How to Install a Porcelain Vessel Sink

Vessel sinks are stylish alternatives to regular sinks.

A porcelain vessel sink is a popular choice for contemporary bathrooms, partly because its simple, attractive design offers a distinctive alternative to a regular basin sink. Installing a vessel sink is a challenging task, but still one a do-it-yourself plumber can accomplish.

Things You'll Need

• Vessel sink
• Vanity and/or countertop
• Drill with hole saw
• Sink mounting hardware, including metal ring, rubber o-rings, rubber gaskets, and mounting nut
• Wrench
• Pop-up drain assembly
• Drain tailpiece pipe and slip nut
• Drum trap
• Drain arm pipe and slip nut

Instructions

1. If the countertop is not pre-drilled for a vessel sink, use the drill with a hole saw to create a cutout for the sink to drain through. Follow the manufacturer's instructions that came with the sink regarding hole location and size, using a template if one is included.

2. Place the metal mounting ring between two o-rings, and center them over the drain cutout.

3. Place the vessel sink on top of the o-rings, centering it over the cutout.

4. Place the small rubber gasket over the drain hole on the inside of the vessel sink. Push the pop-up drain assembly through the gasket and down into the drain hole.

5. On the underside of the countertop, push the large rubber gasket onto the threads of the pop-up drain assembly. Thread the mounting nut onto the drain assembly, carefully seating it to avoid cross-threading. Hand tighten the nut, then use the wrench to tighten it an additional half turn.

6. Hold the drain tailpiece pipe in place against the pop-up assembly, and connect the tailpiece by tightening its slip nut onto the assembly threads.

7. Loosen the ring around the hole on the top of the drum trap, then slide the open end of the drain tailpiece into the hole. Hand tighten the ring.

8. Loosen the ring around the hole on the side of the drum trap, and slide the drain arm into that hole. Hand tighten the ring.

9. Connect the drain arm to the drain pipe in the wall, using the wrench to tighten the drain arm's slip nut to the drain pipe.

Tips & Warnings

• Vessel sink designs vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Read any directions that came with your sink before you begin work, and follow them carefully in order to ensure a proper installation.

• Do not over-tighten the vessel sink's mounting nut, or you may crack the porcelain.

References

• "Complete Guide to Plumbing;" by Editors of Creative Publishing; 2008.