What is there to learn about bathroom vanities?
Relatively little I suppose, but here are some interesting points to know about vanities.
- Bathroom vanities should always be moisture resistant. Most imported vanities but not all, (although cheaper), are not moisture resistant. You will obviously have seen the effect that water has on those vanity cabinets. ——————————————————————————————
- Should you have a stone bench-top or another product? If you prefer another type of bench-top than stone, then that is what you should have, but if we are considering economy or product durability, then stone is a good option. Stone is durable (as is laminate.) and only marginally more expensive, (sometimes even less). Timber is beautiful but does not perform well in wet areas over the years. Darker Granite is the Rolls Royce of bench-tops but can be quite expensive. There are also poly tops which are also a good alternative (and cheap) but sometimes a bit, ‘old hat’, for today’s market. ———————————————————————————
- Should the doors be made of Melamine, Vinyl wrap or 2 pac? Melamine is nowadays a very good product as the edging around the doors is 1 mm think and does not come off or chip, and is very economically priced. Vinyl, while it should never never never be used in kitchens, as it is a heat shrink process which goes on with heat and so, using the same logic, comes off with heat. However as vanity cabinets sit low down and do not come into contact with heat, then vinyl is also acceptable. 2 pac is ‘car paint’ and does not discolor after time like other products may do, and this makes it the better product. However I would not loose much sleep using any of these products. ——————————————————————
- Should vanity basins sit on top, in the top, or under the top or protrude from the face? The answer to this question is mainly found in whatever you prefer, but just remember; when the vanity sits on top, then the bench-top is slightly lower. For adults or larger children, I would say that is perfect, but for small children it may well be wanting. Having the vanity basin under the bench-top can be pretty, but then we have another ridge under the bench-top which is hard to see and hence to hard to clean. Protruding basins can look pretty but the cabinet under is by necessity thin and has little storage. ————————————————————————–
- What basin should I use? All basins seem to last forever and so I think that the style of the basin should be paramount in your decision. Is one product better than another? Probably so, but you and I are certainly not going to live long enough to find out. ————————————————————
- Where should I place my tap? Consideration should be with cleaning. If the tap sits on the bench behind the basin then it is harder to clean and grit may build up between the tap and the basin. Having the tap in the bench-top can make it hard to place. If you have a larger basin then the tap may have to be positioned to the side to fit. However placing the tap to the side makes the cleaning easier when the tap in in the bench. ————
- Why buy Australian made? What’s the difference? The difference is usually (but not always) that, 1. Aussie cabinets are always moisture resistant have an inner and outer side gables. 2. Aussie cabinets have 16 mm solid backs. 3. Our soft close drawers are the same as used in kitchens with white metal sides instead of whiteboard. ———————————-
- How to save money? You can go to the cheaper soft -close runner as found in imported vanities. These will save you per drawer which can add up. We can do both types. Both runners are very reliable so it is mainly the convenience of soft close and the price which should be considered. ———————————————————————————
- Wall hung or Sit-on-floor type Sit on floor vanities give more storage space plus an extra drawer in the drawer bank but are perhaps a little harder to clean. If in commercial applications when massive amounts of water are slopped around the floor every day then the Wall hung definitely have advantage. Most people will choose what they visually prefer and that seems to be the greatest consideration.