Bid farewell to the old and welcome the new! Frequently, a bathroom makeover requires just a brand-new vanity. But, understanding how to remove the existing bathroom vanity is essential to install the new one. In this article, we provide an unambiguous, step by step guidance to help accomplish this. The money you could have spent on a professional handyman can then be repurposed elsewhere. Additionally, if you opt to undertake this task yourself, certain basic tools are needed for removing the old vanity and aiding the new installation. Continue reading to identify the specific tools required; you probably have some already within your home.
What You’ll Need
Tools (you might not use all of these)
- Hammer
- Adjustable wrench
- Wood shins
- Putty Knife
- Bucket
- Rags
- Drill/screwdriver tip
- Pry bar
- Pliers – tongue and groove
- Chisel
- Vacuum
Personal gear
- Gloves
- Pants
- Boots
- Kneepads (optional)
Best Ways to remove bathroom vanity
Whether it is wall-mounted or standalone in design, removing a bathroom vanity should not be too hard. It will take some work though but it is not impossible. Just set aside enough time to do the job as it can take some minutes to an hour to remove the old one. Here is a step-by-step process for removing an old vanity.
Step 1: Cut the water
Check under the sink to find the water shut-off valves for both the cold and hot water supply. To close the water supply to the sink, just twist the shut-off valve in an anti-clockwise direction. If you are not sure, turn on the water so you can know which direction to shut it off.
Sometimes, you may find that the old vanities’ water supplies do not turn off completely. You may also find that they are in a hard-to-reach place. In that case, you would have to switch off the water to the whole house.
After you shut off the water, pressure builds up inside the faucets. Open them fully to release all of it. You are now ready to disconnect the water supply to the faucets.
Step 2: Disconnect the water supply lines to the vanity faucets
Now that the water is off, you have to disconnect the supply lines to the faucets. This can be a little tricky since it will require you to bend over to reach these lines. Just take it easy and work on one supply line at a time.
The area that you are disconnecting is between the shutoff valve and the faucet. We are assuming that the shutoff valve works and you have already shut off the water, or maybe you have shut off the whole house supply line.
There will be some water coming from the supply lines. Not much, but the amount can still make your floor wet. Just place a bucket underneath to hold this water.
The supply tube is connected to the gate valve with a hose connector or a compression nut. If it is a nut, you can use the adjustable wrench to loosen it.
Once loose, pull out the tube that supplies the faucet with water and let it drip out completely.
Take this opportunity to check the health of the shutoff valve. If you have shut it completely and there is still water seeping in, something is wrong with it. Therefore, you might have to replace it. If it has a rubber gasket, check whether it is worn out and find out whether you can replace it.
Disconnect the supply line to the second faucet.
Step 3: Get the drain trap out
The water from the vanity goes to the waste pipe through a P-Trap, which you have to remove after disconnecting the supply lines.
Here, you might want to wear your gloves. The job is about to get dirtier. This is wastewater and it could be greasy and gunky. Some people pour hot water down the drain before they disconnect the water supply lines.
Set a bucket carefully under the sink. This is where all the wastewater will go. If you check the design of the P-Trap, you will realize that it looks like the letter P. The part in the middle is U-shaped, followed by a straight pipe leading to the sink and on the other end, there is another straight section leading to the drainpipe.
On the sink and drainpipe side, the trap is connected with slip nuts. You have to loosen the nuts. Start with one before you can go to the second one. You can loosen them with your hand or use the tongue and slip pliers. Once disconnected, cover the pipe leading to the drain with a rag to prevent the nasty smell from coming back in.
Step 4: Removing the vanity mirror
If the mirror sits on and is close to the vanity counter, you have to remove it. Even if it is a few inches above the counter, remove it. It is better to have to re-install it rather than break it and have to buy another one.
Step 5: Cut out the caul joint
Here, you will use a utility knife to cut out the caulk joint which seals the space between the wall and the counter. Cut through the joint with your knife. Do it slowly and safely, holding the knife by the handle.
Step 6: Time to remove the counter vanity top
Check under the vanity top to see whether it is attached to the walls of the vanity with brackets. If there are any, you will have to remove them first.
Without removing the faucet, you can now remove the vanity countertop. There is no need to remove the faucet unless you have to.
Lift the countertop carefully because it might be attached to the sides with glue. If it is attached with wood glue, you can either pry it from the walls or lift the entire cabinet together. Pull it carefully to avoid damaging the walls.
Step 7: Cleaning up
This is a very important step. After you have removed the old bathroom vanity, you will realize that it forms an outline all over the spaces where it was in contact with the floor and the walls. It can be a bit hard to get rid of these marks, but you can do it.
Using a putty knife, get rid of the caulk stuck to the wall. It does not stick too hard unless it is very old, but it will come off with minimal effort. If you want to replace the old vanity cabinet with one of a similar size, your work will be easy. However, if it is bigger or smaller, you will have to clean the areas where the old one was in contact so that it does not leave eyesores.
Collect all the dirt, chips, or other material generated on the job. You can also vacuum the place so that it is free of dust in readiness for the new vanity.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Bathroom Vanity?
If you succeed in how to remove the bathroom vanity, you will want to replace it with a new one. To calculate the cost of the vanity, you have to include the buying price and the installation cost. The cost of buying a readymade vanity is between $90 and $3000 depending on the size, style, and other factors. Factors such as the number of drawers determine the cost of vanity. Some online resources have calculator programs that you can use to calculate how much it would cost you to replace bathroom vanity. You will have to enter values in the calculator, including the value of labor per hour. This can be between $95 and $155 per hour of labor.
Which is the best long-life Bathroom Vanity?
There are hundreds of bathroom vanities and choosing one can be a bit daunting for a first-timer. Here is one that you can buy with confidence:
Design House 545095 Wyndham White Semi-Gloss Vanity Cabinet
This beautiful bathroom vanity enhances the interior décor of any space where it is placed. It measures 36 by 21 by 31.5 inches (L by W by H). It has a lot of room for you to keep your toiletries thus leaving your countertop clutter-free. This vanity will be shipped packed, so you will have to assemble it. Please also note that the cabinet does not come with a countertop so you will have to buy it separately. The cabinet is finished with white gloss, hidden hinges, and satin nickel handles. For storage, you will get 2 drawers and two doors for easier access.
Final Verdict
If you are good with your hands, you can do the vanity removal job on your own. In fact, you can even install a new one alone. After knowing how to remove the bathroom vanity, you can now give your space a new lease of life. The vanity cabinet is a big, outstanding feature, and therefore if it looks bad, it can make the entire bathroom look bad. If you choose one carefully, it will last many years in great shape.