Replacing a bathroom vanity? Check support, footprint and plumbing fit

Choose the mounting method with the wall in mind

A floor-standing vanity and a wall-hung cabinet need different support planning. Legs do not automatically remove the need for wall anchoring. IKEA explicitly requires its HAVBÄCK cabinet to be attached to the wall even when optional legs are used.

Kohler's Vanity with Optional Legs instructions, document 1384739-2-B, require suitable framing or backing for the wall-hung arrangement. Have the installer assess the chosen model against the actual wall and floor. Establish whether support work and finish restoration are needed before purchase; do not open the wall or choose anchors from a generic cabinet example.

Compare what the old cabinet covers

Record cabinet and countertop dimensions separately, including overhangs and backsplash. A smaller base or floating cabinet can expose unfinished areas. If flooring beneath the old cabinet is unknown, plan for inspection and possible finishing.

Photograph the baseboard, side walls and backsplash edges. Ask who will repair exposed paint lines, tile gaps or missing trim. Show the room with the bathroom and shower doors open, and check the proposed vanity's doors and drawers against those paths. Include the desired finished counter height and any mirror or windowsill above it.

Check the pipes against the drawer layout

Send an accessible interior photo showing the basin, drain and supply valves. State whether connections enter through the wall or floor. Compare their positions with the new cabinet's interior drawing, including shelves and full drawer travel; an outside width does not establish that fit.

IKEA describes HAVBÄCK's drawer space around piping routed behind the drawers. That designed arrangement does not mean existing plumbing will fit unchanged. Ask whether the selected cabinet works with your connections or needs plumbing relocation. Do not assume cutting a drawer or cabinet rail is acceptable: Kohler's cited vanity instructions prohibit modifications because they compromise stability.

Approve the complete purchase

Kohler distinguishes preconfigured vanity sets from cabinets whose top, sink and other elements are selected separately. Check the actual order contents, including handles, legs, mounting components, backsplash and drain. A product image may show separately purchased items.

Have the supplier confirm the exact cabinet, top and basin combination, then check the faucet and drain against that basin. If retaining the old top, ask whether its dimensions, support and removal condition make reuse realistic. Resolve that before ordering a cabinet that depends on it.

Put the responsibilities in the request

Send Coast & Craft your city, photos and candidate product links for scope review. Ask for these items to be assigned before a visit is agreed:

• Old vanity removal, disposal and delivery access for the replacement.
• Cabinet assembly, mounting assessment and any wall or floor repairs.
• Qualified plumbing work, connection checks and any electrical changes.
• Top and basin fitting, finish work and agreed sink downtime.