How to fix a bathroom sink to the wall: detailed installation instructions
Modern wall-mounted sinks are one of the main elements of combined bathrooms and bathrooms.They differ from models built into the countertop in the method of fastening.
We will tell you how to fix a bathroom sink to the wall to maintain the integrity of the bowl. We will also tell you how to ensure reliable fixation and comfort during operation of the plumbing fixtures. Taking into account our recommendations, you can easily do all the work yourself.
The content of the article:
Types of wall-mounted sinks
Back in the middle of the last century, almost all modifications of wall models came down to one type - a bowl mounted on two cast iron brackets. The metal supports remained visible and did not look very aesthetically pleasing.
With the development of the plumbing industry, many new models have appeared that have a hidden fastening method and are distinguished by their elegant design and durability. There are several classifications of wall-mounted washbasins, depending on the fasteners used, the shape or material of the bowl.
The so-called "tulips" or pedestal sinks also refer to wall-mounted models, but have additional supports that simultaneously mask the siphon and pipes. Furniture sets with a sink in the countertop are popular, and both the bowl itself and the hanging cabinet can be attached to the wall.
Bowls built into the countertop are convenient to use. The tabletop, in turn, is also fixed to the wall, and not installed on the floor.
Thus, the area under the sink remains completely free, which is convenient for cleaning and simply washing. However, more practical residents install under the sink-countertop or small-sized washing machine, or a small shelf for sanitary accessories.
The most popular are ceramic models. But when choosing, you should remember that earthenware models are simpler and cheaper, while porcelain ones look more attractive, but are more expensive.
For bathrooms with a lack of free space, compact ones are sold corner models without unnecessary entourage.Unlike front ones, they do not require a free wall and can easily fit in a niche or corner with a wall width of 0.3 m.
Step-by-step mounting instructions
The mounting method depends on the washbasin model. For example, installing a single porcelain sink is different from installing a fixture built into a wall-hung countertop, although both options are wall-mounted.
Today, the most common method of mounting is on brackets, which are studs or screws screwed into the wall. Below are detailed instructions for attaching a ceramic sink to the wall in the bathroom.
Stage #1 – preparatory work
Preparation involves purchasing a plumbing fixture, faucet, drain kit, as well as checking the reliability of the wall.
First you need to make sure that the wall will support the sink you choose. In modern apartments, redevelopment is often carried out or false walls are erected, as a result of which, instead of a load-bearing wall, there may be plasterboard under the ceramic tiles.
If the base is weak, you will have to partially disassemble the wall and install mortgages - for example, metal guides, installation for hanging sanitary ware or wooden blocks.
In order not to be distracted during the installation process, you need to prepare a set of tools. You will need a drill or hammer drill for punching holes, an adjustable wrench or a set of open-end wrenches in size, a level, a construction tape or a long metal ruler, and a marker.Plumbing sealant and, in some cases, special glue are also required.
Stage #2 – markings on the wall
Correct marking is half the success. If the holes are not drilled accurately, the cladding may need to be replaced. It’s not difficult to buy a plastic panel, but collectible ceramic tiles will cost much more, and there is a risk of not finding them on sale.
Therefore, it is necessary to accurately determine installation height (85-90 cm) and measure the distance between the mounting holes. The necessary numbers are also indicated in the instructions that come with the new plumbing product.
We take the dimensions from the bowl or find the required values on the diagram, then transfer them to the wall. Mark the locations for the holes with a marker.
Sometimes it is easier to test install a plumbing fixture: this is usually done with tulip sinks and models with hanging cabinets or countertops. We make sure that communication openings are in close proximity.
Stage #3 – drilling holes
This stage is associated with the complexity of drilling tiled walls. To perform a seemingly simple operation, experience is required, otherwise the tile will simply crack. The fact is that to drill tiles and the base (concrete, brick), different drills and different operating modes are needed. Masters also use one tool, but not everyone succeeds.
To ensure that the drill does not slip and enters the tile smoothly, you need to use a core. Place it at the drilling point and gently hit it with a hammer several times.
Next, you can change the drill to a hammer drill and continue working - drilling holes in the wall. The diameter of the Pobedit drill is 12 mm. The minimum mounting depth of the brackets is 5 cm, but the exact data must be clarified in the instructions. We clean the finished holes using available materials or a vacuum cleaner.
Stage #4 – fixing the fasteners to the wall
The sink holders are anchor bolts inserted perpendicularly into the wall. To ensure that they fit tightly and do not wobble, plastic plugs or dowel-type devices are inserted into the holes.
Often the fasteners are included with the new product, so there is no need to select anything. Carefully screw the metal rods into the holes so that the ends of the required length remain outside.
Sometimes problems arise with attaching anchors. The main reason is a crack or seam in the base under the tile. To get rid of the defect, you can try to concrete the gap and then carefully drill a hole in it. But there is an easier way - fill the cavity with epoxy glue, and then immediately insert a bolt into the hole so that it is better fixed.
Stage #5 – installing the sink bowl
The final stage attaching sink to wall it happens easily: the sink is simply strung on anchor bolts and pressed as tightly as possible to the wall.Then we take the nuts with spacers and tighten them on the remaining free ends of the pins.
When the nuts are tightened, the shell is pressed and glued. The positive point is a more durable mount, the negative point is that it will be difficult to replace equipment in the future. If you need to remove the sink for more convenient installation of a faucet or siphon, this will also be impossible.
Installing the model on studs is not the final stage. It is also necessary to connect the drainage system with a water seal and the mixer if it is installed on the sink and not on the wall.
The sequence of events can proceed in different ways: often, for ease of installation, all the appliances are installed first, and then the sink is installed. At the finish line, all that remains is to connect the hoses.
How to install the mixer correctly?
The most successful option is to install the device before installing the sink. The bowl is placed in a convenient position and produced faucet mount in a specially designed hole on the shelf of the bowl.
The installation process does not depend on the design of the mixer: lever and valve models are installed according to the same pattern. Connecting to the water supply is also the same. Flexible hoses The mixer is connected to the outlets of the DHW and cold water pipes, then the nuts are tightened. The joints are sealed if necessary.
An important nuance: before connecting communications, you should clarify which side the cold/hot water is on. If the mixer is installed correctly, then its cold water supply is on the right, and its hot water connection is on the left.
The final step is testing. It is better to carry it out after connecting the drainage device and with the aerator removed - so as not to spoil it with particles of debris that accidentally got into the network during repairs.
Connecting the drain device
The drainage device is a plastic or metal water seal with pipes or a corrugated hose. Consider the option of installing the popular bottle model, which is easy to install and, if a blockage occurs, can be quickly and easily cleaned.
An important final point - verification drain system for tightness. At the same time, you can check the operation of the mixer. We plug the drain valve with a plug, wait for the sink to fill and watch how the water leaves through the overflow.
Then we remove the plug and check in the same way whether the siphon is leaking. If no leaks are observed, the drain installation process is considered complete.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Much in the installation process depends on the model of the plumbing fixture for the bathroom. To find out the details, we suggest taking a closer look at the different solutions.
Video #1. How to install a wall-mounted tulip model:
Video #2. Installation of a block of suspended structures - sink, cabinet and cabinet:
Video #3. Step-by-step instructions for installing the front model:
The work of installing a sink in a bathroom is considered easy, so you can do it yourself. The process is also simplified by the fact that no special tools are needed; a traditional home kit is sufficient.
Once you have attached the sink to the wall, installed the faucet and the water seal, you will be able to independently repair or replace the equipment in the future.
Please write comments, post photos, ask questions in the block below.Tell us about how you bought and installed a sink in your own bathroom. It is possible that you have technological subtleties in your arsenal that will be useful to site visitors.
Such work does not cause difficulties in itself: the design of the fastenings is very simple, everything is thought out for our convenience. But the preparatory work is painstaking and requires care and patience. For me, the hardest part is drilling. While leveling a sink with a level is possible with minimal experience, drilling the tiles without cracking is a big risk.