Re-cover or replace bathroom vanity veneer?

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#3385175 18-Jun-2025 09:26

timmmay: This is what the plumbing looks like under the sink.

A stop valve, maybe even a filtered stop valve would probably have cost less than the parts and labour making those right angle fittings.

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#3385176 18-Jun-2025 09:29

Bung:

timmmay: This is what the plumbing looks like under the sink.

A stop valve, maybe even a filtered stop valve would probably have cost less than the parts and labour making those right angle fittings.

I didn't specify things to that level of detail when we had the work done, we left it to the bathroom firm. A stop valve or tap would be a requirement now.

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#3385177 18-Jun-2025 09:30

We've realised that if we try to remove the vanity top to measure things we may have to remove tiles that are sitting right on the vanity, and mirrors that are sitting right on the tiles. I think we'll have to leave this to a bathroom renovation firm. We have Refresh Renovations meant to be calling at some point, plus I emailed another place I haven't heard back from yet. Suggestions for recommended firms in Wellington, particularly northern Wellington, would be appreciated.

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#3385180 18-Jun-2025 09:56

Handsomedan:

Have you thought about contacting a kitchen "facelifter"?
The ones that specialise in renewing old kitchens with a minimum of replacement.

We had our kitchen facelifted a number of years ago and there were certain areas they simply "ironed on" new laminate. It was...interesting to see.

This may no longer be a thing, but could be worth exploring.

We used MF Turnbull in Christchurch. for our kitchen facelift. They took away all the panels and painted them.

Apologies if I have missed anything as I have not read the whole thread .

https://www.kitchenrenewal.co.nz/

elpenguino

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#3385272 18-Jun-2025 12:55

Refresh renovations are renovation managers - you will be paying them in addition to any tradies. The benefit is you'll only have one phone number to call.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

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#3385276 18-Jun-2025 13:20

elpenguino:

Refresh renovations are renovation managers - you will be paying them in addition to any tradies. The benefit is you'll only have one phone number to call.

Interesting, thanks. Not sure we need project managers for a small job. What kind of business would I call who could do the job themselves rather than farming it out?

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#3385280 18-Jun-2025 13:37

timmmay:

Interesting, thanks. Not sure we need project managers for a small job. What kind of business would I call who could do the job themselves rather than farming it out?

Good question. A plumber can remove the vanity and cap the pipes, then you could take the vanity to a joinery shop. That's what I would do anyway.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

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#3385293 18-Jun-2025 14:24

elpenguino:

Good question. A plumber can remove the vanity and cap the pipes, then you could take the vanity to a joinery shop. That's what I would do anyway.

Thanks. It's starting to sound impractical, as the vanity would be out of action for a couple of weeks by the time it's disconnected, measured, panels made, etc.

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#3385306 18-Jun-2025 14:57

timmmay:

elpenguino:

Good question. A plumber can remove the vanity and cap the pipes, then you could take the vanity to a joinery shop. That's what I would do anyway.

Thanks. It's starting to sound impractical, as the vanity would be out of action for a couple of weeks by the time it's disconnected, measured, panels made, etc.

Well, having just survived a bathroom / loo renovation , I would use the word 'disruptive'. Depends on your appetite for coping with no vanity vs the unsightly damage.

Faced with brushing your teeth in a bucket for several weeks, maybe the vanity isn't too bad after all? 😁

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

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#3385315 18-Jun-2025 15:21

timmmay:

Handle9:

Removal and disconnection/reconnection of the plumbing is very handyman friendly, providing the installation has been done correctly. A plumber really shouldn't be required if there are angle valves installed and you are disconnecting/reconnecting like for like with the same benchtop. It's disconnecting two hoses and pushing a waste into place per basin.

It's really basic skills a homeowner should know how to do as it's useful in case of leaks and emergencies.

I've replaced taps in the past, it's fiddly but not that difficult. In our kitchen I had small taps added by the plumber a while back, but haven't gotten to it in the bathroom yet.

This is what the plumbing looks like under the sink. I'd probably just have to turn the water main off then unscrew the fittings, with a bucket / towel underneath.

Seriously? Looks like the plumber turned up and realised they didn't have any angle valves in the van so bodged something up.

This is what should be there, if you do end up doing some work get the plumber to install them.

Progetto Deluxe Angle Valve 15mm

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#3385322 18-Jun-2025 15:34

I just this problem on a vanity under warranty and the manufacturer made some new panels up for me. However I had to provide the sizing because they didn’t make the size any more and didn’t have a record of the size. But it ended up being good service from them

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#3385328 18-Jun-2025 15:53

Handle9:

Seriously? Looks like the plumber turned up and realised they didn't have any angle valves in the van so bodged something up.

This is what should be there, if you do end up doing some work get the plumber to install them.

Yeah. The bathroom firm was pretty good but not perfect. This was also almost 15 years ago.

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#3385329 18-Jun-2025 15:57

mattwnz:

I just this problem on a vanity under warranty and the manufacturer made some new panels up for me. However I had to provide the sizing because they didn’t make the size any more and didn’t have a record of the size. But it ended up being good service from them

Fingers crossed, we have the request in to them. I've also asked if they still have sizes. Which manufacturer was it in your case? Panel sizing is the only difficult bit, if we can get new panels without ripping the thing to pieces it's fairly easy - just take the basins off, put in the new panels, put the basins back on, and silicone. The only concern is that the tiles sit right on top of the basins off with these in the way without doing damage.

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#3385334 18-Jun-2025 16:10

"didn’t have a record of the size." to me is code for mattwnz's supplier originally had someone else making the cabinets.

If that is a bead of silicone between top and tile I see no reason that the tiles would get damaged removing the top. How about a picfure showing the subject damage on cabinet areas other than drawers that are removable anyway?

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#3385341 18-Jun-2025 16:56

timmmay:

mattwnz:

I just this problem on a vanity under warranty and the manufacturer made some new panels up for me. However I had to provide the sizing because they didn’t make the size any more and didn’t have a record of the size. But it ended up being good service from them

Fingers crossed, we have the request in to them. I've also asked if they still have sizes. Which manufacturer was it in your case? Panel sizing is the only difficult bit, if we can get new panels without ripping the thing to pieces it's fairly easy - just take the basins off, put in the new panels, put the basins back on, and silicone. The only concern is that the tiles sit right on top of the basins off with these in the way without doing damage.

The real question is whether they can still get the veneer. After 15 years may not have access to it anymore.

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