Considerations for Bathroom Vanity Tops

Changing your bathroom vanity tops can seem like a simple project, but like all home improvement projects will require some planning and preparation. Assuming you've already measured your existing cabinet and countertop, there are some key areas to focus on and questions. First, is your countertop and cabinet considered a standard or custom variation? Will your cabinet accommodate the countertop and sink that you want? Finally, why are there so many materials on the market and what's the real difference between them?

As we walk down the aisles of our neighborhood home improvement center, it becomes quickly apparent that there are lots and lots of choices. It is not clearly spelled out anywhere, but cabinets come in several sizes that are considered to be standard:

24 inches wide x 21 inches deep
30 inches wide x 21 inches deep
36 inches wide x 21 inches deep
48 inches wide x 21 inches deep
18 inches wide x 19 inches deep
24 inches wide x 19 inches deep
and sometimes 60 inches wide x 21 inches deep

If your cabinet is not rectangular in shape and not one of the above sizes, you will most likely need to order custom bathroom vanity tops for your project. Many homeowners will purchase a European sized cabinet online and only discover that the countertops will need to be custom produced. The good news is that once you decide to order a custom top, you will have more options with respect to color, finish, edges, back splash, faucet hole drillings, sink location, and much more.

Regardless of whether you are ordering standard or custom bathroom vanity tops, the next important consideration is to confirm that your cabinet will fit properly with the countertop and sink you select. If you do not want to remove your old countertop first, at a minimum you should look underneath the sink to determine clearance. Measure carefully to make sure that you don't buy a sink that is too large for the opening. Make sure you account for the edge of an under mount sink and not just look at the sink from the top. Additionally, make sure that your sink is going to allow room for the faucet water supply lines to run down the cabinet. Many homeowners start by falling in love with a sink design and trying to force the sink to work with their existing cabinet. This is a common mistake that can easily be avoided.

Finally, it's time to select the material for your bathroom vanity tops. There are numerous choices and they can be ranked by cost in the following manner:

Low to medium priced materials: Solid Surface or Cultured Marble
Medium price materials: Granite
Medium to high-priced material: Granite or Quartz
Luxury priced materials: Wood block, glass countertops, and concrete countertops

It is recommended that you first start by selecting your budget range. Then proceed to select the material. Finally, you can look at the color options within that material and determine what may work best from a design perspective. This route will keep you from falling in love with the most expensive materials you may not want to purchase.

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