How to Upgrade a Bathroom Vanity | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey installs a vanity for homeowners who gave up on it 7 years ago.

All the tools Richard used for the project, including wrenches, plumber’s putty, and PVC glue, can be found at home centers and plumbing supply stores. The vanity and countertop were custom-ordered by the homeowner.

Cost: $500 and Up
Skill Level: Moderate

Tools List:
Open ended adjustable wrench
Utility knife
Hammer
Pry bar
Screwdriver
Pipe cutter
Hacksaw
Measuring tape
Drill
Hole saw
Level

Shopping List:
Vanity cabinet
Shut off valves
Countertop
Sink
Silicone caulking
Stain free plumber’s putty
Faucet
Hot and cold water lines
Drain pipe
Pop up drain

Steps:
1. Shut the hot and cold water lines off.
2. Disconnect the sink from the P-trap and break the hose connections to the faucet.
3. Use the utility knife to break the seal between the sink and the countertop. Then, carefully pry the sink away from the countertop with a hammer and a pry bar.
4. Remove the screws holding the vanity to the wall and remove the vanity.
5. Shut the water off to the house and cut the hot and cold water lines. Cut the P-trap as well. This will make it so only small holes need to be cut in the back of the new vanity.
6. Measure the distance from the wall to the hot line and cold line. Next, measure the distance from the floor to the hot and cold lines. Transfer these measurements to the back of the vanity and cut out holes with the hole saw.
7. Move the new vanity into place. Check it for level and screw it into the wall.
8. Connect new shut off valves to the hot and cold lines.
9. Flip the countertop upside down and mount the sink to the countertop with silicone caulking and sink clips.
10. Connect the faucet to the countertop using the plumber’s putty and the mounting brackets.
11. Connect the hot and cold water lines to the faucet, then connect the drain pipe and the pop up drain.
12. Once all the connections are made, flip the counter right side up and place it on the cabinet.
13. Make a new P-trap connection with the drain and connect the hot and cold water lines to the shut off valves.
14. Turn the water back on.

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How to Upgrade a Bathroom Vanity | Ask This Old House

[hijinks]

Richard and I have very different definitions of a little bead

[heinzotto]

I love Richard. So nice to see him use hand tools whenever possible.

[arlenecohog]

Love that you showed a real human interest story with real people. They were down to earth and relatable. I would love to see more of them and the other projects they did.

[AStanton]

I would recommend swapping out the shut off valves anytime they are over 10 years old when doing a bathroom or kitchen upgrade. Especially if they are the older style ones. Have new quarter turns installed, especially if you have hard well water. It's cheap insurance.

[mironvulakh]

Plumbers, car mechanics, doctors, Maybe I just unlucky to never meet an honestly good skilled professional like Richard here...

[seanf]

Seemed like great people but holy hell were they dial tones. It was almost like they were reading off of a card when they answered Richard.

[abdermnbadrahmed]

I am Egyptian and admire your work very, very

[WesHamstra]

Should have installed the new floor first. There is an order things need to follow.

[deeblack]

We live in a rental owned by a slumlord and the person that installed the vanity had the plumbing come up through the floor and the drain actually makes a full loop because he didn't really know what he was doing but the landlord hired him because he worked cheap!

[SilentServiceCode]

wow listen to all this completely natural not-at-all forced dialogue between richard and the homeowners

[jacklynnw]

She's been waiting 7 years! 😂 Another great video and great work though!

[ShakespeareCafe]

Milwaukee drill/driver and Hole Dozer bits...pro level

[stevenroyer]

No escutcheons around the water lines? Or no flange or trim ring around the waste? I'd get a good chewing from my boss if I left a customers vanity back looking like that.

[Engineer]

I don’t like such sinks which sit under the counter. They leave an overhanging edge which is difficult to clean / gets not cleaned, and eventually gets the status of a toilet bowl rim.

[bigpardner]

What happened at 5:20, he have trouble screwing that fitting on the bottom of the faucet due to the sink being in the way? Anyway looks edited.

[DWESENTERPRISE]

Husband left the scene when it was time to life stuff... Had his wife lifting lol

[poopiecheeks]

want to see finished bathroom. informative video. nice homeowners.

[kaycox]

VERY Helpful and informative video; thanks so much!

[cup_and_cone]

Floor man is just going to removed that freshly installed vanity....

[vishyandypurandat]

6:55 any husband when his wife chooses something...