Thread: Tile before or after installing vanity

Originally Posted by dman

I'm renovating an ensuite and adding a wall-hung vanity. My tiler reckons I should fasten the vanity to the wall (villaboard) before he comes. My plumber reckons the vanity should be installed after the tiling - ie on top of the tiled wall.
I would have though the tiler would come in first and waterproof the area and tile before installing the vanity.
Does anyone know what the usual practise for this is?

Its your choice, it can be done both ways. You will save on some tiles if you hang the vanity first.

listen to your tiler (which by the way is a total contradiction to what i would normally suggest)

Originally Posted by dman

I would have though the tiler would come in first and waterproof the area

Sorry to burst your bubble, but tilers dont water proof, they tile.

Al

I tiled the floor and walls first on the assumption that if I ever got a new vanity then I wouldn't need to retile the whole lot again. Also, I liked the knowledge that the tiles were complete and not just a decorative trim added on afterwards.

ps. They also supply a degree of waterproofing. This is however irrelevant if you don't use waterproofed materials in your vanity as the smallest amount of water on a non-waterproofed chipboard vanity will make it swell up and disolve.

Either way... it does not really matter. Unless you have a pedestal basin or a vanity on legs rather than a plinth, in which case it's better to tile first so any exposed areas look neat. I'd do what your tiler wants to do.
Cheers
Michael

If you are attaching to a wall go to the trouble and expence of getting quality stainless bolst, nuts, screws or whatever you are going to use.
In 9 / 10 years when the thing needs replacing and you need to remove it to replace, you will bless the day you used stainless bolts .


Rgds

Originally Posted by ozwinner

Sorry to burst your bubble, but tilers dont water proof, they tile.

Al

Better tell my tiler that, he obviously doesn't know

Hang the vanity first and then tile. The tiles will cover any gaps between the vanity and the wall.

Sounds like your tiler is the same tiler I used ! My tiler also did the waterproofing.

I too had a wall hung vanity and the tiler wanted to 'tile up to' the vanity. He thinks it gives a much neater finish. This is advantageous if the wall is not very flat - the tiles can disguise the uneven-ness by covering any gaps. He also thought it might just give the wall hung vanity a little bit extra support.

It would be a real pain in the rear to attach a wall hung vanity to the wall, THROUGH the tiles.

It all depends on the style of the wall hung vanity. I would locate the fixing points first and hang the vanity (to make sure it is all good), then remove the vanity and tile the complete wall. Refit vanity back to wall and replace it 10 years later!

Having had to replace a tiled-in vanity because the cupboard virtually fell to bits, I found it harder to remove as it was jammed in a corner, the slightly smaller replacement then had to be re-tiled in with tiles that were no longer available. Then it looked awful, a real patch-up job.

Much easier for future maintenance/replacement to tile behind the vanity.

Hi Dman. We have just completed a makeover on our bathroom and we too hung our vanity on the wall - after we tiled the whole room though. We made sure to waterproof the whole room, just to be on the safe side. We did have a hard time boring through the vanity, the tiles, the villaboard and the hardwood studs - but we got there in the end! I've attached a before and after pic if this helps. Cheers.

I think its great that people are finally realising that in a bathroom it is more functional and pleasing to have a fully tiled floor and have the vanity slung on the wall

Originally Posted by arms

I think its great that people are finally realising that in a bathroom it is more functional and pleasing to have a fully tiled floor and have the vanity slung on the wall

Ditto.

Most builders will put the vanity in first, then tile, but this is mainly for their convenience. There is no right or wrong, but consider this. Whilst you might find it easier 10 years down the track to replace the vanity if you tile first, the majority of people I know decide to retile when they renovate. So it may not make much difference. This is not taking into account having to replace because your vanity blows out through poor construction or installation. FWIW I'm selling a lot more wall-hung units now, so the tiling is often completed first.

All the tilers I know also waterproof.

Cheers,