Removing a Bathroom Vanity Cabinet, Sink and Faucet

Today’s bathroom décor manufacturers have made it incredibly easy for DIYers to make dramatic changes to their homes without a truck load of tools to make it happen. In most cases, a new bathroom vanity and some framed mirrors is all that’s needed to modernize a home. A new vanity along with matching surfaces and integrated sinks are usually quite affordable and can all be purchased in local kitchen and bathroom stores as well as some online market places such as Facebook Marketplace.

If you’re looking to give your bathrooms a much needed face lift with a new vanity or two, this step by step guide is for you.

Before You Begin

Depending on the kind of vanity unit you have in your home, removing a bathroom vanity can be done within an hour. That is, of course, if you have all the proper knowledge and tools necessary to cut off water supply lines, take apart the vanity’s countertop, and properly dispose of the debris you have left behind at the end of it all.

Tools and equipment needed to remove a bathroom vanity

Equipment / Tools

• Bucket
• Adjustable wrench
• Main water shut off key
• Channel-lock pliers
• Rag
• Screw gun
• Utility knife
• Flat pry bar
• Putty knife

SUPPLIES – Just in Case You Cause Some Superficial Damage To Your Drywall

• Spackling paste
• Paint

Suggested Purchasing

All the tools listed above from a putty knife to a pry bar can be found in discount tool shops such as harbor freight or can be bought online. You don’t have to be a handy man to find use for the tools we’ve listed. In fact, these are some standard tools every home owner should have for simple fixes around the house.

Have a Junk Removal Plan

At the end of all of this you’ll have a bathroom sink, old vanity cabinets, and tubes laying around. If you don’t have a truck or a large SUV, make plans to borrow one from a friend or rent a truck from U-Haul. Lastly, plan for about an hour or two to make a trip to your local landfill. Unless you are removing every bathroom vanity in your home, you shouldn’t need much more than an extra person to help you throughout the process.

Professional Renovation and Junk Removal Options in your local area

There are a few reputable companies who have countless years of experience not only removing but also installing the best quality custom vanities and cabinets. These professionals typically work hand in hand with Junk Removal Company and Plumbing companies in their service area who know exactly how to get rid of all the debris left behind. Depending on how large the vanities are and how many vanities you plan on demolishing, pricing can range anywhere from $150 to $1500 to completely renovate. If you plan on renovating more than 2 vanities it is strongly recommended to let the professionals do it.

Preparing to Replace Your Bathroom Vanity

Once you have your tools and your plan in place, you’re ready to start demo! And as with any demo, you should ensure to shut off all utilities running to the place you plan to demolish. In this case, ensure all water shut off valves for both the hot and cold water running to the vanity are firmly in the off position and there are no pre-existing leaks. Also, if you have any electrical lines running to your vanity shut off the breaker to the vanity or bathroom. In most cases you’ll be able to run an extension cable for any power tools you may need on the job and a demo like this should always take place during the day in the event you get hurt or need a professional to finish off the job for you in the event of an emergency.

Disconnect the Water Supply Lines

Take a moment to find out where the main water supply line to your house is. It is usually in the front yard between the main street and the public sidewalk. With a water utility key, you can shut off the water flowing to your house. If there is no one else in the house or if they can hold off on using the water while you are demolishing the vanity go ahead and shut off the water utility line at the source.

Accidents happen and believe me, you don’t want a pipe breaking while you’re trying to remove the vanity. In many cases plumbing lines are built directly behind one another and what you do in one bathroom might effect another. Demo of any kind can lead to utility breaks that can cause a ton of water damage if not attended to correct.

Locate the water shut-off valve

There is also a water shutoff valve leading into your house. It’s typically coupled with the main hose line. You can shut that off for extra security.

Instructions

Step 1. Disconnect Plumbing Valves

Disconnect Water Supply Tubes

Place a bucket beneath the shutoff valves. Now, between the shutoff valves and the faucet water supply lines you’ll find the water supply tubes. Unfasten the compression nut with an adjustable wrench. Once it’s lose the supply tube will slip right off the valve.

Remove The Drain Trap

Shift the bucket slightly so that it is under the P-trap drain assembly because there will likely be some excess water lingering within the drain pipe. This is the main curved pipe leading to the wall. You’ll notice three parts to the assembly: the tailpiece connected to the drain pipe directly under the sink, the U-shaped bend, and another straight piece leading to the wall. Loosen the two outermost nuts on the U-shaped part in order to remove the P-trap from the wall and sink. Be careful with the plastic pipe coming out of the wall. Older pipes can easily break if you handle them too aggressively.

Lastly stuff a rag or a drain stopper into the open pipe to ensure gases from within your sewage don’t seep out. It may not be often that you take a look under your sink. Now that you have removed the plumbing to the vanity it might be a good time to ask a local plumber to determine if you should buy a new p trap assembly and water supply lines. There are a variety of flexible supply tubes and tougher PVC pipes available on the market. It’s a simple upgrade that’s not all that costly and could save you a headache in the future.

Step 2. Remove The Bathroom Vanity Mirror

Take down the Vanity Mirror

When you have your plumbing under control, move in on the mirror. Always wear gloves and protective eyewear and bring along a partner who can assist in the removal process. Some mirror rests loosen over time and older mirrors are known to shatter into large pieces which can cause large lacerations. So be sure to approach the mirror removal with care. Most of the wall mounted versions have a mounting strip and/or screw mounts along the edges of the mirror. Remove all the screws and pull straight. You’ll want to handle the mirror’s edges with the same amount of pressure to protect it from breaking. Once the mirror is off you can use a grout scraper to remove any excess adhesive left behind on the drywall.

Step 3. Remove the Countertop Unit

Most Frequently asked Question, How do you remove a vanity without damaging a wall?

Before you can pull the vanity away from the wall take a moment to look at how it is adhered to the wall. At first glance you might notice there is likely a backer of the same material as the countertop along the edges touching the outside wall. Then, open the drawer cavities and cabinets and take a look underneath the countertop. You may notice nailing blocks where the cabinet meets the wall studs. If you see this you may need to remove a few screws and use a reciprocating saw to cut the cabinet away from the wall after you’ve removed the vanity countertop.

Cut the Caulk Joints

Using a sharp utility knife cut a horizontal line along the caulking at the edges of the vanity and the wall. Once there is no remaining caulk, you may do the same with the sink or just leave it as it is with the faucet hanging.

Remove the Vanity Top

Next take a pry bar and wedge it between the space you’ve recently cut with your utility knife. Gently tap and the vanity top edges should come free from the wall. Now carefully lift the countertop unit and separate it from the vanity cabinet.

Step 4. Remove Bathroom Vanity

Remove the Vanity Cabinet

Depending on the size of the vanity cabinet you may be able to pull away the entire vanity or you may have to continue using your pry bar for the rest of the vanity removal. In either case, this should be the easiest step of them all.

How much does it cost to have a vanity removed?

It costs around $150 to $500 to replace your vanity and renovate. The price is largely dictated by the dimensions unit and the difficulty of installation.

Should I Hire Someone to Do this?

We recommend you use a professional company or a licensed handyman if you have more than two vanities to replace. They’ll have installed hundreds of cabinets from commercial environments to beautiful kitchen sink islands and that experience will leave you worry free when it comes to the problems that can come from DIY jobs. Detail oriented precision and a focus on quality is what you’ll get from working with a professional and that is something worth its weight in gold when you remove a bathroom vanity and bring in a new cabinet. For quality work that will make you proud of your bathrooms choose a quality company.