But try to set a round object on your wonky vanity and it'll roll right off, and could shatter on your tile floor! So when you're installing a new vanity it's very important to bring it up to level.
Level the Bathroom Vanity
Use the bubble level or laser level to verify that the vanity cabinet is level, both side-to-side and front-to-back. Adjust the level by tapping in wooden or plastic shims as necessary to make final adjustments.
Shims are useful items. These wedge-shaped pieces of wood help keep furniture and fixtures level, which can be very important for a bathroom vanity with a sink. If your vanity legs are even a tiny bit uneven or if the floor has tilted over the years, you need to use a wooden shim.
In nearly all cases, the big answer is yes — you should attach your vanity to the wall. What's more, the vanity should be flush against the wall, with no space between the back and the wall itself. The reason for this is to hide and protect your plumbing.
Standard vanity dimensions are typically between 18" – 72" wide. For a single vanity, the most popular widths are 24", 30", 36", 48", and for double vanities the most popular widths are 60" and 72", but start at 48". The standard depth of a vanity is typically around 20", but narrower options are available.
The height of the vanity must be such that a person in a wheelchair can easily roll underneath it and use the sink. The vanity should also have ample clearance around it so that a wheelchair can approach it from any angle.
A little extra space goes a long way in the bathroom, especially when two people must use it at the same time. NKBA designers recommend a 30″ clearance between the front edge of a fixture, such as a vanity or toilet, and any other fixture or wall. The building code allows for a minimum of 21″.
One of the best ways to do that is to use silicone caulk. Another way is to use a backsplash or backer rod to ensure the vanity is flush against the wall.
Vanity lights should be hung over the mirror and centered on the plumbing. The centerline of the vanity light should be hung 72” above the floor. For taller ceilings, or taller people, that height can increase to 80” but should never exceed that distance.
Leave a space between the cabinet and wall as recommended by the cabinet manufacturer. Shim beneath the cabinet to align it with the top-of-cabinet line you drew on the wall. When determing how to install base cabinets on uneven floors, check for level and plumb, and add shims until the cabinets are at the same level.
What Causes Uneven Floors? The term “uneven floors” is used to describe any floor surface that sags, bounces, buckles or slopes. As mentioned above, it's common to find slanted floors in a house more than 15 years old due to the home's foundation shifting over time.
If your sink has become unlevel, it means that the lip around the sink or the faucet is leaking. They should be removed and reinstalled with new plumber's putty. If you see water damage on the floor, it might mean that the drain or the plumbing is leaking and should be attended to as well.
Generally, flooring contractors prefer that the cabinets go in first so that there is less possibility of the floor getting scratched. Cabinet installers like the floor to be in place so that the cutting and dust from the floor installation will not damage the vanity.
Are you tiling the entire bathroom? If you're planning to tile around the entire room, it makes sense to tile before installing the vanity unit. That way, the room and walls are set for any changes you might want to make in the future, whether that's with the vanity unit or any other component within the bathroom.
For decades, the standard height for bathroom vanity has been 30 to 32 inches, but today the range has widened and can easily be customized to a homeowner's personal preference. If you're DIYing this process, there is a lot to consider when installing a bathroom vanity.
Caulk around a cabinet bathroom vanity where the backsplash and side splash rest against the walls to provide extra protection. Also, caulk between the countertop and side splash and backsplash to prevent water from seeping in the cracks.
If you've come this far and the little gap is still haunting you, there are a few routes you can take. 1) You can ask the installer to seal the gap with caulk, or silicone. 2) You can buy and ornamental molding, and have a handyman cover the gap right up!
Plumbing supply lines for sinks are usually located on the rear wall under the sink or on the side of the cabinet wall under the sink, though sometimes they're routed through the floor directly under the sink in the center of the vanity or cabinet. Any of these locations is acceptable.
For a freestanding vanity that reaches the floor, you can attach it to the wall (or floor) using L-brackets concealed inside the cabinet. If you install a floating vanity, you need to. The important thing is to use a stud finder before you get started and to search for studs on the wall.
Instead, think about the overall size of your new bathroom and plan to install a vanity that will fit comfortably within it. Having a vanity that's too large in a smaller bathroom will make the entire room less functional and comfortable.
Clearance in front of the vanity: 21" minimum, although 30" is recommended for a total of 51" from the wall.
Small-Bathroom Vanity Placement
Placing a vanity in a corner takes advantage of every inch of floor space and also allows for storage options on two walls. A recessed cabinet installed into a sidewall is a smart way to capture space that is typically overlooked.
If the top is on a free standing vanity (no walls on either side) the top should be 2” LONGER (B) than the vanity to allow for 1” overhang on each side.