Choosing a new vanity unit for your bathroom is the easy part, but how do you install one? Check out our handy guide…
The bathroom is an important aspect of any household. Although they are considered one of the smallest spaces in a home, you should still put in the time, money and effort to make your bathroom a comfortable and private space.
One of the things that you may need to consider is the bathroom vanity unit. In this article, we’ll be giving you an introduction to just that, along with a breakdown of the reasons why it’s a good choice, plus ways to install one. Read on to find out more…
What is a bathroom vanity unit?
A bathroom vanity unit is an area where the basin and its surrounding storage spaces are situated. It typically contains a countertop with some cabinets attached at the bottom to store whatever you wish. Another purpose of the bathroom vanity unit is to hide the exposed water pipes that are attached to the basin—with the pipes out of plain sight, it’s all the more pleasing to the eye.
The Camberley satin grey floorstanding vanity unit from The Bath Co. is ideal for traditional bathrooms
This article will be focusing on the technical side of bathroom vanity units, specifically on the placement and instructions for installing this type of bathroom furniture.
Where should you position your bathroom vanity unit?
For whatever type of bathrooms you may have, big or small, bathroom vanity units should be both flush and attached to the walls. This allows the water pipes to be properly connected to the system and facilitates a fluent drainage system. Here’s why it’s important:
Increased efficiency
The connected water pipes should be positioned in a way that is optimal for water flow. The top of the vanity should be perpendicular to the wall for the water to flow through smoothly. Otherwise, you could find yourself dealing with an inconsistent and choppy water supply.
Avoids unnecessary blockages
By minimising the distance that the water has to travel from the pipes in the walls to the sink in your bathroom vanity unit, there is a smaller chance of the water hitting any roadblock that might surface internally within the water pipes.
Aids maintenance
Should you ever need to access your water pipes for maintenance or repair, a well-positioned vanity unit will ease any issues.
Attached to the walls
Attaching the vanity unit to the wall is an additional final step to ensure that the vanity is entirely secure and stable. This means that there should be no gaps between any walls and the vanity unit at all.
Having a secured vanity will prevent any unnecessary risks of it toppling over or causing any harm to anybody, especially children. If the vanity is unstable, the water pipes are also at the risk of being damaged or cracked.
A stunning modern vanity unit like the Odessa gloss grey model from Orchard Bathrooms, will do wonders for your bathroom
How to install your bathroom vanity
Of course, it would be best to get the help of a professional, as they have experience and know-how. However, if you’d love to get hands-on or are looking to cut some costs, here’s how you can install your bathroom vanity unit on your own.
Turn off the water supply
Step one, ensure that the water supply is completely turned off. Double and triple check this step. The last thing you would want is a flooded mess.
Marking out the area
Next, mark out the vanity unit outline with a pencil. It should be comfortable enough for you to work within. Use a stud finder next to locate where the studs are and mark them within the drawn outline.
Position with precision
Ideally, the vanity unit should positioned so the countertop is perpendicular to your walls—a perfect 90 degree right angle. With this in mind, locate the screw points of your vanity unit and mark them against the wall so that it will be easier for you to attach the pipes later on. Attach wall studs to these marked screw points but make sure that they are slightly higher.
Once you’ve ensured that the wall studs are placed accurately with reference to the marked screw points, go ahead and secure the screws to the walls.
Completing the vanity unit
Now that you’ve got the base of the vanity covered, attach the top part of the vanity unit to the base by applying some sealant to the edges. The sealant will act as glue and ensure that your vanity unit is secured together in one piece.
Connecting the pipes
After setting up the foundation of the vanity unit, reconnect and attach the water pipes from the basin to the walls. Here’s a tip: secure the pipes with rigid tape to make the connected parts tight and sturdy.
Final touches
Clean the surface of the vanity unit and apply some sealant on the countertop to get that smooth and shiny surface. Also, fill up the visible gaps between the wall and vanity with some transparent sealant and wait for it to dry before double-checking again for any visible gaps. If you have money to spare, you can even purchase a thicker splashback—these help reduce gaps more quickly, and works well with bigger gaps.
This is just a simple, general guide to installing a bathroom vanity unit. If you are serious about this, do more research (follow our 10 steps to fitting your vanity unit) and get advice from professionals or people who have done it before.
With well-fitted furniture, like the Derwent white vanity unit from Orchard Bathrooms (pictured above), your bathroom will take a whole new persona
Total cost
Every bathroom vanity installation price is different given that they vary in size and design. Some take longer and are more difficult to install than others. However, if you were to get an estimate, an average-sized vanity would typically cost around about the same as a pedestal basin, which is somewhere between £320 to £350. Find out the latest bathroom installation costs in our expert guide.
That may not seem too much in the grand scheme of things, but these costs soon add up. If you can install it by yourself, why not? You’ll be saving yourself some money that can be put into the other aspects of your bathroom, and you’ll definitely gain a valuable sense of accomplishment.
Conclusion
Installing an entire bathroom vanity unit is no easy feat. Kudos to you if you’re going to do so! Hopefully, this article has provided you with some useful information on where and how to install one. Once again, do more research and come up with a detailed plan before you dive right into it. However, most of all, it’s all about having fun and enjoying your own DIY project.
Genuinely elegant: The Bath Co. Dalston vanity unit comes complete with a white marble basin for added luxury
Shop vanity units
If you haven't already picked out your perfect bathroom vanity unit, why not browse the huge selection on offer at Victoria Plum. From traditional floorstanding designs to ultra-modern wall hung models, there really is something to suit all tastes and budgets. Simply click on the image below to begin shopping.
