Follow these steps to install a vanity sink and cabinet combo that features a shallow sink bowl and a drain-trap design that allows room for large drawers.
DRAWERS ARE BETTER. The sink’s low profile and serpentine drain trap assembly make it possible to include capacious drawers, turning this vanity into a serious storage unit.
Most vanities provide below-sink storage space that is difficult to reach and partially blocked with plumbing. The type of vanity sink and cabinet combo shown here, sold at IKEA, features a shallow sink bowl and a drain trap that snakes cunningly just under the sink, then snugs against the wall. That allows room for large drawers, which provide storage that is ample and easy to access. This system does not have a pop-up assembly, which would get in the way of the drawers. Instead, it has a drain stopper with a spring that pops up and down when you press on it.
The sink and cabinet come as a two-part ensemble. The model shown here has a pair of legs to support the cabinet in the front. Other models are “floating,” meaning that there are no legs and the cabinet is held in place with strong screw connections at the wall.
FLOATING VANITY. This style of vanity has no legs and the cabinet is held in place with strong screw connections at the wall.
1 — ASSEMBLE THE CABINET. This type of cabinet typically requires assembly, which calls for no special skills but will take some time. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, slip in wood dowels and metal connectors, attach braces, and assemble with fastening nuts (top). Drive screws to attach the drawer glides (above).
2 — ATTACH THE VANITY TO THE WALL. Use a stud finder or rap on the wall and drill test holes to find the wall studs and mark their locations. Position the vanity against the wall. Check for level in both directions; you may need to adjust the height of one or both of the legs. Once you’ve achieved level, drive 2-in. or longer screws through the vanity’s back brace into wall studs.
3 — INSTALL THE OVERFLOW FITTING. The overflow assembly has a front and back part (top). Hold the back part in place as you screw in the front part (above). In this case, a special tool has been supplied for this purpose.
4 — SLIP ON THE OVERFLOW HOSE. From the back of the sink, slip the rubber hose onto the overflow fitting. It can be swiveled as needed.
5 — PREPARE THE DRAIN LINE. The rubber overflow hose can be attached to either side of the drain line. Decide which side is more convenient, and use a large screwdriver to punch out the removable tab in that side. Use pliers to remove the tab.
6 — ATTACH THE DRAIN TO THE SINK. From under the sink, place a rubber gasket on the drain line’s opening and press it against the sink’s drain hole (top). From inside the sink, attach the drain flange to the drain line by driving a screw (above).
Pop-Up Stopper: Instead of a pop-up assembly with a lift rod, some vanity sinks have stoppers that work simply by fitting tightly. A better solution, shown here, is a unit that closes or opens when you press down and release.
7 — INSTALL THE FAUCET. This sink has only one hole, and there will not be a pop-up assembly. Here, the manufacturer has supplied a plastic wrench for attaching the faucet. Make sure the faucet’s inlets are long enough to reach your stop valves, or purchase supply tubes that are long enough and that have the same size fittings as your stop valves (either 3⁄4 in. or 1⁄2 in.).
8 — CUT DRAIN TRAP PIECES TO FIT. Set the sink in place and determine which trap pieces need to be cut. Mark with a felt-tipped pen, and cut with a miter saw or a hacksaw.
9 — INSTALL THE TRAP AND SUPPLIES. Attach the supply tubes to the stop valves. Assemble and install the trap with all the washers facing the right direction. Restore water pressure and check for leaks.
TIP: As shown here, the instructions show installing where the wall’s trap adapter (into which the trap is installed) is near the center of the cabinet. If your trap adapter is significantly off center, you will need to purchase trap arms and extensions so the drain trap can travel sideways as needed.
Excerpted from Plumbing (The Taunton Press, 2016) by Steve Cory.
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