Along with the kitchen, Bathrooms are a very important part of your house. It is the vital component of your restroom that can make or break your morning routine. It is necessary to decorate your bathroom in a way that will provide ease and comfort to your family. If your bathroom vanity is less stunning, you can give your vanity a complete makeover by just replacing the vanity top.
Replacing a vanity countertop is a better way to give a beautiful look to your house than replacing the whole vanity. You can also replace the sink and faucet along with your vanity but it is not very necessary to do as long as the ones you have are compatible with the new vanity top. A new vanity top improves the outlook of your bathroom.
If your bathroom vanity looks damaged, big, or does not fit your bathroom, you can change it. I completely agree that replacing the vanity top sounds like a very difficult operation but it is quite easy to do and it does not require a lot of muscle or skill with power tools. It is not as difficult as changing the kitchen countertop. The two most important tools that are very important for this process are:
- Jigsaw.
- Drill.
Jigsaw is only used when you purchase wood or solid surface top without pre-cut holes for the sink and faucet. It requires skills and special tools to cut your own holes in a stone counter shop.
Table of Contents
Things Required For The Replacement Of Vanity Top
Tools that are necessary for the replacement of vanity tops are as follows:
- Drain tailpiece
- Tape measure
- Screwdriver
- Adjustable pliers
- Adjustable wrench
- Hammer
- Chisel
- Pad sander
- Level
- Utility knife
- Pry bar
- Putty knife
- Caulk remover (optional)
- Shims
- Silicone caulk
How To Order An Affordable Custom Vanity Top?
Before ordering a custom vanity top, you need to take care of the following things:
1. Measure your counter space
Accurate measurements are very necessary for this process. You need to measure the width and depth of the vanity top. You also need measurements for the sink. In some stores, there is the option that the contractor will measure the counter space for you but be mindful that this may incur an extraneous change.
2. Design Your Counter Top
Before placing an order for a vanity, first, you have to decide on several designs for your countertop. Many of the choices come with additional charges. While designing your bathroom vanity, you have to make the following choices according to your budget:
- Countertops Material: Cultured marble is generally the cheapest, but there are several price grades depending on which type of marble you select.
- Matte or Gloss Finish: Matte finish costs $50 more than gloss finish. Therefore, it depends on your budget either to go for a matte or gloss finish.
- Type of Faucet: You should go for a wall mount faucet for your bathroom vanity.
- Type of Sink: Sinks are of two types:
-Integral, made of the same material as the counter.
-Non- integral, they mount a porcelain sink to the underside of the counter shop.
There is an upcharge for the non-integral, but it’s more durable and harder to scratch in my opinion.
- Sink Bowl Shape: Sink bowls are of various shapes such as; square, rectangle or round.
- Backsplash Lip: Backsplash lips are of two types. You can choose either an attached 4 – inch lip or an unattached one. The choice is yours, but if you have walls that are not parallel with the vanity top, I would recommend an unattached lip.
- Note: If you are planning to add tile around the vanity, skip the backsplash lip entirely.
- Other customization: Along with the above customization, you also have an option to choose a specific edge or thicker front to simulate granite.
Types Of Replacement Countertops For A Bathroom Vanity
1. Vitreous China Replacement Countertops For A Vanity
Vitreous china is a ceramic material coated with enamel that makes it stronger and more resistant to stains. It often comes in white color but can come in other color variations as well.
This type of vanity top usually comes with an integrated seamless sink and you can easily buy it from many home improvement stores. Vitreous china tops tend to be slightly more expensive than cultured marble or solid surface options, but are still very affordable with such a good material quality.
2. Cultured Marble Replacement Countertops For A Vanity
Cultured marble is a man-made countertop from natural stone, being ground up into a powder and then mixed with resin materials and coated with a strong finish. Cultured marble tops are less expensive than natural stone options and are more durable because they are not porous, so they are less likely to stain or mildew than natural stone.
These are some of the most common types of vanity tops that you can buy from a home improvement store at a great price. They also have options for molded sinks and backsplashes in case you don’t want to have to opt for installing separate pieces.
3. Laminate Replacement Countertops For A Vanity
Another type of vanity top is Laminate countertops. Laminate countertops are durable and water-resistant because they are made up of a pressed wood product that has a laminate coating.
The laminate coating can be printed to look like stone, wood, or other materials. The laminate countertops often come with coordinating backsplashes that can be installed with them, if desired.
These countertops come in different size pieces and need to be cut down to the appropriate size for the bathroom vanity. Once this countertop is installed, end cap pieces are placed over the cut edges to give it a finished look.
No doubt Laminate is a pretty inexpensive product, but the sink needs to be purchased separately which increases its cost and the installation requires more work and skill than installing a one-piece top.
4. Quartz Replacement Countertops For A Vanity
Quartz vanity tops are similar to solid surfaces, but quartz is made from more natural stone material than solid surface tops, consisting of about 95% natural stone material and only 5% resins.
They look like they are made up of real stone or come in solid colors, depending on the style chosen. Quartz countertops are more expensive than other options previously discussed because they are a higher-end product due to their engineering.
Quartz vanity tops can be easily found at home improvement stores or can be custom-made by a countertop fabricator.
5. Concrete Replacement Countertops For A Vanity
Concrete is a material that is made up of rocks, sand, and other similar materials like water, and a cement powder which makes it hard. Concrete on its own does not resist staining and does need to be sealed to prevent this issue.
Concrete vanity tops can come in a variety of colors if tinted or stained. Concrete tops are a popular choice among DIYers as the material itself is inexpensive to buy, but the skill and labor involved in creating a nice-looking vanity top can make it somewhat tricky to work with for the average person.
6. Wood Replacement Countertops For A Vanity:
Wood countertops can vary from pressed woods to solid wood, to butcher block, or whatever other wood material you might choose to use. Wood is one of the classic countertops materials because it is affordable and versatile. Wood is not naturally water or stain-resistant and they need additional coatings of polyurethane or other waterproof substances which help it to hold up in a moisture-rich environment like a bathroom.
Wood tops are usually used with drop-in or vessel sinks so there is not an exposed wood edge along the inside of the sink. Wood vanity tops sometimes come pre-made, otherwise, they can be cut, stained, sealed, and installed by a carpenter or skilled DIYer.
Depending on the route chosen, wood vanity tops are very cost-effective and affordable.
How to Remove and Replace a Bathroom Vanity Top
Following steps are necessary to replace or remove your vanity top:
Step 1
Measure for the New Vanity Top
- First, you should measure the dimensions of the existing vanity top using a tape measure.
- Your vanity top should be of the same dimensions as the previous one but if your bathroom has more space available then you might choose one that is slightly larger.
Step 2
Disconnect the Plumbing
- By using a screwdriver, remove the doors from the vanity, it will make your work easier.
- You should turn off the water flow and open the faucet to relieve the pressure of water.
- Disassemble the P-trap, pull it down, swing it away from the drain tailpiece and then pull the trap free of the waste inlet.
- Tip the trap into a bucket to empty it and set it aside. You can use it again.
- Unscrew the faucet hoses from the shutoff valves using an adjustable wrench. You can leave the hoses attached to the faucet and remove them after taking the top off the vanity.
Step 3
Cut the Caulk Along the Wall
- Cut the Caulk along the wall by using a utility knife.
- Do this carefully to minimize damage to the drywall.
- Clean the caulk residue off the wall.
- If a backsplash is attached to the wall independently of the bathroom countertop, you also have to remove that.
- If you do not want to replace the backsplash, some drywall repair will be necessary.
Step 4
Pry Off the Old Vanity Top
- In most cases, you have to break the glue bond by which the vanity top is attached to the cabinet.
- Break it by inserting a putty knife between the cabinet and the vanity top, tapping it with a hammer.
- Once it is free, lift it off the cabinet with a helper.
Step 5
Clean Up the Cabinet and Wall
- After removing the vanity top, scrape all caulk from the top edge of the cabinet using a chisel or sand it off with a pad sander.
- Remove the caulk residue from the wall by scraping it with a knife.
- Silicone caulk can be difficult to remove; therefore you need to soften it with a commercial caulk remover before scraping.
Step 6
Install the Sink and Faucet
- Install the sink and faucet by using hardware according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- After that install, the sink drains assembly and screw the water supply lines to the faucet.
Step 7
Install the New Vanity Top
- With a helper, lift the new vanity top onto the cabinet and set it in place.
- Check it with a level and insert shims as needed to level it from side to side and from front to back.
- Remove the countertop and apply the silicone caulk on the top edge of the cabinet on both sides of each shim.
- Reset the vanity top, being careful to adjust its position accurately before setting it down. Attach any fasteners supplied with the top.
Step 8
Seal the Edges
- Run a bead of silicone caulk along the edges of the vanity top or backsplash that meet the wall. If the top has a drop-in sink, this is also a good time to seal around the rim of the sink.
- If you’re replacing an old backsplash that isn’t part of the countertop or you’re installing a new one, this is the time to glue it to the wall and seal it with caulk.
Step 9
Connect the Plumbing
- Lastly, screw the faucet supply water lines to the shutoff valves and tighten them with an adjustable wrench.
- Turn on the valves and then turn on the faucet, fill the sink, let it drain, and check for leaks in the faucet hoses and drain assembly.
To Sum Up
Replacing your previous vanity countertops with the better ones that fulfill your needs gives an attractive look to your house. There are various types of vanity countertops available in the market.
In my opinion, Laminate countertops are the best of all. They are very affordable and easy to install. Laminate countertops are now found in many high-level homes. They are an excellent choice for those who want an affordable countertop material that offers a wide range of design choices.
I will highly recommend this vanity countertop to you all.
FAQ’s