain with a larger hole saw or a jigsaw.
Flatten the cardboard packaging in which the vanity came or use some
other layer of protection for your bathroom floor, and slide your new vanity
into place. Before you reconnect the water lines and drain, it’s a good idea to
use new, flexible water feed lines to the water supply valves. Make sure you
purchase lines that are the proper length. Apply a layer of Teflon tape over the
water supply outlets before tightening the fittings. When tightening the fittings, use pliers until the connection is snug, but don’t over-tighten the fittings.
Then connect the sink tailpiece to the trap drain.
Finally, turn the water on and check the water supply lines for leaks. Hold
a small wad of toilet paper near the connection. The paper will detect leaks
efficiently.—Will Fifield
