Bathroom Remodeling Projects Pay Off

Home improvement has quickly become our country’s greatest pastime. Every year billions of dollars are spent on a variety of home improvement projects. Of the great many home improvement projects you can do, remodeling the bathroom is the most valuable. A bathroom remodel represents the largest and fastest return on your investment. Remodeling the bathroom can also be a great way to add sparkle, beauty and elegance to your home. It can be as simple as replacing that old worn out vanity with a new and modern one to enhance the looks of your bathroom.

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.