Major repairs carried out in the bathroom, often accompanied by the replacement of all accessories. This is the right occasion to replace an old standard washbasin with a more comfortable or spectacular one. If you are going to install a washbasin with your own hands, then you definitely need to pay attention to such parameters as the installation height of the sink, the way it is attached, the shape and size.
Types and shapes of shells
The modern market offers a huge range of washbasins. They can be made from the following materials:
- faience;
- porcelain;
- glass;
- metal;
- tree;
- granite;
- marble;
- artificial stone;
- plastic.
These products are also varied in form. The following types of shells can be distinguished:
- Corner. It is advisable to install such a product in small bathrooms or bathrooms with a non-standard layout. The corner configuration fits perfectly into the overall bathroom space with walls that have ledges or niches, a small toilet sink can also have this shape. The presence of a cabinet in this type of sink facilitates its fastening and increases functionality.
- Rectangular bathroom sink. This shape will perfectly fit into a strict classic interior. You can simply mount it on the wall, place it on a cabinet or cut it into a tabletop. Mortise types are considered the most practical and durable: they do not have to be hung on the wall, and all communications to the faucet and drains are removed inside the stand.
- The sink is round or rounded. Fits harmoniously into any interior. If there is not enough space, you can simply fix it on the wall. A sink mounted on a cabinet or combined with an acrylic countertop can be complemented with a decorative element, such as a mirror.
According to the installation method, washbasins are also divided into several types:
- Washbasin-tulip. Allows you to save space under the sink. The hoses that supply water to the taps and the drain are located in a hollow narrow leg attached to the floor. Their installation is easy to do with your own hands, since there is no fastening of the sink to the wall.
- The hanging option is the most common and budgetary, although perhaps not the best in terms of design: even if the supply and drain pipes are hidden in the wall, the siphon under the washbasin will still be visible.
Installing hanging sinks on a tiled surface is quite problematic: this has to be done in such a way that the attachment points fall on the seams between the tiles. But even in this case, the chance to spoil the tiled coating is quite large. It is much easier to use the option with a stand in the form of cabinets or countertops.
- Overlay models. They have a beautiful design, and most importantly, they can be installed on almost anything: on a cabinet, countertop, and even on other furniture. The only limitation in their placement is the need to supply water to the faucet and then drain it.
A cabinet with a countertop for a mortise sink can be made with your own hands using available material. In such washbasins, ceramic sinks and lightweight acrylic countertops can be used. In a self-made stand, you can conveniently place shelves or drawers.
Sink size selection
Installing a sink in the bathroom has as its ultimate goal the creation of the most comfortable conditions for all the inhabitants of the apartment. To do this, you need to correctly determine the size of the sink.
Depending on the dimensions, all sinks can be divided into four groups:
- Mini-sinks are quite narrow, only 35–45 cm. It is recommended to hang them in bathrooms that are modest in size or have a complex configuration.Such washbasins allow you to comfortably wash only your hands, but are too small for a full wash. However, in the tiny bathrooms of Soviet-era apartment buildings, such sinks, often built into a small cabinet, are the only option.
- Common types of sinks have a width of 50 to 80 cm. According to the execution, these can be either standard hanging models or mortise ones, combined with a countertop or pedestal. Round models are quite rare, preference is given to the semi-oval shape. A narrower bathroom washbasin will allow more efficient use of space.
- In large bathrooms, extended sinks up to 150 cm wide can be installed. Due to their rather solid mass, they are made built into countertops made of various materials. There are options with double sinks, symmetrically located on a solid stand.
- Exclusive models made to order. The shape and dimensions of such sinks are not limited by anything other than the financial capabilities of the customer. Modern plumbing manufacturers are ready to make a washbasin of any size, shape and color from any material for an appropriate fee. Such a sink can become a central element in the interior of the entire bathroom, the main thing is not to go beyond common sense.
How to choose the height of the washbasin
One of the most important parameters is the height of the sink in the bathroom. It should provide comfortable washing for each of the family members. The problem is that the height of the people living in the house can vary greatly. In most apartments, it is simply physically impossible to install more than one washbasin, so you will have to choose a middle option.
Experts advise installing sinks at a height of 80-85 cm from the floor, calling it the most suitable for most people. But if only adults live in the house, and besides, they are tall, then you can install a sink even higher. And vice versa, with a small growth of the inhabitants of the apartment, it makes no sense to lift it up high.
However, if the option of a washbasin on a cabinet or a stand with a countertop is chosen, then these structural elements determine the installation height. It will not be possible to change it much, the maximum that adjustable legs give is 5-7 cm. But such models can be tested for convenience right in the store if already assembled samples are displayed there.
Before buying a sink, it is recommended that you make a scale diagram of the bathroom, which will indicate all the items that need to be placed there. Such a scheme will help not only determine the size of the washbasin, but also evaluate the success of its location in the interior of the room.
