We’ve reviewed the most common types of bathroom vanities and sinks available, including the following:
Wall-mounted sink Pedestal sink Vessel sink and vanity Framed sink Drop-in sink Under-mount sink Cabinet-style vanity
These sinks mount, as the name suggests, directly to the wall with no floor support. They attach to special hanger brackets fastened to the wall and to framing members or a wall reinforcement behind the sink. Plumbing waste and supply lines may either be exposed or concealed in a “shroud” or cover fastened to the underside of the sink. They’re great for smaller bathrooms or to lend a modern flair. As the name suggests, these sinks appear to be mounted atop a pedestal that supports it off the floor. Sometimes, that’s exactly the situation. With other designs, though, the sink is mounted to the wall and essentially hangs here, while the pedestal is purely decorative, used to give the appearance of a classic pedestal sink. With either type, plumbing waste and supply lines are usually concealed in the pedestal. The sink, as the name suggests, is simply a vessel into which a faucet pours water. The vessel becomes an art object of sorts and can range from a porcelain china bowl or granite or alabaster stone or blown art glass. The design options are essentially unlimited, and the nice thing is you can have a very striking and custom-looking piece for a reasonable amount of money. Plumbing waste and supply lines are either concealed in the vanity base or exposed, but, if exposed, they are designed to visible and attractive. Elaborate designer vanity cabinets are available for these sinks, but some homeowners exercise their creativity by converting antique dressers or side tables into wonderful bases for vessel sinks. As the name suggests, these sinks drop into a countertop and are trimmed out with a metal “frame.” The sink itself can consist of cast-iron or porcelain-enamel coating bonded to a cast-iron or pressed-steel core (usually the latter). Plumbing waste and supply lines are concealed in the vanity base. These sinks have a lip that is over-sized to the hole and simply “drop in” a countertop. Heavy, cast-iron sinks may be simply held in place by their weight, but lighter sinks usually have a clamping system that secures the sink to the countertop from underneath. This creates a self-trimming installation. As the name suggests, these sinks mount from the underside of the counter. They are slightly larger than the opening of the top so that the countertop creates a slight lip or overhang over the sink bowl. The bathroom sink itself is typically made from porcelain-enameled cast iron, vitreous china, a metal such as copper or stainless steel, or out of a composite resin material. If the sink and the top are composite resin, then the sink can be manufactured integral with the top (like the “cultured marble” tops of old). Plumbing waste and supply lines are concealed in the vanity base. The countertops covering the vanity cabinet and supporting the sink can be of many materials, including plastic laminate, ceramic tile, solid-surface or synthetic stone, or natural granite or quartz.
