More Bathroom Updates Cabinets & Plumbing

What about that toilet I pulled out. Is there anything I can do with it?

Turn off the water at the back. Put an old towel below it to catch any water that might drip out. Then flush it a couple of time to get the excess water out of the tank. Now take a big sponge and soak up any water still left in the bowel and the tank on the back after lifting off the top. If you are good with tools, unscrew the hose that connects to the bottom of the tank with your hand. Then pop the caps off the lower bowl stand of the toilet to expose the two bolts. Now unscrew the nuts and take off the washers. You are now ready to lift the toilet off the flange and old wax ring and the floor. Get some help to do this.

As always check your local Building permit Office to make Sure You Can

Have a tarp down to sit it on or take it outside because it is messy on the bottom of the toilet from the wax ring. Wear rubber gloves and eye protection. Cleaned up they make a nice planter as above.

Get a New One

New Toilets are not that much to purchase and are low flow now to conserve water. You can get one that fits almost every bathroom design today. Just put it back in reverse of how you took it out. When you tighten down the bolts make sure you don't over tighten them because it doesn't take much to break the toilet at the bottom. It is china or porcelain. You will also need to install a new wax ring on the horn under the toilet BEFORE you put it back on the bolts. Then put some sealing tape on the male connector coming out of the tank bottom and screw the hose back on. This is a good time to use a new hose also. Once that is together, new wax ring screwed down, hose on, water on, tested for leaks, you now have a new clean look.

My Faucet is in My Counter

If it is in the counter top then you will have to unscrew the nuts under the counter top that are around the faucets to get them out. Putting in the new ones are in reverse and follow the makers instructions. The drain sometime will need to be moved one way or another but there are parts packages at the warehouse store for that also.

New Lighting Design

New lights are inexpensive and easy to install. They can add not only a new look but also a new feel to a dark or to light bathroom area. There are fixtures that are good for putting on makeup that give you the perfect lighting and ones that can be put up in pairs to add more light. You can add a backup plate of wood or stone to match your tile or stone countertop. They come in colors and textures that will fit your ideas!

New Hardware

An inexpensive way to add a new feel to an old looking bath are new towel bars, toilet paper holder and other bathroom design accessories. Maybe some new towel rings or towel warmers. Door knobs that are levers or soap holders, tooth brush holds and the like. New Flooring is a good choice! there are so many types out there today. Tiles, natural stones, linoleum, wood, even bamboo.

If the cabinets look old

Take off the knobs and sand the cabinets down lightly after cleaning them with a wood cleaner or degreaser. Then use some good primer and paint them with a semi gloss latex paint. Change the knobs and there you have it, a whole new look. They don't have to be white. there are so many colors to choose from try something different you might like it. You can take a piece of whatever you want to match to any good paint store and they will match the paint color to your sample!

If you need new faucets

New faucets are basically easy to install. Buy one you will like the looks of and maybe a new sink also if you have one that sits on top of the counter they are very easy to change. Always turn off the water under the sink first. Just take the utility knife and cut the silicon around the edge of the sink rim on top of the counter. Try not to scratch the surface of your counter with the knife. Once it is loose unscrew the hoses under the sink at the shut offs only, disconnect the drain and it should come out if your faucet is in the sink and not in the counter top.

Build Your Own Cabinet or re-design something and make it fit!

If you are good with woodwork, you might try to build a cabinet yourself that would fit the space you need. Or buy an old dresser and put a sink on top of it.

Here is a good example to look at. It was an antique French style dresser that needed a hole for the drain in the middle and the drawers cut around it to fit. It was re-stained and a tile top was installed with very little trouble.

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