Curbstone with a sink: how to choose and install suitable

A cupboard with a sink of 50 cm or so is perhaps one of the most common pieces of bathroom furniture. Such constructions are very convenient, since they not only allow fixing the bowl for draining water at the required height, but also provide a place for storing detergents and household chemicals.

Selecting such products should be in accordance with the parameters of the bathroom itself, and below we present some tips designed to facilitate your selection process.

Analysis of models available on the market

The design and dimensions of the product

As a rule, models presented in specialized stores have a single structure:

• Laminated MDF or chipboard covered with plastic is most often used to make the body.. The choice of these materials is explained quite simply: a consistently high level of humidity is maintained in the bathroom, and without additional protection the wood material will swell and deform.
• Models of the premium segment, as well as products for enlarged bowls (for example, if you have a sink with a 110 cm bollard) are often made on an internal frame made of wood or metal. For plating can be used either MDF or natural wood with waterproof impregnation.
• The legs are almost always height-adjustable.. Typically, shells with a pedestal 55 cm wide or less are mounted on four legs, and wider ones on six legs.

Note! In some cases, the legs are discarded in favor of the basement structures. The presence of the base makes the cabinet more stable, but at the same time more vulnerable to swelling from moisture. Yes, and during installation, there are some difficulties.

• Most models on the market, complete with swing facades. Opening doors provide access to the shelves where detergents and other small items in the bathroom are stored. Drawers are rarely equipped with cabinets - usually hidden inside the sink siphons and pipes for water supply.

• In wider models, in addition to the shelves, a laundry basket can be built into the bedside tables.. This is very convenient, since the presence of a special compartment for laundry saves space in the already cramped bathroom.
• The back wall is either absent altogether or made of thin, moisture resistant plywood.. Usually, in production, one hole is made in it for the supply of pipes, but if necessary, one can easily cut the grooves in the required quantity.
• Top sink itself is fixed. The most common is the installation on wooden rails with fixation on special mounts. The pitch between the guides depends on the dimensions of the bowl.

The dimensions of the structure can also be different:

• The height from the floor to the upper edge of the sink is selected depending on the growth of the majority of family members. Models with a height of 85–95 cm are considered standard, but sometimes larger products are also installed.
• Curbstones 100 cm and higher are suitable only for washing hands, therefore they are rarely mounted in full-fledged bathrooms, i.e. where there is a bath or shower.
• The width of the frame is determined by the size of the sink. A sink of 30 cm with a pedestal can be installed even in the toilet (size allows), but standard products (45-55 cm) require a fairly large space.

Note! If your bathroom is quite cramped, then you can abandon the frame structure, fixing the wall-mounted sink on the wall or installing it on the same vertical support.

Tips for choosing

The selection process itself is quite simple - we need to buy such a cabinet, which “will stand” on the place allocated to it with a minimum gap and will be a reliable support for the sink.

At the same time there are some subtleties that need to be considered:

• If you need a standard sink with a cabinet of 45 cm, then you should have at least 48-50 cm of free space. We are doing this stock so that you can open the cabinet doors for at least 90⁰.

Tip! In general, the gap between the construction and the wall or the bathroom must be, otherwise the difficulties will arise at the installation stage.

• When buying a model with drawers or hinged facades, it is advisable to scrutinize the accessories. The best choice would be steel chrome hinges and guides. Plastic products, although they do not rust, serve for a relatively short time, and decorative gold or silver plating in conditions of high humidity "peels off" very quickly.
• Then you should pay attention to the placement of pipes for water supply and sewage. We may have to mount the sink a short distance from the wall, or completely dismantle the back wall.
• If the bathroom has a warm floor, it is better to take the model not on the base, but on the legs. So the furniture will not overheat, and clean up under it will be easier.

If we talk about the appearance, it is completely dependent on your ideas about the future interior of the bathroom. Nevertheless, we will give some recommendations on this in the next section.

Appearance

As for the design, here the choice is largely determined by the style of the room:

• As a rule, sinks with curbstones are produced in standard shades for bathrooms - white, beige, light green, and turquoise. However, most owners prefer to pick up products to the walls "tone to tone."
• In fact, this approach is not the only acceptable one. It is quite possible to purchase a kit that will contrast with the furnishings, for example, buy a completely black sink for perfectly white walls.

• Another popular solution is the use of mosaics. If you have a compact sink that is built into a sufficiently wide 120 cm tabletop, then free spaces can be revetted with small tiles or Samlta (opaque colored glass).
• Finally, the recent trend has been the use of non-traditional materials for the manufacture of bowls. In addition to the usual porcelain, earthenware and glass, in the interiors there are sinks made of stone, metal (copper, bronze, cast iron) and even wood. Of course, the price of such products in a big way differs from standard models - but we are talking about creating an exclusive interior!

Self-installation technology

In most cases, the cabinets are sold as a set of parts, along with which the instruction goes. The process of assembling and installing special difficulties should not cause, but still some tips will not be superfluous.

Installation of the structure with your own hands is as follows:

• We unpack all the elements and assemble the frame, twisting the furniture screws into the previously made holes.
• Install the hinges and hang the doors.
• If necessary, we cut holes in the side walls for supplying pipes.

• Fasten on the guide fasteners for the bowl. Set the bowl on top, carefully align and fix.
• Move the design to the wall, aligning the body on the legs of the level. Mark the points on the wall for fixing the shell.
• Pull back the cabinet and make slots in the wall for attaching anchors. We insert plastic or metal sleeves into the drilled holes.

Note! If the wall in the bathroom is lined with tiles, then it must be treated with an appropriate drill.

• We return the cabinet into place, fix the sink with anchors. If necessary, we also fix the legs on the floor.
• The base can be fixed with brackets, and can be installed on moisture resistant sealant.

Further we need only to connect all communications and to carry out trial discharge of water.

Conclusion

55 cm washbasin (as well as other sizes) is a versatile piece of bathroom furniture. If during the selection you follow our advice, then the installation process will not cause you any trouble, and the construction itself will last more than a dozen years.

For more information on this topic, we recommend watching the video in this article, which contains a large amount of additional information.