So I have a chip/crack in a bathroom sink. Son managed to knock the shower head out of the holder, as he tried to stop it snakeing around, he knocked a heavy glass ornament off a shelf and onto the sink 🙄
I've tried but can't get anyone local to do it. How much of a faff is it to DIY and what are the pitfalls? I'm generally OK with straightforward DIY stuff, but not done this before.
I'll probably replace the mixer tap whilst I'm at it, but I've done that before with no issues.
Can I just replace the basin or so I need to do the pedestal as well. I've no idea where it came from and there's no makers name on it so matching a basin with the pedestal might be tough.
If it was installed with inline taps in the tails, then it's relatively straightforward - shut off water supply at tails, remove old fittings, fix new one in place and reconnect the supply.
If it hasn't been connected with tails with taps, then I'd strongly recommend fitting them as part of the process; it's a little more faff, but if you can work on your own bike without wrecking stuff, you've probably got the basic level of savvy to do this job. I say this as someone for whom plumbing is the only DIY task that's had me close to tears of frustration!
If you have the luxury of a second loo in the house, that also helps reduce the time pressure to get the task completed.
Thanks. It has tails, I've replaced that mixer tap before. I should have bought a better quality one as the chrome is already coming off. Lesson learned, I'll change it with the sink.
This fall into what could go wrong DIY territory.
Plumbing... Probably fine until you disturb that one point of corrion just under the floorboards. Next thing you know you have three ceilings and two floors off and running around with the laura ashley towels mopping up damage.
The taps will be easy the issue will be the fact the tile splashback will never in a month of sundays be correct level for whatever you replace it with.
The other thing I'd strongly recommend is a second pair of hands if possible - makes manoeuvring the sink and pedestal around while you mark the correct spot for fixings a lot easier. Oh, and buy a decent quality drill bit if you have to drill through those tiles; nothing worse than cracking a tile to complicate an otherwise straightforward job...
In my limited experience buying a good quality basin will mean the plug hole shouldn't be mis-shaped & therefore far easier to get a good seal..
the issue will be the fact the tile splashback will never in a month of sundays be correct level for whatever you replace it with.
☹️ I was worried this might be the case. I haven't measured the current one or, checked the dimensions of replacements. I naively thought they'd all be fairly standard! 🤦♂️
I do not want to retile the splash back as well!
A more risk-free solution would be fixing the crack – there's stuff for it (linky).
You other issue might be the boxing in. That looks quite deep which might limit pedestal options. Its fine if the gap is a bit bigger. But its a pain is its smaller.
A more risk-free solution would be fixing the crack – there's stuff for it (linky).
I like that idea. I'm going to run it past the long haired general. We are looking at putting our house on the market soon. It's an old place and I already have a long list of decorating and tarting up jobs before we sell, I could do without any more!
I've just had a look. I don't think that repair kit will work. The crack is worse than it looks in the picture. There is a quite noticeable level difference either side of the crack in places, which a filler isn't going to sort.
The repair stuff can be ok, but in my experience it will most likely still show.
You might be better off with a wall hung vanity unit and basin as you will be able to get it to fit under the tiles.
The chances of getting another pedestal and basin (they are individual to the basin so both need changing) that are the same height is slim.
You could also use a half pedestal as again you will be able to get the height right. Both options require a decent fixing in the wall though.
I would have thought there is a decent chance you will be able to get a sink the correct height - too high will work anyway. They do tend to be a standard sort of height and actual fitting the sink is easy - waste pipe is probably the trickiest bit
So I have a chip/crack in a bathroom sink. Son managed to knock the shower head out of the holder, as he tried to stop it snakeing around, he knocked a heavy glass ornament off a shelf and onto the sink 🙄
I've tried but can't get anyone local to do it. How much of a faff is it to DIY and what are the pitfalls? I'm generally OK with straightforward DIY stuff, but not done this before.
I'll probably replace the mixer tap whilst I'm at it, but I've done that before with no issues.
Can I just replace the basin or so I need to do the pedestal as well. I've no idea where it came from and there's no makers name on it so matching a basin with the pedestal might be tough.
Google image search suggests this is a Vitra Serenada washbasin - you might be able to find an exact replacement, thus saving the compatibility issues raised in the other comments ...
as he tried to stop it snakeing around, he knocked a heavy glass ornament off a shelf and onto the sink
One of the perils of ornaments generally, thank you for the confirmation. We have a house full of the bloody things, and the amount of regular dusting & periodic rearranging that they elicit gets me quite irritated. See also plastic (artificial) houseplants.
One of the perils of ornaments generally, thank you for the confirmation. We have a house full of the bloody things, and the amount of regular dusting & periodic rearranging that they elicit gets me quite irritated. See also plastic (artificial) houseplants.
Oh yes, "no square inch of flat surface shall be knowingly left unadorned with tat" is the mantra of another member of this household. See also cushions, candles, tealights and sundry holders, incense sticks, potpourri etc. etc. I don't really blame my son for a moment of clumsiness. Heavy ornaments balanced precariously over porcelain have no place in a bathroom. I have pointed this out but I am, in this as in so many other things "wrong".
Heavy ornaments balanced precariously over porcelain have no place in a bathroom.
I did a big bathroom refurbishment at our first house some years ago. The very last action I did, as I was putting my tools away was to drop a cold chisel on the sink.
Oh how I laughed. 🤬
Waste fittings tend to leak down the threaded part under the sink unless sealing compound used. The most recent flomaster (Screwfix) one I fitted had a thread moulded into the big rubber sealing washer, so it did actually seal the thread.
Google image search suggests this is a Vitra Serenada washbasin - you might be able to find an exact replacement, thus saving the compatibility issues raised in the other comments ...
Oh you bloody legend! That does indeed look like the same one! Thanks!
New sinks often leak where the outlet exits the basin. You will need a 'basin mate' from Screwfix or Toolstation. This is a big tapered washer that goes between the sink and the large nut holding the outlet on.
I've fitted quite a few and it 'shouldn't' be too difficult providing you are reasonably competent at DIY. Do as much as you can before fitting it to the wall and use flexible hoses with shut offs and push fit to make your life easier.