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| Vanity unit |
| This streamlined DIY vanity unit is ideal to give any bathroom a new, sophisticated look. |
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Following on from last week's story on Wedding Renovations, Ray and Natasha are still busy working to meet their deadline. Ray's ripped out the vanity and is ready to install a new one.
STEP BY STEP
1 Take the measurements of your desired layout to a professional cabinet maker or kitchen manufacturer for cutting and edging. Moisture resistant particle board or MDF with a white melamine surface is the most suitable material. This can only be cut accurately and neatly with a table saw equipped with a scribing blade. The scribing blade must be adjusted to score the underside of the sheet before being cut by the main blade.
2 Calculate the length of the bottom by deducting the total thickness of the two ends from the overall dimension of the cabinet. The fixing rail will be the same length as the bottom. The width of the back will be the overall width of the cabinet. To calculate the height, subtract the height of the kickboard from the height of the end. The standard height for a vanity is 850mm and the kickboard 100mm. When calculating the drawer width, allowance for runners must be made. We used full extension runners with a side clearance of 25mm.
3 For the doors, we laminated raw (moisture resistant) particle board on our vanity. However a variety of options are available. It is a good idea to apply the edge strip first then followed by the face and back. A cheap alternative is to choose a coloured pre-finished board or solid timber doors. Your local cabinet maker will be able to assist you with the available alternatives.
4 When making the bench top, allow room for a semi-recessed basin. You can also use a drop in basin, but your cabinet and top will have to be much deeper. The pre-finished board is not suitable, as it is less durable.
5 Once all pieces have been cut to size, organise the appropriate pieces needed for each cupboard. It is helpful to label each piece to eliminate any possible confusion later.
6 Screw carcases together using 50mm screws. Make sure you pre-drill holes to prevent splitting, particularly screws that are located close to the edges.
7 Assemble all the carcasses then assemble drawers and fit them to the appropriate unit.
8 Hang doors and for drawer fronts.
9 To make up the top, screw together the plywood, then apply the laminate to the front apron and any other ends, followed by the top surface. To bond laminate to board use a contact adhesive. The glue is applied to both surfaces, left to "tack off". Use lengths of dowel (or similar material) to keep the two adhesive covered surfaces from touching until the laminate is in the correct position, with overhang all round. Start removing the middle dowel and press the laminate down. Continue to remove the remaining dowels in a sequence either side of the centre. Be sure the laminate is in the correct position before removing the dowels, remember one the two surfaces have made contact it is almost impossible to separate them without breaking the laminate. Just take your time with it.
INSTALLATION
To install the vanity, the most important point is to be sure it is level across the top — left to right and front to back. Use packing pieces or plane down the bottom of the end to make any fine adjustments that are necessary. Drill the holes for any water pipes and waste pipes using a hole saw. When using a hole saw, drill from one side until the centre drill protrudes through the other side, then drill the remainder of the hole from the other side. Screw through the back of the carcase with 50mm screws; be sure to locate suitable wall fixings (for example wall studs). Drill holes for handles, and finally screw in place.
Diagram
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Materials
16mm White Melamine HMR (Highly Moisture Resistant) for cabinet
16mm Marine Plywood for bench top and kickboard
Drawer runners
Cabinet hinges
50mm x 8g wood screws
Contact hinges
Lengths of dowel
TOOLS
Drills (power and cordless)
Measuring Tools
Hole Saw (60mm and 32mm)
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More Info
Timber and materials available from your local Home Timber & Hardware store.
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Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
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