The time has arrived to buy a new bathroom sink.  Armed with bathroom dimensions and an idea of the desired color, you go to the plumbing showroom of your choice.  What appears to be a simple task, is actually one that needs to be well thought out. Here’s some advice from the mouths of plumbers.

Plumbers Speak

To choose your sink/faucet, go online, watch home improvement shows or read magazines.  If you can’t get the cut sheets online downloaded as a PDF, call the manufacturer, give them the name and model number of items you want and ask them to email them to you.  You should have a plumber come over first before going to the plumbing showroom and give them the cut sheets of the items. You want to avoid last minute surprises. 

The plumber will want to see if the plumbing is supplied from the floor or the wall, if the pedestal is open in the back to the floor, or where previous shutoffs were on the wall so the correct height for the supply lines can be purchased. 

Here are some of the things the plumber is thinking about:

• how to secure the sink to the wall
• the backing behind the sink
• is the floor level
• how they are going to get through the floor material to secure the base of the item
• what kind of material will have to used to secure the sink to the wall?
• is the drain going to work or will the wall have to be opened to cut the drain out?

If you want a sink that is different than what you had before, the rough can be different, meaning the shutoffs valves and the trap are in the wrong spot (the trap might have to go up or down), or you might have to open the wall to rearrange the height of the drain. The cut sheet that comes with the product will tell you where the rough measurements should be.

 If you’re replacing one wood vanity with another wood vanity and they’re both the same length, usually you can make a little cut in the back of the vanity if it’s not open to facilitate popping it in without doing any major construction.  With cabinets that hang on the wall where there’s nothing underneath, you might have to open the wall and re rough the plumbing so you can put it in. You will always have to buy a faucet, a p trap and supplies for the sink and you can ask the plumber if he will bring everything else that’s needed. 

Keeping it simple is the best approach, so you don’t end up buying items you won’t use. 

Choosing a Bath Showroom

Choose one with well trained personnel that know the products and have working displays, so you can touch them and see how they function (e.g., vanities, sink faucets).  You should spend a little more money to make sure the products will last a couple of years and have a lifetime manufacturer’s guarantee, so you can get free replacement parts and shipping when needed.  To get the right replacement parts and save time, make sure to save receipts, brochure and packaging so you don’t have to research it.  Bring a basic floor layout with dimensions to the showroom for planning purposes.

Are We Done Yet?

Not quite. Make sure to read the pamphlet that comes with your sink/faucet because the wrong cleaning materials can harm them.  You might also find yourself looking around your bathroom and thinking about new accessories, tile, paint, etc.