Ask the plumber: Open-style sink for a closed-in bathroom
Q. I’m a single mother, and even though I’ve never picked up a pipe wrench, I’m a loyal fan of your plumbing column. I enjoy the articles about product information the best, and now I have a question about plumbing fixtures.
I’m going to have my small downstairs powder room done over. Presently there is a wall-hung sink, and I want a little more storage area. But it’s a very small space, and a box-type vanity would be too bulky. What can you recommend for a space-saving and functional sink for this area? Thanks in advance.
A. Let’s see: You need extra shelving for storage and lots of open space under the sink so the powder room would not feel as closed in. This sounds like a job for a console table, like the kind used for a TV area, or in a front hallway. Of course, you wouldn’t put a TV stand in a bathroom. So what can we find that holds up well in a moist environment, makes good use of open shelving and can also support a full-size lavatory sink and faucet?
The answer is a bathroom console table, and it may be the perfect choice for you. Bathroom console tables are basically a framed support bracket that can be made out of wood and/or metal, with shelving made of glass or other material. Many of these console tables have built-in towel racks as well, making this a very functional fixture.
On top of the support cage, special countertop sinks can be locked into place to complete the unit. Also, since most of the weight of the sink is supported by the console table bracket itself, installation may not be as intense as a standard wall-hung sink.
More good news is that many console bases and sink tops can be mixed and matched to fit your style, and usually your existing plumbing can be easily adapted to fit the new sink.
But since the area under the sink is open, finished chrome water lines and drain lines may be needed to complete the “finished” look. And once the sink top and base are installed, any standard 8-inch widespread or 4-inch center-set faucet can be used, depending on your sinkhole size. This helps to make a bathroom console table an affordable choice for any remodeling job.
However, if you want to splurge, you can go from the traditional open box and shelf-type frame to fancy ornamental ironwork frames.
Bottom line: If you’re looking for some open space along with extra shelving, a bathroom console table can really hold its own compared to standard wall-hung sinks.
Ÿ Master contractor and plumber Ed Del Grande is author of “Ed Del Grande’s House Call” and hosts TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.
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