How to Replace a Bathroom Basin
Well, OK, this isn’t exactly a major property development project, but the idea of replacing a bathroom sink sends some DIY-ers into panic. Anything that involves water seems to mean only one thing, ‘Get a plumber.’ Except it doesn’t, this is a project any practically minded person can pull off.
First of all, check that the wall is solid, because a basin screwed into a dry wall is just asking for trouble. You may have to remove an area of plaster and secure a horizontal wooden stud in place to take the weight of the sink. This will mean a little additional painting, decorating and plastering, of course, but it’s not heavy-duty building work.
Put the taps on before you place the sink on the wall. If the new taps don’t meet the copper pipes, use flexible tap connector pipes and remember to use the washers and gaskets supplied with the new taps to ensure they’re water tight.
Check that the sink is level, using a spirit level, but before you screw it to the wall, connect the sink trap to the waste pipe with the fixings supplied. Use adjustable spanners, you’ll need two, to tighten the nuts on the tap connectors; you might also want to add a couple of isolating valves to the hot and cold supplies, they’ll enable you to turn the supply off to the bathroom sink without shutting off the mains. Apply a bead of sealant around the lip of basin where it meets the wall.
No rocket scientists, no architects and no plumbers will be needed for this job.