Bathroom Vanity Installation in Calgary: What It Involves, Who Does It, and What It Costs

What the vanity swap process involves

A standard bathroom vanity replacement follows this sequence:

1. Shut off the stop valves under the existing sink — test that they close completely before beginning. Calgary homes with older compression-type stop valves sometimes have valves that will not fully close; if so, shut off the home's main water supply.
2. Disconnect supply lines from the stop valves — these are the flexible braided lines running from the wall valve to the faucet.
3. Disconnect the P-trap — the curved pipe below the drain that connects the sink drain to the wall drain (the trap arm). This may be chrome pipe, ABS plastic, or PVC depending on the home's era.
4. Cut caulk at the wall joint — the old vanity is typically caulked to the wall on both sides and the back. Score the caulk bead with a utility knife before pulling the vanity away.
5. Remove the old vanity — most vanities are screwed to the wall through the back of the cabinet. Remove the screws, pull the cabinet away from the wall, and remove the countertop if it is a separate piece.
6. Prep the wall — patch any drywall damage from the removal, check that the drain trap arm height is appropriate for the new vanity (standard is 18 to 20 inches from floor). If the drain arm is at a different height, a P-trap extension or reduction is needed.
7. Install the faucet — if the new vanity comes without a faucet, install the faucet in the countertop before the vanity goes against the wall. It is significantly easier to install a faucet before the vanity is in position.
8. Set the new vanity — position against the wall, confirm level, and secure to the wall studs through the interior cabinet back.
9. Connect supply lines — run new braided supply lines from the stop valves to the faucet inlets. Hand-tighten then snug with a wrench — do not overtighten, which cracks fittings.
10. Connect the drain — assemble and connect the P-trap between the drain tailpiece and the wall trap arm. Confirm the P-trap is not dry — the water seal in the P prevents sewer gas from entering the bathroom.
11. Restore water and test — open stop valves slowly, check all connections for drips, run water and observe the drain connections under the cabinet for 2 to 3 minutes.
12. Caulk the vanity-to-wall joint — apply a thin bead of silicone or siliconized latex caulk at the wall joint on both sides and the back to prevent water intrusion behind the cabinet.

What a handyman does vs. a licensed plumber

What to have ready before the installer arrives

• New vanity cabinet and countertop (if separate) on-site and in the bathroom
• New faucet (if not pre-installed on the countertop)
• New supply lines — braided stainless, 3/8-inch compression to 1/2-inch faucet thread, sized to reach from the stop valve to the faucet
• Know where the main water shutoff is in case the stop valves need to be isolated
• Clear the cabinet and vanity area — remove toiletries, towels, and the mirror if you are replacing it

Bathroom vanity installation pricing in Calgary