Bathroom sink vanity units, also referred to as “sink vanities”, are effectively supports and surrounds for bathroom sinks and wash hand basins. Like most items within modern day bathrooms, they are available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, styles, colours and materials. The reason for installing a vanity unit may be one of many, including decoration, to increase surface space for brushes, deodorants, cosmetics and other accessories, to support the sink where wall strength is not great, or to increase storage space using the vanity unit drawers. These are the obvious reasons, but there are most certainly a host of others.
Material Build
An important area to consider in choosing a bathroom sink vanity unit is material build.
Metal types tend to give a clinical and cold feel, like that of a commercial kitchen or a dentistry practice.
Hard water (water with many minerals suspended within it) tends to leave visible deposits or “spots” where splashes are allowed to evaporate independently on metal surfaces.
Metal surfaces are also easily scratched following day-to-day use, for example, deodorant cans and hairspray cans scrape the surface. However, metal vanities are strong, durable, hygienic and easy to clean. Materials include stainless steel and aluminium.
Vitreous china and porcelain are other available materials. They are waterproof, hygienic, do not promote the growth of moulds and are traditionally the bathroom material of choice. On the down side they are easily chipped if subjected to heavy objects dropping on them, but this should not deter anyone, because it is very likely that the rest of the bathroom sanitaryware is made from vitreous china or porcelain anyway.
Other more adventurous materials include glass and marble and as can be expected, expense comes with them too. A common commercial option is a wooden bench coated with a waterproof marble-type finish, which is actually made from plastic or linoleum. The wooden supporting frame is housed in a wooden surround and the final product looks like an integrated cupboard unit. The sink fits either into or onto the vanity unit.
Methods Of Fixing The Sink
There are a number of ways to marry the sink and the vanity unit. One way is to drop the sink into the vanity unit top, which has a hole cut into it that is slightly smaller than the rim of the sink. The rim of the sink forms an overhang, which can then be sealed using everyday silicon sealant. Care should be taken to measure the sink rim first and then prepare the hole based on the desired overhang. This means selecting the sink before the vanity unit.
An alternative method is to prepare a hole that is even smaller than in the example above and then place the sink into the hole. The sink will stand above the vanity unit surface and will create a seal itself with the pre-formed hole. Silicon sealant may not be necessary if the sink and hole are perfectly circular, but it would be advisable to use some nonetheless. If you are worried about appearance, clear sealants are available.
Another alternative is the under-mounted sink, where the sink is installed on a frame – either wooden or steel or even fixed to the wall – and the vanity unit top is placed over the sink. Again a hole should be cut into the surface that is only just smaller than the outer rim of the sink. Sealant is added to the inner rim between the surface top and the sink beneath. The final product is a sink that is sunk below the working vanity unit surface.
Finally, one-piece units are available, where the vanity unit also forms the sink. Examples would be glass and stone based vanity units, and understandably, they can prove extremely heavy. This may be something to consider in choosing a vanity unit of this type. This approach is certainly eccentric and not the norm, but another practical disadvantage is that damage to one part means damage to all. At least with separate sinks and vanity units, one or the other can be replaced as needed.
Title:
Bathroom
Sink
Vanity Units
Author:
A.Jeffers
Date Written:
21 Aug 07
Updated:
23 Oct 07
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