Nothing is more satisfying that “doing-it-yourself.” After all, if you do it yourself, you save a bundle by not calling a professional. The sense of empowerment that comes with finishing the task and seeing it work is priceless.
Encountering pitfalls during the work is all part of the process, and while it does make the sense of accomplishment sweeter, the frustration can be enough to make you want to tear your hair out.
Such was the case of my hallway bathroom. I had put off replacing the old sink as long as I could – the thing was rusty, falling apart and the pipes were far beyond their better days. The following story is true, and I admit to it.
The tools I used:
Measuring tape Screwdrivers Hacksaw and blades Adjustable wrenches New sink New faucet New supply tubes New supply valves New drain pipes New connector hose WD-40 Pry bar Silicone caulk Plumber’s Teflon tape Paint scraper Cleaning supplies A drainpipe connector fitting Several trips to the DIY store
Step One:
I began by measuring my sink. It was 15″ in diameter, and a nice round shape. I didn’t measure the depth, since the cabinet was huge.
At my local DIY store, Home Depot, I was fortunate to find two 15″ round sinks on sale for $15 each. (Since I would be replacing the master bathroom sink soon, I bought them both.) I found a faucet that looked nice for $5- also on sale.
Step Two:
I headed home with my prizes, and crawled under the existing sink. Armed with a screwdriver, I attempted to remove the holding clips from the bottom of the old sink. They were rusted shut. I liberally applied WD-40 to each screw.
While the WD-40 did its job, I proceeded to work on something else. I shut off the supply valves, and then applied the adjustable wrench to remove the supply lines. The first valve disintegrated, giving me a shower from the water pipe.
After shutting the main water valve off outside, I dried the area (and myself), and looked at the other valve. The supply lines were solid copper pipes- but one looked as though it had been bent at some point. I scraped off a coating of water mineral buildup, and water squirted out of the pipe’s side.
Back to the DIY store.
Step Three:
I purchased two supply valves with compression fittings, because I didn’t know if the originals were screw-on. The crud on the pipes was too heavy. My house had been a rental property for almost two decades, and was in poor shape.
The new supply lines were flexible metal lines. They were longer than I needed because I forgot to measure the original lines before I left.
Since the WD-40 had been working for over an hour, I tried the screwdriver again. I managed to remove most of the screws and clips. Two screws were holdouts- so I gave them another shot of WD-40 and went to lunch.
After lunch, a hacksaw blade, a screwdriver and a pry bar later, the sink was free. The drain pipe was no problem at all to loosen.
I set it aside.
Step Four:
I removed the second supply valve without any incident, and was surprised it ever worked. I guess the mineral buildup kept it from leaking.
I cleaned the pipes of the mineral buildup, and slipped the nuts and compression fittings over them. The supply faucet threads were wrapped in Teflon tape, slipped over the ends of the pipes, and tightened onto the fittings.
The outlet threads were wrapped, and the supply lines were tightened without any problem. I began to think this was going to be easy. I was wrong.
Step Five:
After cleaning the counter of old plumber’s putty, I went to my new sink. I took the sink and faucets out of their packages- pretty. I picked up my caulk gun to coat the underside of the faucet, squeezed the handle and nothing. Empty. A trip to the garage for another tube helped me recall giving the last two tubes to a friend.
Back to the DIY store.
Now armed with plenty of silicone caulk into the new Millennium, (I buy bulk on sale), I promptly coated the underside of the faucet, attached it to the sink with the plastic nuts provided, and wrapped the inlet threads with plumber’s tape.
I coated the rim of the sink with silicone caulk, carefully placed in on the counter, and lowered it into place- perfect. I connected the clips and screws, and connected the supply lines.
Step Six:
I went to connect the drain line, and found no drainpipe was included in my sink’s box. Well, what did I expect for a mere $15?
The old sink was still sitting on the floor. I attempted to remove it, and it crumbled in my hands. My hard water dissolved the aluminum pipe.
Back to the DIY store.
I was smart this time. I disconnected all the pipes and brought them with me so I could match new ones- no more store trips today.
At home, I put the new PVC pipes together- hard water won’t dissolve them. The lengths are adjustable with a hacksaw, and they have compression fittings not requiring any threading. Perfect. (And they’re cheaper than metal pipes.)
I went to screw the compression fitting for the PVC drain into the iron house drainpipe, and nearly screamed curses as I watched the old, iron threads crumble into oblivion.
Back-to-the-DIY-store.
The employees in the plumbing department didn’t laugh when they saw the look on my face. They felt sorry for me. I explained the problem, and the kind, gentle genius of a salesman said I needed a rubber fitting that would slip over the PVC pipe and the iron pipe, tightening with hose clamps. Apparently, this was a common problem. I nearly hugged him. It only cost $4.98.
At home, I removed the PVC pipe, slipped one end of the connector onto the iron pipe, inserted the PVC pipe into the iron pipe and moved the rubber connector onto the PVC pipe. Each end closed with a hose clamp using a screwdriver.
I checked the lines and connections again, and turned the water on. Everything worked like a charm.
I cleaned up, and took myself out to a movie to celebrate.
To Avoid My Pitfalls, or To Be Successful At Your Project The First Time You Do It:
1. Get a good look at everything- the sink, screws, clips, pipes, supply valves, lines, everything. 2. Make a list of everything you need before you go to the DIY store. 3. If it looks “iffy,” replace it the first time. 4. Make sure you have all the supplies you need before you go to the DIY store. Inventory of your existing supplies will help immensely. 5. Dismantle everything you need for the job first. That way, you know what you need to replace before you shop. 6. If you think you’re in over your head, call for help. You may know a friend who knows plumbing, or call a plumber. 7. Have a supply of snacks on hand- this can be “I-need-comfort-food” work. 8. Make sure no one’s filming you for Utube.
I never added up all the gas mileage or gallons I used that day. I’ve remembered the lessons well, though.
If a home improvement project is getting to you, stop. Look at it from a humorous point of view and laugh. It’ll help relieve the stress. When the job’s finished, reward yourself lavishly. You deserve something for all that frustration.
Source: The author of this article has over 40 years of experience in diverse forms of DIY, home improvement and repair, crafting, designing, and building furniture, outdoor projects and more.