How to install a sink easily

One of the bricos with which you can find sooner or later, is the need to change a sink.

Apparently it may seem like a fairly complicated job and for which certain tools and knowledge are necessary. Nothing could be further from the truth. With some basic knowledge, you can do it yourself without any problem. In this article we are going to provide them to you.

The bathroom accessories industry, contrary to what we might believe, has evolved in recent years not only in terms of design, but also in the form and mechanisms for its assembly. In fact, there are companies that have made a firm commitment to innovation and quality, creating a range of products that are easy to install.

However, if DIY is not your thing, you do not have time or you simply do not feel like it, you can always use the services of a professional. Although, depending on the time of year, the latter can be an “impossible mission”.

Even in big cities, for example, looking for plumbers in Madrid in summer can be quite difficult.

Well, once the problem of collating the bathroom accessories has been solved, we will now go on to see how to install the different types of sinks.

As in the case of bathroom accessories, the design and shapes of sinks have evolved enormously and continue to do so. However, regardless of the design itself, there are three installation systems: free-standing or furniture-mounted washbasin, on bracket or support, and built-in.

Before continuing, I want to clarify that this article is based on the fact that the plumbing installation fixed to the wall is already done, so we are going to forget about fittings, copper pipes, PVC drainage pipes, special glues for this last material, welds, etc, etc.

If this pre-installation is not done, a somewhat more advanced knowledge of plumbing and even masonry would be necessary.

Before getting down to work, you must prepare all the materials and tools necessary to undertake the installation.

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Necessary materials

• Fixings (screws and plugs). These will depend on the sink model to be installed and also on the material of the wall (brick, concrete, stone,…)
• Corrugated tube for connection to drain pipe.
• Two hoses for the entrance of water (cold and hot). Be careful to measure the length needed before purchasing.
• Silicone with fungicide, especially for bathrooms and kitchens.
• Gun to apply the silicone.
• Taps.
• Sink.
• And cabinet, if the washbasin is built-in or semi-built-in.

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Tools needed

• Flexometer (meter).
• Pencil.
• Drill.
• Drill bits for concrete (their diameter will depend on the dimensions of the sink fixings).
• Hammer.
• Screwdriver.
• Wrench.
• keyhole saw either Radial (grinder). If the sink is built-in, you will need one of these power tools, depending on the material of the countertop (granite or artificial stone, or wood).
• Bubble level.

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Now we will see how to place each of the three basin models and, later, we will see how to install the taps and connect them to the water and drainage network, since it is the same process regardless of the type of basin.

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WASHBASIN WITH FOOT OR ON CABINET

First step: The first thing is to present the sink, that is, in the location where it will go, we must carefully put it as it will go (on its foot). I advise you to use someone’s help. While the sink is being fastened to you, you mark with the pencil on the wall the place where the fastenings will go.

Second step: Once the marks are made, you remove the sink, you check the horizontality of the marks made. To do this you must use a spirit level.

If you have any deviation, which should be minimal, you must correct the position of one of the bindings.

Third step:It’s time to drill. Using an awl or Phillips screwdriver and a hammer, tap on each of the marks. With this you will be able to peel off the enamel of the tile and, in this way, prevent the drill bit from slipping.

You place the drill of the corresponding diameter, and carry out the drill.

another tip

First use a bit 1mm less than what you need and, once this hole is done, change the bit to the correct one and do the same hole again. In this way, you get a cleaner drill without clearance.

Now you introduce the tacos. Hit them with the help of a hammer until they are flush with the wall, being careful not to break the tiles.

Fourth step: Put the foot in place and put the sink on it. Insert the screws and tighten them, but not all the way.

Put the bubble level on the sink and, in total horizontality, finish tightening the screws.

Fifth step:Seal the joint between the foot and the floor with silicone.

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WASHBASIN ON BRACKET OR SUPPORT

First step:We must start from the base that the surface of the sink must be at a height of about 85 cm.

Therefore, from this measurement we subtract the height of the sink and, in the resulting measurement, we must place the upper part of the support.

We measure the separation that we must leave between both supports.

We center the set in its location, taking into account the horizontality.

Second step: We mark with the pencil on the wall the place where the fasteners will go.

Third step: We make the holes with the appropriate drill bit, exactly the same as in the case of the pedestal sink.

Fourth step: We introduce the plugs or fixing system in the wall with the help of a hammer.

Fifth step: We mount the brackets on the wall.

Sixth step: Finally we install the sink on the supports. The type of assembly will depend on the brand and model of the chosen washbasin.

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BUILT-IN WASHBASIN INSTALLATION

The built-in sink can be installed on a piece of furniture or on a countertop hung directly from the wall. If it were the latter case, we must fix it to the wall in the manner indicated above.

First step: The first thing is to make a hole in the countertop in which the sink will be embedded.

To do this, we will have to use the template that comes with the sink. We will put it on the counter, exactly in the desired place, and we will mark the contour of the template with a pencil.

Second step: Now we have to empty the interior of the drawing we have made. For this we will use akeyhole saw, in the event that the countertop is made of wood. Or one grinderin the event that it is made of granite, marble, or artificial stone.

If this step is out of your possibilities, you can take the stone along with the template to a stonemason, and he will cast it for you.

Third step: Before installing, present the sink to see if it fits. If not, you should go over the casting until it looks good.

Before removing the sink from its location, stick masking tape on both the countertop and the sink. In this way, you will avoid having to remove the remains of the uncomfortable silicone. Now you can remove the sink.

You assemble the silicone tube in the gun, and apply it on top of the silicone countertop. Be generous, better than over.

Carefully put the sink back in place. And remove the silicone that overflows.

Advice

In a glass of water add a little soap. Insert your finger into the glass before removing the silicone. Every time you clean your finger, dip it in the soapy water afterwards. In this way the silicone is better removed.

When you have finished removing all the excess silicone, remove the masking tape.

Don’t touch it anymore, respect the drying time according to the manufacturer and let it set.

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We have already carried out the specific process for each type of installation. Now let’s see the common procedure, whatever the type of sink. These are the connections to the water network, the wastewater evacuation network and the installation of the taps.

First step: We have to install the faucet. All washbasins, except for some built-in or countertop models, come with a faucet housing from the factory.

If it comes with it, you only have to place the faucet in the upper part of the basin (interposing the corresponding rubber gasket) and in the lower part, we insert the other rubber gasket and screw the fastening piece, fixing the faucet in its position.

Don’t worry, just follow the instructions that come with the faucet.

In the case of the other type of sinks, the faucet has to be fixed directly on the countertop. So, when we made the hole for the sink, we also had to make the location for the faucet. We can do this with a hole saw, of the necessary diameter, mounted on the drill.

The assembly is exactly the same as indicated above.

Be careful and cross the connections, that is, connect hot water with hot and cold with cold.

Third step: We install the mouth of the drain in the sink. On the inside of the sink, we put the trim, and on the bottom we place the drainage mouth itself. We have to interpose between both pieces and the sink, the rubber gaskets included in the pack. And we screw from above the screw that joins both pieces.

Fourth step: All that remains is to connect the sink with the drainage network. Here two situations can occur.

One, that the lower part of the sink is visible and, therefore, all these accessories are visible. In this case, it is most convenient to use chrome decorative accessories.

And another, that they are hidden by a piece of furniture or foot. In this case, it is best to opt for normal accessories, since they are much cheaper.

Both in one case and in the other, you have two options that are left to your free choice:

Install the classic accessories, consisting of two tubes and a siphonic pot.

Or install a corrugated drain pipe, which you can see in the photo above. This tube provides extraordinary ease and speed of assembly, since in addition to being flexible, it is extensible, so you do not have to make any cuts. You just have to give it the curvature and shape to create the siphonic boat effect and connect at both ends.

Both in one system and in the other, the connection of the end that goes to the wall is made by pressure, and the one that goes to the sink is threaded, and in both cases by means of rubber gaskets, so the use of silicone is not necessary. , glues, or anything like that.

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I hope this article can be of help to you.

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