Quick answer: Bathroom vanities usually fail when cheap board swells from water. Choose moisture-resistant materials, sealed edges and a basin that suits Australian fittings, and have the waste and water connections properly sealed.
When people renovate a bathroom, the vanity is often where they try to save money. As the plumber who installs them, and sometimes comes back to fix them, here’s what I’ve noticed.
What tends to fail
- Cheap board that swells as soon as it gets wet around the basin or waste
- Poor edge sealing that lets water in
- Thin or brittle basins that crack
- Tap holes and waste outlets that don’t suit standard Australian fittings
What to look for
- Moisture-resistant board, or solid timber or polyurethane finishes
- Proper edge sealing on all cut faces
- A basin that suits standard Australian tapware and wastes
- A local supplier who’ll still be around if there’s a warranty problem
Australian-made or imported?
Local manufacturers often build to Australian bathroom sizes and fittings, and are easier to deal with on warranty. There are good imported vanities too, but quality varies a lot, so buy from a supplier who stands behind them. Whatever you choose, have it installed with the waste and water connections properly sealed. Most swelled vanities I see failed because of a slow leak underneath.
Renovating a bathroom around Ryde, Epping, Gladesville or Hunters Hill? Call me on 0451 001 503.
Quick questions
Water gets into unsealed board, often from a slow leak at the waste or tap connections.
They are often built for Australian sizes and fittings and are easier to deal with on warranty, but quality varies with every brand.
