Apart from replacing a cracked basin, which you should do immediately, the most common time to install a new basin is when you’re improving a bathroom or decorating a separate WC. The chances are that the basin you’ll be removing will be one of the older ceramic types, wall-hung, a pedestal model or built into a vanity unit.
The main advantage of a wall-hung basin is that it doesn’t take up any floor space and because of this it is very useful in a small bathroom, WC or cloakroom.
You can also set the basin at a comfortable height, unlike a pedestal basin whose height is fixed by the height of the pedestal.
However, it’s usual to fit a wall-hung basin with the rim 800mm (32in) above the floor. Vanity units are now increasing in popularity. In fact they’re the descendents of the Edwardian wash-stand, with its marble top, bowl and large water jug. The unit is simply a storage cupboard with a ceramic, enamelled pressed steel or plastic basin set flush in the top. The advantage of vanity units is that you have a counter surface round the basin on which to stand toiletries.
There is rarely, if ever, sufficient room for these items behind or above conventional wall-hung or pedestal basins. Usually the top has some form of plastic covering or can be tiled for easy cleaning.
Fittings for basins
It’s a good idea to choose the taps and waste fittings at the same time you select the basin, so everything matches. You could perhaps re-use the taps from the old basin, but it’s doubtful if these will be in keeping with the design of the new appliance. As an alternative to shrouded head or pillar taps, you could fit a mixer, provided the holes at the back of the basin are suitably spaced to take the tap tails.
Ceramic basins normally have a built-in overflow channel which in most appliances connects into the main outlet above the trap. So if you accidentally let the basin overfill you reduce the risk of water spillage.