Bathroom Sinks And Faucets – Pretty and Practical
(Part Two of a bathroom renovation series)

by: Liz Roberts

A new bathroom sink and faucets add to the décor of any bathroom, big or small. Sinks now look like an ancient Roman bowls or a replicas from Victorian times. Faucets can match these styles as well as countless others. There are so many choices that you should have no trouble picking out a sink and/or faucets. Remember when redoing your bath, keep in mind to select a problem free sink. Pick one that is not only easy on the eyes, it’s easy to install.

Do it yourself megastores have a wide variety of sinks to choose from. You can stay with your original style or try something different. Nowadays there is everything from freestanding to even hanging sinks. If choosing an unusual style, understand that you may have to do more involved installation such as reconfiguring existing plumbing and space.

Consider a basic white porcelain sink if you’re looking for economy and practicality. This particular model can be round, oval or square and can even be made to fit into a triangular space. The bowl part can easily be installed into a countertop or onto a pedestal. Another plus about having porcelain is that it can be painted or stenciled to match your bath’s décor. Also it doesn’t have to come in white. There is a rainbow of colors to fit in with any scheme, even a child’s bath.

Glass sink bowls are on the rise. These are bowls reminiscent of what the Caesars might have had in their palaces. They are placed onto elaborate, iron brass or chrome stands as well as on top of a traditional countertop. Other sink choices include brass, stainless, steel , chrome , copper and stone. These are unique and fit in well with the more modern looking baths and powder rooms. You can even get a combination of glass and copper where the copper is encased between glass sheets.(this is costly if you’re on a budget). There are also specially waxed wood bowls that come in mahogany or teak. Usually these sinks have matching bathtubs and are sold as sets.

Once you have your sink you can set a day aside to install it. Always make sure you have a helper to assist with the lifting and setting in. (the last thing you need is a sore back and a broken sink!) Make sure you have wrenches , nut driver or screw driver, both a utility and putty knife, cleaning rag and plumbing putty on the ready. Everything should be laid out within arm’s length.

The first and most important step is shutting off the water supply(this means both hot and cold water). Open up the faucets to relieve any pressure in the supply lines located below your sink. Use a wrench to remove and pull these out. Have a towel handy to soak up any water that will flow out. Loosen the tail piece nut which will be the closest one to the strainer, using a wrench to perform this. Disconnect the tube below the strainer. With your nut wrench or screw driver, loosen the clips which hold your sink in place. Now go to the above cabinet part of your old sink, using the utility knife, cut the seal from around it. Lift the sink out. Clean the surface were the sink was with the putty knife and rag. Now install your faucets (read further down) and water handles. Remember that sinks vary, having different numbers of holes depending on how many extras (such as a shampoo hose or soap dispenser) you plan on installing. Put a new lines of plumber’s putty around the perimeter of the sinks’ opening. Lift the new sink into place, being careful to settle all the supply lines under the sink before you set it into place. Use help when doing this. Now install the strainer connecting the piece that goes above the sink to the piece that goes below. Reconnect your supply lines with a wrench. Make sure to remove any excess putty. Wipe it off first with your finger, then use the rag for further cleaning.

Faucets too can be changed. Some homeowners love their sinks but hate the existing taps.There are several easy to install styles that work with any bathroom décor. You can have ultra modern or change to the more elaborate 19th Century styles. Just remember go with a durable brand that can stand up to wear and tear.

To remove your old faucets , as with the sink, shut off all valves at the supply tubes. Use a basic wrench to remove the nuts that connect these tubes to your faucets tailpipes. Drain out any water into a bucket or basin. Now remove the locknuts and the tailpieces on both washers. Lift these out of the faucet. Many new faucets require some assembly before mounting them on the sink. If you bought this kind then assemble exactly to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Remember to first clean the surface where the new faucets will sit. Insert a rubber gasket between the faucet’s base plate and the sink’s top to create a watertight seal. If no gasket is provided, then you will have to seal the perimeter of the faucet ‘s base with plumber’s putty. Insert the tail pieces through the holes in the sink’s top. If your faucet has water supply tubes already attached to these , then feed them through the middle sink hole and press the faucet into position on the sink. From underside, thread a washer and mounting nut onto each tailpiece(some faucets have a combination of washer/nut made out of plastic). Firmly tighten nuts with your wrench.

For split set faucets , you’ll need to connect the valves to the spout, using flexible hoses. Before you connect these, wrap a couple of turns of pipe wrap around the valves’ threaded ends and connecting piece. Thread them by hand and finish tightening with an

adjustable wrench. All bathroom faucets come with a pop up mechanism that allows you to open and close the drain. This is done by a lift rod behind the spout. Remove the stopper from the tailpiece so that the pop up port faces the spout. Now attach the pop up mechanism to the tailpiece, taking care to thread the pivot rod into the opening at the bottom of the drain stopper. A spring clip on the end of this will grip the lift rod. Now insert the lift rod in the spout’s hole attaching it to the pivot rod via the supplied extension rod. Adjust this so that the drain stopper will properly and effortlessly open and close when the lift rod is being operated. Connect the faucets’ hot and cold water supply tubes. Gently bend these to meet the shut off valves. Tighten the compression nuts or flared fillings , turning on the water to clear the lines of any debris. Also this is done to check if there are any leaks.

A new sink and taps can add to your bath’s décor. These additions bring a spark of freshness to any major or minor bath renovation. Not only that it is an easy project that takes little time and money.