Replacing a Bathroom Countertop


Bathroom Countertop

Most people love to have a great looking bathroom while there are those who couldn\’t care less. The appearance of your bathroom countertop could affect the overlook of your bathroom. Antiquated bathroom countertops are the usual problems in older houses while the newer houses would have bathroom countertop problems with scratches and water damage-related worries. Water damage is a problem that arises from an improper installation. If you want to save money, replacing a bathroom countertop could be done by yourself without hiring a professional contractor. You could also experience on how to replace your countertop the way you want it, so here are the steps on how to do it if you want to take the plunge.

You will need:

  1. Adjustable crescent wrench
  2. Drill and drill bit
  3. Pencil
  4. Jigsaw
  5. Bathroom caulk
  6. Screwdrivers

Steps:

  1. First, turn the water valves both clockwise to begin the process of removing the sink. When the water supply is shut off to the sink, you could also disconnect the water line at this time.
  2. Turn the nut just above the shutoff valve counter-clockwise with a crescent wrench until the line comes off. Do the same process for the remaining water line.
  3. Turn the sink drain nut counter-clockwise until the drain comes apart. To find the clips that hold the sink in place, look under the sink.
  4. Remove all of the clips with a screwdriver by turning the screws counter-clockwise until they come off. Lift the sink out of the countertop carefully.
  5. The next process is to remove the countertop. You will notice that the countertop will be attached to a base or a cabinet. Look for screws that hold it in place under the countertop.
  6. The screws are generally found in the upper corners in the cabinet. Remove the screws to lift the countertop off its base.
  7. Next, place the countertop in place and make sure that it fits properly. You will need to remove the countertop before cutting a hole for your sink.
  8. Lay the sink in upside down position on the countertop. Be sure to place the sink centered before tracing the sink with a pencil. Remove the sink again. Make a line inside the traced line paralleled to it and ¾ an inch from it. This will provide a lip for the sink to sit on.
  9. Make a hole that could fit a jigsaw blade on the inside line using a drill. Place the jigsaw blade in the hole and cut along the inside line before installing your new sink.
  10. Then, place the countertop back in its place and secure the screws in their previous holes. Place the sink in its hole and replace the clip that holds it in place on the bottom of the countertop.
  11. Put it back in the hole and turn it clockwise to secure if you want to reattach the drain. Turn each nut back in its place using a screwdriver to reattach the water lines. Turn on the water supply to test your sink. Squeeze the bathroom caulk tube and move it along the countertop seam evenly to prevent water damages and leakage.
  12. When you are done with these steps, make sure that nothing is loose and all is well-secured to prevent accidents from happening.

Additional Reading:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4928051_replace-bathroom-countertop.html

Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22280677@N07/3193849763/