How to Install a Bathroom Vanity

A stunning and modern bathroom vanity is the best way to make a statement when renovating your space. Taking center stage, a vanity consists of a countertop, sink, storage space, and hardware. When it comes to replacing a bathroom vanity, the process can take 2–4 hours, but it is relatively easy. Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how seamlessly you can remove your old bathroom vanity and install a new one.

Gather Tools & Materials

The first step in any home renovation project is ensuring you have all the right tools and materials. Here’s a list of what you’ll need to remove and/or install a vanity:

Tools

- Power Drill & Bits

- Stud Finder

- Utility Knife or Caulk Tool

- Adjustable Wrench

- Leveler

- Tape Measure

- Caulk Gun

- Bucket or Towel

- Pencil

You may also need:

- Wall Anchors & Hammer

- Hole Saw Kit & Carpenter’s Compass

- Coping or Hand-miter Saw

Contour or Profile Gauge

Materials

- Teflon Plumber’s Tape

- Plumber’s Putty

- Bathroom-Grade Silicone Caulk

- Plastic or Wood Shims

Filler plate (if necessary)

Choosing Your Bathroom Vanity

Here are some factors to think about when selecting the right vanity for your bathroom space:

Features you’d like for your new vanity or would like to keep from the old vanity.

Accurate measurements to ensure there is space for door openings, wall trim, and flow of traffic.

Amount of storage space you will need to keep your bathroom organized.

Plumbing location so you can purchase a vanity with the right sized hole.

Single or double vanity.

Faucet designs.

Remove Your Old Vanity

Before pulling the old vanity away from the wall, you must disconnect the water lines and pipes and remove all screws. Follow these eight steps to ensure you do it safely and accurately:

Place a bucket or towel under the water supply lines and drainpipe in case any water spills during removal.

Close off both water valves under the sink and open the faucet to release any remaining pressure.

Between the two valves is a drainpipe with a curve called the P-trap. Loosen the top nut of the P-trap (connected to the sink drain) and carefully pull the trap down to release it.

Using the adjustable wrench, detach the water lines from their valves.

If your current vanity has a backsplash, use your utility knife or caulk tool to cut through and remove the caulk or sealant.

Remove any screws that hold the vanity to the wall. To easily access any screws, try removing the sink. You may need to cut through any caulk or sealant and use a prybar to dislodge the two pieces.

Carefully pull on the sink or the vanity top to release it from the wall and any remaining caulking.

After you discard the old vanity properly, repair any marks and holes it left on your wall using spackle or putty. You may even want to repaint certain parts of the wall to really freshen it up.

Install Your New Vanity

Getting the installation of your new vanity right takes accuracy. Here are easy-to-follow steps to it yourself:

Safety first: Shut off the power to any electrical circuits behind your vanity before you begin the installation or do any drilling.

Mark the height and width of your new vanity (minus the sink top) on the wall.

If you choose a vanity with a solid back, we recommend measuring the positions of the pipes on the wall and mirroring the measurements onto the back of your vanity that will accommodate the pipes. Take your carpenter’s compass and draw circles around the marked points. Cut the holes for the pipes with the correct size hole saw.

Check if your vanity comes with pre-drilled holes to mark your walls accordingly.

With your stud finder and pencil, tag a spot where the middle of the wall studs is just above the marked height of your vanity. If you don’t have wall studs, use wall anchors that are appropriate for your wall type (drywall, tile, plaster) and carefully hammer them in.

Position the new vanity to its intended location, and check that the back is flush against the wall.

Ensure your vanity is level and balanced on all sides. Use wood shims to adjust the height and cut any excess ends with a coping or hand-miter saw. If gaps exist between the vanity and the walls, you can use a profile gauge to create fillers of the right size to drill in. With the correct color paint to match the cabinet, nobody would be the wiser that it didn’t come with the vanity.

Secure your new vanity cabinet. Look for the mounting strip that runs across the top of the cabinet’s back wall. Using the marks you placed to indicate the wall studs, drill pilot holes through the mounting strip to the wall, and lastly, secure with screws.

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If your vanity top is not attached, wrap a thin bead of caulk around the cabinet’s top edge. Center your sink on top of the cabinet, keeping it flush against the wall before pressing firmly down to secure it. Note that sinks can be very heavy, so ask for assistance lifting it if necessary.

Ensure your vanity top is level to avoid items from falling off the surface.

Fill any gaps with a bead of caulk or sealant. Push it into the gaps with a caulk tool or a damp cloth, then wipe away any excess material.

If your vanity comes with a backsplash, apply caulk or sealant to the back of the panel. Align the bottom edge to the center of the countertop before pressing it firmly against the wall.

Following the manufacturer’s instructions, install the faucet on the vanity countertop. Here are some general tips:

a. Press a rope of plumber’s putty along the bottom edge of the drain ring to secure it into place.

b. Keeping the faucet in place, fasten the faucet with the provided gaskets and screw on fastening nuts.

Reconnect the Water Supply

The final touch of installing your new vanity is to reattach the plumbing and then it’s ready for use. Here’s how to reconnect the water supply:

Attach the P-trap to the new sink drain line.

Wrap the Teflon plumber’s tape counterclockwise around the water valve entrance.

Attach and tighten your water lines and turn the water valves on.

Turn on your faucet to check that there are no leaks, and you’re all done!

Refresh Your Bathroom With Furniture.com

A new bathroom vanity can brighten your mornings and your nights. Whether you need a new vanity or bathroom decor like a mirror or lighting, browse all our bathroom essentials to complete your setup.

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