Just about everyone has a vanity in their bathroom. If you want to perform a simple alteration like tiling over the vanity counter top or if you are tentatively contemplating replacement, just for the record, it is usually best to totally remove your old vanity and replace it with a new one before proceeding with your bathroom make over. Sure you can just replace the countertop and save on your renovation costs but if you want to completely refresh your bathroom design and integrate your vanity with your new energy efficient fixtures, a full removal is probably best. After all, on average it would only take you about an hour of your time, this of course will depend upon the size and complexity of your vanity but for the average renovator who has an average sized bathroom, this is the norm.

The tools you need for this remodeling project are quite straightforward too. A cordless drill and bits, joint pliers, wrenches, a pry bar, utility & putty knife and a hammer are all that you need. The only stipulation is that you shut off the water supply to your bathroom before you begin to renovate. As to whether you want to remove the washbasin or leave it with the vanity is completely up to you, however it should be noted that removing the sink will reduce the weight of the vanity when you are ready to take it out.

First things first, once the water is shut off, disconnect the water supply lines. On the sink, if you have a lift rod that controls the sink stopper, then this must be removed. First pull off the clip and loosen the setscrew that fastens the strap to the shaft. Then you must loosen the compression nuts on both supply lines and pull the supply lines out of the valves. Underneath the vanity find the corner wedge or cleats that hold the cabinet to the countertop and unscrew this using your cordless drill or screw driver, just make sure you don’t remove the screws that hold the corner blocks to the vanity cabinet frame. Remove the sink and disconnect the supply lines and drain the pipes. More than likely there will be retaining screws and clips on the sink, these must be removed also.

To remove the vanity countertop, using your utility knife, you must score the joint connecting the backsplash and your bathroom wall to break the seal of the caulk or glue holding it in place remembering to keep the blade perfectly horizontal so as not to cut into the cabinet. Remove any remaining trim around the countertop edge. Then using the leverage of a pry bar between the countertop and the bottom cabinet unit lift off the countertop but be careful, if it is too heavy, you may have to cut it in half using a reciprocating saw.

Once the countertop is removed, it is now a matter of enlarging the back- panel openings around the shut off valves in the vanity base and drain extension with a utility saw. Remove the wall fasteners that hold the bathroom vanity to your wall and cut away any dried bonding agent or caulking that might be securing it to your bathroom wall. Take away the old cabinet by gently prying it away from the wall and you are finished with this stage of your bathroom vanity renovation. For ideas on purchasing a new bathroom vanity a good place to start is to look through bathroom design trending magazines or online at ModernBathroom which has a huge selection of bathroom vanities.

The tools you will need for removing your old vanity are:

Stanley 55-515 - 12" Wonderbar Pry Bar

Stanley 10-779 Dynagrip Retractable Utility Knife

Stanley 28-241 1-1/2" Nylon Handle Flexible Blade Putty Knife

Stanley 51-000 FatMax Graphite Checkered Face Framing Hammer - Straight Handle

Stanley 62-502 11-Piece FatMax Screwdriver Set

DeWalt DCX6210 Heavy-Duty 36V Cordless Hammerdrill/Reciprocating Saw Combo Kit

If you are really good with your hands then you may want to Transform Some Antique Funiture Into a Bathroom Vanity with this novel bathroom renovation idea. Once you have removed the vanity, perhaps you would like to learn how to intall a pedestal sink with this tutorial?

Find The Bathroom Reno Steps To Get That Remodeling Project Done

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Related posts:

1. Convert an Antique Piece of Furniture into a Bathroom Vanity Masterpiece
2. Back to Basics – Bathroom Vanity Countertop Materials Simplified
3. Eight Easy Do-It-Yourself Steps to Replacing Your Bathroom Faucet
4. Tearing Down the Walls! – How to Remove Drywall From Your Bathroom Walls
5. A Small Bathroom Renovation Project on How to Remove a Toilet