Vessel Sinks

Can you make a vessel sink out of a bowl?   Yes, you can.  Now, the type of bowl you use is going to make the job easy or hard.   The things to keep in mind are:  making sure the bowl you choose has the proper slope towards the drain (or where the drain should go) so that you don’t have standing water when using the sink.   You may want to have your faucet and drain fittings before you make the cut so you can make sure the circle you cut out will fit the faucet you plan to put in.  I’ve mentioned many times before, the type of faucet used is very important when it comes to placement and use of vessel sinks.

If you’re planning to use a glass bowl, you might want to have a professional glass cutter cut the drain hole for you.  Make sure the glass you use is thick enough. You don’t want to use a thin glass that will crack easily if something is dinged against it.   Also, with glass bowls you need to make sure you have some sort of silicone or connecting ring to use between the sink and the counter for cushioning.

There are many other types of bowls to use though.  Don’t forget about stainless steel and stone bowls.

Also, who says the ‘bowl’ has to be round?  There are troughs and square or rectangular types of containers that may work well. My personal opinion is that these other materials are easier than glass to use in a ‘make your own vessel sink’ project.

Vessel Sink Placement

A couple of people have asked about the actual placement of a vessel sink.  So if you’re going to use the type of vanity that has no holes drilled or any markings for a sink, you want to place the vanity exactly in the position in the room in which it will be installed permanently.   With the vanity in place, decide where you will want the faucet to be installed.  Draw on the vanity or create a paper template to mark the position of the faucet (remember, vessel sink faucets should be about a half inch from the sink).  Next, place the sink in the position in which you want it to be permanently. Make a template for the outline of the sink. Place the template directly on the surface of the vanity in the spot where the sink will stand.   The spacing is up to you. Simulate using the sink and see what feels comfortable to you. Are you stretching to far over to get your hands above the center of the sink?  Adjust as desired.

Well, I have another bathroom remodel going on.  Actually, I have three bathrooms in my house that need updating.  While I think installing a vessel sink in one of the bathrooms would really add some class, I’m not sure I want to spend the money.  I’ve mentioned before that there really are some inexpensive vessel sinks out there but that comes with some other factors to consider.  Vanities for vessel sinks tend to be a little more expensive than your average vanity.  So where you win some, you lose some.

That brings me to a couple of questions I’ve been getting lately.  I am answering a lot of these questions as I learn from the experiences of remodeling my own homes, but of course I will refer you elsewhere when more details are needed.

So first off, one reader asked:  What is the standard stub height for a vessel sink?    Answer:  Typically, you want to the waste stub out to be at 20 inches and the water supply stub-outs to be at 22.

There is another type of height concern too.  The typical bathroom vanity, the kind with a recessed sink, is usually between 32 and 36 inches high.  As I mentioned before, tall people live in my house so we prefer the 36 inch height.  However, when installing a vessel sink this height should be taken into consideration.  If you sit a 6 inch bowl on top of the 36 inch vanity, will this be comfortable for you?   If not, consider these two alternatives.  1) Use a vanity that is less than standard height.  2) Choose a vessel sink that is made of a material other than glass.  If you choose a stone sink, you can recess the sink slightly into your vanity so that only the sides rise up above the vanity.   Glass vessel sinks have to be mounted above the sink.

Vessel Sink with Recessed Mounting

There is one comment I get all the time:  water splashes out of vessel sinks.  I’ve mentioned this in the past and I’ll say it again:  the right faucet and faucet placement is critical to reduce splashing.   The faucet needs to properly match the type of sink you’ve purchased. There are waterfall, cascading type faucets you can try.  Where the water hits your sink is really a key.  So, if you consider those factors before installing your sink, splashing should be kept to a minimum.

I will tell you, my personal opinion is that the above the counter mounting is better suited to a half bath, powder room type of installation.  If you install the vessel sink in this type of room you’ll minimize a lot of the complaints people have from their experiences with everyday usage – i.e master bathrooms.  If you really want this look in your master bath, consider the slightly recessed mounting.

Next time, I’ll answer questions coming in about making your own vessel sinks and vanities for vessel sinks.

Alot of people  have concerns about vessel sinks draining.  It really depends on the type of faucet assembly you purchased.  Vessel sinks need a specific type of drain.  Do not use the pop up drain that came with the standard faucet kit.    Look for or order a special vessel sink drain kit and you shouldn’t experience any drainage problems.

Many debate the issue of style vs. function when it comes to vessel sinks.  They are so popular right now many consumers question whether or not they will end up dating your bathroom.   They are indeed stylish, but I can’t help but think of things in the past that were all the rage. For instance, a certain home-building style with  a large number of angular windows and wood siding going in different directions was very popular in the 1980s.  Right now though, these homes look extremely outdated and are more difficult to update due to their design choices.     I am not sure if vessel sinks will go the same route but it is a factor to consider when deciding whether or not to use one in your home.   The most popular iteration right now seems to be the traditional, circular, ‘bowl’ type of vessel sink.  Perhaps to better increase the chances of the sinks not being so dated, you could choose a raised, above the counter, vessel sink that is square or rectangular.

On the function side, consumers have been reporting their problems with the depth of vessel sinks. Check out the following consumer comments:

• Water would drip down the outside of the sink onto the pedestal with splashing.  The answer there is simple though – wipe it up with a towel!
• Vessel sinks will chip along the rim if something is dinged or banged against them.
• They are not practical for those over 6 feet tall
• Setting things down around the sink when shaving was a bit of a problem because the counter surface seemed to be limited to underneath the vessel sink
• Take care with faucet placement because incorrect placement can cause the water to fall on a spot that will splash back up on to the user not from mere water pressure but from just normal water flow
• Go with specific brands that make a very wide and deep vessel sink which prevents splashing; again the right faucet helps.
• Vessel sinks have problems with draining – not sure if this is due to where the faucet is placed or if it is the wrong kind of faucet.
• Vessel sinks are over priced
• Carefully measure the inches of the placement above the countertop and how far away the faucet is placed.
• Don’t only follow manufacturer’s instructions to install the vessel sink to the countertop and fasten it underneath the vanity – other steps may need to be taken.

No matter what side of the style vs. function debate you lean toward,  it seems both sides of the debate can agree for now that vessel sinks are indeed popular and stylish right now!

Remodeling a bathroom is one of the best things you can do to improve the value of your home.  Buyers are interested in updated kitchens and bathrooms.  While a kitchen remodel may cost tens of thousands of dollars to accomplish, updating your bathroom can be accomplished for much less.

You will need to identify what you want to accomplish.  Everyone has their own sense of style.  Decide what style or theme you want to go with.   Also, decide what items you want to upgrade.  Will this be a complete remodel – ripping out all the existing features and replacing?  Or will this be a partial remodel where you choose to replace only a few key features of the bathroom?

Decide on your budget and check stores carefully for sales and clearance items that will help you stay within your budget.

Let’s say you decide to spend under $5,000 dollars on your bathroom remodeling project.   One neat idea is to redesign your bathroom around one beautiful item, such as a vessel sink.  Vessel sinks are all the rage these days as they give an appearance of sophistication and luxury yet can be affordable as well, depending on the type of material you choose.

There are a variety of materials to choose, from glass to stone with so many options in between.

Glass:

Stone:

For under $5,000, HGTV design experts recommend replacing what you have in your current bathroom versus completely changing the layout of your bathroom.

Some ideas for remodeling the current layout include:

• If you cannot afford to replace tile completely, consider painting it.
• Replace the floors.  Floors in bathrooms are not very large and can be inexpensive to replace
• Think outside the box, if you cannot afford to redo sheetrock or plaster, consider covering ceilings with wood or laminate floor to cover any blemishes.
• Paint and purchase new accessories i.e. towels, shower curtain, trash bins.

With the cost savings from following these suggestions, you’ll be able to splurge on the one main centerpiece, the new vanity and vessel sink.

One idea for a new, yet inexpensive vanity is to build your own!   This may seem intimidating but a new trend in bathrooms involves using antique furniture such as a dresser or dining room buffet as a vanity.   This can be a do-it-yourself project and can allow you to allocate more money for the vessel sink that will really complete your new sophisticated bathroom.

When we remodeled our master bathroom we chose to hire someone to complete the tile work, but decided to do our own sink vanity ourselves.  We made a master sink vanity out of a piece of furniture!   I searched high and low at various antique shops and garage type sales for just the right piece of furniture.  I am fairly tall and we wanted a vanity that would be slightly higher than the average height vanity.

You want to look for a piece of furniture that is tall enough and wide enough to hold the two sinks you will placing on it.    I found an old, wood dresser with a beautiful, dark stain finish with only minor blemishes on the top surface.  Blemishes on the top of the piece are ok because this is the part that will be ripped out anyway to install the sinks.    You’ll also need to consider what type of waterproof surface you want to use for the surface of your vanity.  I decided to go with a tiled surface and I used the same tile used in my shower and bathtub surround to provide a cohesive theme.    Make sure the surface you choose goes well with the type of vessel sink you will install.   A clear glass vessel sink goes well with almost any type of surface.

So the basic idea of creating your own vanity goes something like this:

To begin, remove all dresser drawers and decide on sink placement on the top of the dresser.  Place the sink top down on the dresser and trace it with a marker to identify where to cut with your jigsaw.  Use the jigsaw to cut out the circle traced on your wood surface.    You’ll also need to use the jigsaw to cut away an area on the back of the dresser to install the water lines.    The plumbing pipes needed to get water flowing to your vessel sink can be purchased , often in a ready made sink plumbing package, at your local hardware or home improvement store.  After installing the plumbing you may have to cut the drawers to make them fit around the plumbing.  Or, you can complete remove the drawers and instead just secure the drawer front to the front of the vanity as a façade.   Once the plumbing is installed, set the sinks in place and install faucets and connect the water lines.  You will need to use an adhesive when setting the sinks in place and of course, if there are any problems with water lines you may want to consult a plumber.

Vessel sinks are the latest hot item in bathroom design and style. The great thing is that this is a feature that can be a do-it-yourself item!  Of course, if you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with any plumbing project, be sure to consult a professional plumber.

Position the sink open top side down on the counter surface in the placement of your choice.  Using a pencil, draw a line around the edge of the sink. Then remove the sink.

Drill a hole and then use a saw to cut  along the pencil line with your jigsaw while another person supports it from below. Discard the circular waste piece.

Squeeze beadings of caulk all along the entire bottom edge of the upside-down (self-rimmed) sink. Position it carefully over the opening and press it down firmly until the excess caulk oozes out of the sides, wipe off the excess. To install the additional hardware that comes with the sink follow the delivered instructions from the manufacturer.

Faucets will be installed using plumber’s putty using the holes in the sink.  Use an adjustable wrench to tighten the hardware to firmly hold the faucet.   Follow any delivered instructions from the faucet manufacturer.

Pack the basket trainer with plumbers putty and firmly push into place.  Tighten the lock nut down where the strainer is threaded and clean off any excess putty.

Next, connect the tail piece to the basket trainer by using a slip nut over the washer to install the p-trap.  Use a washer and a slip nut to connect the p-trap to the tail piece.   With a curved drain extension pile, attach the p-trap to the wall stub-out.

Next, connect the P-trap to the drain pipe.  Install the P-trap next by connecting the tail piece to the basket strainer using a slip nut over a washer. Then connect the P-trap to the tail piece with another washer and slip nut. Attach the P-trap to the wall stub-out with a curved drain extension pipe.   Note:  when you are connecting P-traps for a vessel sink you may need to buy an extension because the vessel sink is higher than a regularly mounted sink.

Test!  Run the water to perform a quick test.  Check for any leaks around the drain by looking underneath the sink.  If you notice any leaks apply plumber’s tape or caulking to close up the area and prevent further leaks.