Multipart vanity cabinets add custom look to bathroom
By Tim Carter
Tribune Media Services
Q: I thought the process of selecting and installing bathroom vanity cabinets for a remodeling project would be simple. It turns out that bath vanities come in many different sizes with all sorts of different options. I cringe at having to install all of these things and worry I will ruin any bath vanity cabinets I buy. My wife wants all of the options, but I would prefer to buy one simple box I can nail to the wall. How do I solve this conundrum? - Bob F., Norfolk, Va.
A: The first thing you're going to do is tell your wife to pick out whatever vanities your budget will allow. The second thing you're going to is relax and do some deep-breathing exercises. Installing bathroom vanity cabinets is not as hard as it may seem. I sense you are suffering from anxiety because you lack either the tools or skills- or both.
I'm going to share some of the tips that have served me well over the years. There are many different methods to install bath vanities - no doubt, other carpenters have techniques that will work faster and better than mine. And if you get into a bind, perhaps you know a handy person in your neighborhood or at work who can help you.
I recommend that you consider bathroom vanities that are made from multiple cabinets and parts, simply because they look so good. By combining cabinets that have different depths to them, you can create a stunning bump-out look where the center sink-base cabinet projects just 4 inches or so into the room. Adding trim accessories creates the look and feel of true custom cabinetry.
When the countertop is formed to follow an extended profile, it looks rich and elegant. These small features make your home really stand out if and when you decide to sell. Think about it - anyone can get a straight countertop out of a box from a home center.
One trick, when working with different cabinets that need to be screwed together, is to remove all drawers and cabinet doors. You can do this easily with a screwdriver. Some cabinets have quick-release levers that allow you to pop a door off its hinges with no tools. Removing the doors and drawers prevents scratches and allows you to work on the cabinets with nothing in your way. It will also make the cabinet boxes much lighter.
I prefer to use squeeze clamps with rubber tips to hold cabinets together in the exact alignment as I screw them together. Sometimes you can screw through the sides of the cabinets to draw them together. Other times you have to carefully install screws through the finished frames. If you need to do this, take your time and be sure the screw is not so long that it passes through the finished side or front of a cabinet frame.
It is extremely important that the finished bathroom vanity cabinets are level side to side and front to back. This can be a significant challenge, as floors are frequently out of level and walls are not plumb or square. Use tapered shims under the cabinets to get them level. You may have to install shims between the back of the cabinets and the finished wall to keep the cabinets level as you screw them to the wall. Yes, screws not nails.
Some bath vanity cabinets come with fancy trim that can be added on the face of the cabinet frames. This trim can sometimes be attached to the cabinets with screws from behind. Once again, be careful about the length of the screw. Always clamp the piece in position and slowly install the screw. You can rent nail guns to attach the trim, but be sure you use a pin nailer that shoots nails that are not much thicker than the shaft of a needle.
TIPS
# If the total width of the assembled bath vanity cabinets is 5 feet or less, I would screw them together and install the system as if it were one box, as you originally wanted to do. The trick is to install no fewer than six screws through the sides of the cabinets where two cabinets touch one another. This way, when you start to move the cabinets around, they are very sturdy and should not pull apart.
# If you have an accident and crack a cabinet frame, or ruin the finish of a cabinet side, frame, door or drawer, do not panic. If you live in a mid-sized or large city, there are any number of wizards who can come to your home and repair this damage with little effort.
# These furniture repair masters come with a small box loaded with sticks of colored lacquer and an alcohol-fueled lamp that they use to match the color and wood grain of your cabinets. They can repair holes, scratches, dings and splits, making the cabinet appear as if it is in perfect condition. This safety net should give you the confidence to move ahead on this project.
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