Thinking about upgrading your old bathroom and adding some more storage at the same time? Or just tired of looking at that old vanity the builders put in and want something a little more attractive? Whatever your reason, installing a bathroom vanity is a job a competent DIY'er can take on, and it shouldn't shut you out of your bathroom for more than a day.

Things you'll need:

• Adjustable wrenches
• 3" drywall screws
• Slip joint pliers
• Tape measure
• Carpenter's level
• Stud finder
• Shims
• Utility knife
• Hole saws
• Power drill
• Caulking gun and caulk

First Things First

The first thing your need to do is get rid of the sink or vanity that's already in your bathroom and get the space ready for your new vanity. Check under the vanity to see how it's attached - probably with some screws through a rail on the back (often called a "nailer"), or in the corners. While your head is under the countertop, look to see how your countertop and sink are attached to the base. Again there may be screws holding the top in place, or it may just be held in place with glue.

Removing your old vanity will be easier if you take off the top (it will be lighter). Finally use a utility knife and run the blade around the edge, cutting through any caulking holding the vanity edges to the walls or backsplash.



Taking Out the Old Vanity

As in any plumbing project, before you begin, turn off the water to your bathroom. Hopefully this means closing the shut off valves on the water feed lines to the vanity, but in some cases it might mean you need to shut off the water to the whole house. You'll need an adjustable wrench to disconnect the supply tubes from the faucet bases, and a large wrench or slip joint pliers to undo the drain. (It's a good idea to have a bucket handy when you open the drain to catch the water that's remaining in the trap.)

Take off the doors and remove the drawers from the vanity. If there is any molding around the base of the vanity, remove it as well. Now get down on your knees and take out the screws holding the vanity to the wall, and if you're going to take off the top, undo the screws holding it in place or use a pry bar to break it away from the base.

You should be able to slide the vanity out and away from the wall, but in some cases you may have to pry it away from the wall. If you do, use a thin scrap of wood to protect the wall from the pry bar. It's a good idea to put down a thin sheet of plywood or even an old blanket to prevent gouging your floor when sliding the vanity.

Once you've removed the old vanity, inspect the area for any damage. This is when you can repair any dings or water damage in the walls and ensure your floor is sound and level.

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Preparing the Space and Plumbing

Carefully measure the height and width of your new vanity. Determine where you want to position it and mark the edge locations with vertical lines. Now, measure and mark up from the floor in three places the height of your vanity. Use the highest mark and draw a level line through it, joining the two vertical lines. You now have an exact outline for the placement of your vanity.

Carefully measure the locations of the water pipes and drain lines coming out of the wall and transfer those measurements onto the back of your vanity. Use a hole saw (at least 1/2" larger than the pipes) and drill holes for your water lines. Cut the cutout for the drain with a larger hole saw or a saber saw.

Verify where at least one stud is in the wall behind your new vanity, measure and mark its location on the vanity nailer, and drill a pilot hole for the 3" screw that will hold it in place.

Finally, Installing the New Vanity

Minimize the chance for damage (and make the vanity lighter and easier to move) by taking out any drawers and removing the doors.

Protect your floors and move the vanity into position, then slide it into place with the water and drain pipes coming through the holes you cut in the back. Check that the cabinet is level (both side to side and front to back), and use shims to level it if necessary. Once the vanity is level, attach it to the wall using 3" screws.

Installing the Top and Sink

If your new vanity has a built in or molded sink, you will need to install the faucet before you put the top in place. Start by putting the faucet through the precut holes and hand tighten them. Now turn the vanity top over and use a wrench to firm them up. Attach flexible water supply lines to the base of the faucet and the tail pipe to the sink drain. Finally spread a bead of silicone caulk all around the edge of the countertop, then turn it over and position it on the vanity with the backsplash tight against the wall.

If you're putting a separate sink into your new vanity, you will need to install the countertop first, then install the faucets to the sink, and finally put the sink into the countertop.

Final Steps

Attach the flexible feed lines to the water supply valves and connect the sink tailpiece to the trap and drain. Run a small bead of caulk around the base of the faucet and where the vanity top butts against the backsplash, and then install moldings around the base of the vanity. Finally, turn the water back on and check for any leaks.

Add Value to Your Home with a Bathroom Remodel

Whether you are planning to sell your home in six weeks, six months, six years or never, increasing its value can be a highly desirable outcome from any home improvement or home remodeling project. There are many great home improvement projects you can do, but remodeling the bathroom can be one of the most valuable in terms of the average home's resale value.

If the desired outcome of the bathroom remodeling project is an increase in resale value, it is important to plan that remodeling project accordingly. There are a number of improvements that are known to have a strong impact on the resale value of the home, and focusing on those improvements can maximize the value of any bathroom remodeling project.

One Bathroom Just Isn't Enough

One project that is well known to boost the value of the home is to simply add a second bathroom. Homes with only one bathroom can be much harder to sell, and sell for much less, than homes with two or more bathrooms. Adding a second bathroom can also enhance the livability of the home, whether you decide to sell or not.

Installing a second bathroom right off the master bedroom can be a particularly valuable home improvement project, and a very desirable one for your family as well. The parents will love having their own private bathroom space, while the kids will love not having to share the single bathroom.

Bathroom Upgrades Worth Every Penny

Adding a Jacuzzi tub to the master bathroom can be another valuable home improvement project. These great tubs are wonderful places to relax, and their presence can add luxury and elegance to even the most ordinary home. And if you shop around carefully adding such a touch of elegance and charm may not be as expensive or difficult as you may think.

A steam shower can be a luxurious addition as well. Like a Jacuzzi tub, a steam shower can add a touch of elegance and charm to any room, and a steam shower is a relaxing and welcome addition to nearly any bathroom. Potential buyers will also welcome this addition. Some of the fancier steam shower installations even include such modern touches as built in radios, MP3 players and aromatherapy machines.

Installing a special shower can be a great touch as well. A special shower can greatly enhance the beauty of the bathroom and the value of the home. There are a number of beautiful shower enclosures, in a number of different shapes and sizes, that can add a distinctive “wow” factor to any room. Adding one of these unique shower enclosures, or simply retiling or redoing the shower itself, can perk up even the ugliest bathroom.

Give Your Bathroom a New Face

Speaking of retiling, adding a new set of tiles to the bathroom can have an incredible effect on the value of the home. There are many wonderful tile designs that can have a significant impact. Simply changing the color or style of the tile in your bathroom can be a remarkably effective, and remarkably inexpensive, way to redesign your bathroom.

Doubling Bathroom Usefulness

Adding a double basin to your bathroom is another very effective remodeling project, in terms of both your own enjoyment and the value of your home. Adding a double basin to the sink can instantly double its usefulness, and allow both partners to get ready for work at the same time. In today's busy world the installation of a double basin can more than pay for itself in saved time and frustration.

As your bathroom remodeling plans go forward, it is important to give the room a unified look and feel. It is important that the colors, styles and designs you choose for your remodeling project fit well with each other, and with the overall design of the home. It is important to choose a single theme for the bathroom, be it contemporary, classic, modern or antique, and stick with it for all parts of the project. Taking the time to decide on a theme will make finishing the project a great deal easier and less of a hassle as well. A unified look and feel will also present a more attractive picture to all those potential home buyers.

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