Goodbye to the old, and hello to the new. Sometimes, it can simply be a new vanity that will do the trick. However, though, it is necessary to understand how to take out the old bathroom vanity before one can install the new one. In this article, we will provide an unambiguous, step by step layout to achieve this. So instead of spending money on a professional handyman, you can repurpose the money elsewhere. And if you decide to take on this project yourself, you'll need some basic tools to remove the old vanity and help with the new installation. Keep reading to discover what tools you have, many of which would already be sitting around the house.
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
Removing a bathroom vanity doesn't have to be that complicated, whether that bathroom vanity is wall mounted or stick out its own independent legs. But it will take some work but it’s certainly not impossible. The old one can take some minutes to an hour to remove it just set aside time for that. Below is the process for how to remove an old vanity.
Step 1: Cut the water
Look beneath the sink to identify the water shut-off valves for cold and hot water supply. Simply turn the shut off valve in the counter clockwise direction to close the water supply to the sink. If you are not sure, turn on the water and you will know which way to turn the water off.
You may sometimes discover that the old vanities’ water pipes would not fully switch off. They can also be hidden in a hard to reach place. If you had to, you would have to turn off the water to the house.
Once you shut the water off, pressure begins to build 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
Once the water goes out, you must unhook the supply lines off of the faucets. It would allow you to bend over to get to these lines, which can be a little tricky. All you gotta do is take it slow and take each supply line at a time.
That area should be between the shutoff valve and the faucet. So, if the shutoff valve works and you have already shut off the water, or maybe you have shut off the whole house supply line, we are assuming that.
The supply lines will supply some water. It’s not much, but it’ll still get your floor wet. To hold this water, just place a bucket underneath.
A hose connector or a compression nut is used to attach the supply tube to the gate valve. If it's a nut, you can loosen it using the adjustable wrench.
Pull out the tube that supplies the faucet with water, once loose, and let the water drip out completely.
Use this opportunity to test the shutoff valve. But if you closed it up completely and it still lets water in, then it is acting up. This means that you will likely need to replace it. Check if you can find a rubber gasket in it and if the gasket is worn out to replace it if possible.
Turn off the supply line to the second faucet.
Step 3: Get the drain trap out
Once the supply lines have been disconnected, you shall have to detach the P-Trap so that the water from the vanity goes to the waste pipe.
In this case, you may consider putting your gloves on. It is getting dirty now. This is wastewater which could be greasy and gunky. Others will pour hot water down the drain prior to disconnecting the water supply lines.
Place the bucket under the sink carefully. There could be no other place for the wastewater to go. The P option is very silly because you will see if you look at the design of the trap that it looks like the letter P. The middle part is U shaped, then there is a straight pipe going to the sink, and the other end is straight leading to the drain pipe.
The trap is connected to the slip nuts from the sink and drain pipe side. You have to loosen the nuts. You begin with one before moving on to the second one. In case you don’t have a slip plier or the tongue, you can loosen them with your hand. When you are finished, cover the pipe going to the drain with a rag to keep the nasty smell from coming back in.
Step 4: Removing the vanity mirror
If the mirror is right on top of the vanity counter, then you need to remove it. Remove even if it is a few inches above the counter. It is better to reinstall it than break it and buy another one.
Step 5: Cut out the caul joint
Using a utility knife, cut out the space where the caulk joint joins the wall where the counter once was. Use your knife to cut through the joint. Hold the knife by the handle and cut it slowly and safely.
Step 6: Time to remove the counter vanity top
Look under the vanity top to make sure it isn’t attached to the walls of the vanity with brackets. You will have to remove them if there are any first.
You can now remove the vanity countertop without removing the faucet. You don’t need to pull up the faucet unless you have to.
Carefully lift the countertop because it may be glued to the sides. If the cabinet is attached with wood glue then you can pry it out from the walls or lift the whole cabinet in one piece. Be careful in pulling it not to damage the walls.
Step 7: Cleaning up
This is a critical step. When you take out the old bathroom vanity, you will find that you have covered the spaces that it was in contact with the floor and walls with marks all over that outline. It is not very easy to get rid of these marks, but you can.
Get rid of the caulk that is stuck to the wall using a putty knife. So since it doesn't stick too hard unless it is very old, it will come off with minimal effort. However, bear in mind that if you are replacing the old vanity cabinet with one of the same size, then your work will be easy. But if it’s bigger or smaller, then you’d need to clean up those parts where the old one touched so that you don’t have eyesores left.
Take all the dirt, chips, or other material that the job produces. You can also vacuum the place to get rid of dust, ready to introduce the new vanity.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Bathroom Vanity?
That being said, if you manage to remove the bathroom vanity, you’re going to want to replace it with a new one. The easiest way to calculate the cost of the vanity is by determining the buying price and then the installation cost. The cost of a pre-made vanity can be anywhere between $90 to $3000 depending on the size, style, and other variables. The price of vanity depends upon factors like the number of drawers. There are some online resources that have calculator programs to calculate how much it would cost you to replace bathroom vanity. You will need to enter in the values in the calculator – including the value of labor per hour. So, it can be either $95 or $155 per hour of labor.
Which is the best long-life Bathroom Vanity?
If you’re a first timer when it comes to buying bathroom vanities, choosing one from the hundreds available can be a bit daunting. Here is one that you can buy with confidence:
Design House 545095 Wyndham White Semi-Gloss Vanity Cabinet
This beautiful bathroom vanity is a great way to improve the interior décor of any room it is used in. With measurements of 36 by 21 by 31.5 inches (L x W x H), it is measured. The space also leaves plenty of room for your toiletries, so you can keep your counters free. The shipping will be packed, so you will have to build it. Also it is important to point out that the cabinet does not include a countertop, so you will need to buy one. This cabinet is finished with white gloss, hidden hinges, and satin nickel handles. You will be getting 2 drawers and two doors for easy access for storage.
Final Verdict
If you are good with your hands, you can take on the vanity removal job on your own. You actually can install a new one on your own. Having now learned how to pull out your bathroom vanity, you now have the opportunity to live the new life. If made badly, the vanity cabinet is a big, outstanding feature, and so if the vanity cabinet looks bad, you can have an echo from the vanity cabinet from another room into the bathroom. Carefully choosing one will use it many years in great shape.
