How to Install a Vessel Sink

Vessel sinks are, by far, among my top favorite items to use in renovations. I fell in love with these the moment I saw on TV the first commercial from Kohler. Watching home improvement shows and visiting model homes further added to my desires of having these lovely items in my home. They are great conversational pieces and can add elegance and uniqueness to a home.

I will show you how simple and easy it is to install vessel sinks yourself. I’ve learned this while watching our contractor friend when he helped us remodel our guest bathroom.

First of all, more than likely, your existing bathroom has a standard sink; so you have to replace your counters as well. That is pretty much the only drawback I know of in tackling this type renovation. Unlike standard sinks mounted on top that you can easily replace, if you want a vessel sink, you definitely would need to rip off your old countertop. So you may want to just do a vessel sink install if you are already doing a bathroom redo or replacing your bathroom countertop.

Materials:

Vessel sink

Vessel faucet

Drains

Mounting Rings

Traps

Plumber’s putty

Plumber’s tape

Caulk

Screw driver

Plumber’s wrench

Safety goggles

Work gloves

Carpenter’s tape measure

Pry bar, hammer, and sledge hammer (for old counter top demo)

Cement board (if you are using tiles)

Plywood (if you are using tiles)

New counters (granite, tiles, etc.)

Granite cutter

Circular saw (is using tiles to cut backer board)

Drill (use the one that can penetrate granite if you are using granite slab countertop)

Steps:

Demolition of Old Countertop:

1. Wear your safety goggles and work gloves for protection.
2. Turn off the water from the main source.
3. Disconnect the old sink’s plumbing by using a plumber’s wrench.
4. Have a bucket and some rags handy to catch any excess water that may come out.
5. Using a pry bar and hammer, remove old countertop and backsplash.
6. If you are not replacing your cabinet, make sure to not hit or damage it. If you are replacing the cabinet, you can use a sledge hammer to help in the demolition.
7. For the purpose of simplifying this project sheet, we will not be removing the cabinet base; we will just be replacing the countertop.

Preparation and Measurement:

1. After you have removed the countertop, measure the width of the new counter by using a carpenter’s tape measure, measure the width from end to end on both directions.
2. If you are using granite slab, you will not necessarily need a plywood or backer board. Use your measurement in ordering your granite countertop. If, however, you are using tiles, use your measurement to cut the backer board (Cement board) using a circular saw. Again, to simplify this project, I am just listing down the steps that were used for our particular guest bathroom project which we used granite slab. Pretty much a lot of basic information in hooking up the faucet and vessel will be the same on any countertop.
3. Lay down your new granite countertop on top of the existing cabinet. Then set your new vessel sink on top of it. Using a marker to outline the positions of the sink, mark the location of where the drain hole is going to be positioned. Most drain holes are approximately 1 Ã?¼” diameter but sometimes may vary slightly. Outline also where your faucet will be located. Make sure to give enough clearance space between your faucet and vessel sinks (read the instructions that came with your vessel sink for more guidance).
4. If you have a drill that can penetrate granites you can drill using a 1 Ã?¼” spade bit. Drill a hole for your drain in the granite.
5. Mark the location of the faucet and then drill holes for the water feed tubes that will come down from the faucet to connect underneath the sink to the water lines. Do this using a drill with appropriate size bit.

Vessel Faucet Installation:

1. It is usually easier to install the faucet prior to putting the vessel sink into final position. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions that came along with your vessel faucets.
2. Make sure to connect cold and hot water tubing to the correct source on the water line.
3. Use a ring of plumber’s putty around the hoses as you screw together.
4. Make sure that all the connections are tight.
5. Turn the water input valves on and check for leaks.

Vessel Sink Installation:

1. Place a bead of silicone caulk at the base of the sink where it will touch the countertop.
2. Put the sink gently in place. Try to move it slightly to position correctly.
3. Wipe off excess caulk.
4. Attach the drain assembly following the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific sink.
5. Screw on or tighten the nut firmly to hold the sink in place to the counter.
6. Connect the drain to the P-trap underneath, then connect to the drain pipe on the wall. You may need to buy an extension like we did in our project because the location and height of the drain had changed.
7. When everything is in place, check for leaks by turning on the faucet. Check around the drain, the drain itself, and underneath the sink for leaks. If you find any leak, use appropriate steps to remove the leak like adding a strip of plumber’s tape.

Once you are done, relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor.