Asked on Sep 05, 2015

Making a bathroom vanity taller

Lilli H
by Lilli H
Our vanity is short. Is there a way to make it taller by adding to the original vanity's height and possibly reuse the counter/sinks? Can the plumbing be lengthened to accommodate the extra height? I would love to raise the vanity about 4 inches. The pic is what it looks like now.
I would love to add height from just beneath the counter if possible so as not to mess with the role floor.
  13 answers
  • JannG JannG on Sep 05, 2015
    You'd need to temporarily remove everything but I would install a new underframe (toe kick) with the additional height you need. Then replace the cabinets and countertop on top of the new frame,. A little paint to match the cabinets, probably new moulding and you be good to go. The plumbing is easy. I'd replace the old drain pipe and p-trap with a new PVC extended pipe and new PVC p-trap which will fit on the old drain pipe into the wall. Its a little more difficult if its an older custom built cabinet (just a face on a frame). In that case you'd need to carefully remove the face and build a new box frame on the toe kick to attach the face. BUT if they're box cabinets, just put them back the way they came out.
  • Dee Dee on Sep 06, 2015
    I agree with Jann, however, I would put drawers in instead of a toe kick, or even a shelf. You can buy or make a draw. this way you would get a bit of extra storage too.The hardest part is going to get the plumbing in correctly as stated above, also be careful with the cultured marble top or you could be replacing that as well.
  • Z Z on Sep 06, 2015
    If this were our bathroom, I would remove the vanity top and add onto the top. Less destruction and reconstruction that way. You would having the plumbing work still. If you replaced the front of the top drawer and the panels in front of each sink with taller ones then repainted everything, no one would know that you altered your vanity.
    • See 3 previous
    • Z Z on Sep 08, 2015
      I wouldn't want to either Lilli. If you share pictures after the vanity top is removed, I'd be happy to give you any possibilities I see to help make the job easier. Also, my hubby who installed all the plumbing, including six sinks in our current home and one in our last home, said you should only have to replace the pipe from the drain to the top of the trap.
  • Clök Concept Clök Concept on Sep 06, 2015
    I would lift up everything by adding nice legs like those : http://www.homedepot.ca/product/hardwood-early-american-leg-1-3-8-in-x-1-3-8-in-x-8-in/904309 If it is too high, there are different sizes. This would even allow you to add baskets under your vanity.
  • Tara Tara on Sep 06, 2015
    The easiest would be add 2x4 frame at the bottom.
  • Alton Alton on Sep 06, 2015
    You can add to the top but will be hard to match the paint . Cover the joint with small window mull or make with 1/4 lip hangover to break up paint line .
  • Tom Tom on Sep 06, 2015
    Tara is correct, but if you are willing to raise it 6 inches you may be able to add a drawer and only need to detatch the vanity top.you will also need to adjust your drains as well as water supply lines to the faucets.( they may still reach, easy to figue out)
  • Barbara Aragon Barbara Aragon on Sep 06, 2015
    I did exactly what JannG explained. I made a base frame out of 2 x 4s , and re-set the existing cabinet and countertop on top of the frame. Then I just put a new "face frame" over the bottom and stained that to match the cabinetry. (I first took off the countertop, then removed the cabinetry, refinished the cabinets, and put in new flooring. I had to make the hole in the back of the cabinetry longer so that the plumbing would still fit. I just used an extension on the plastic tubes in the drain trap to match up with the hole in the wall Before putting the countertop back on, I replaced the faucets...much easier to access when the top is off.)
    • Larry Chura Larry Chura on Sep 06, 2015
      @Barbara Aragon Barb, your answer is right on. The "toe kick" area is the place to bring the vanity up. I personally would place a 1x on both sides of the front toe kick and a 1x on the inside of the other sides. This would let me use a nice finished grade of wood that would use less preparation for painting. Always remember to clamp and glue with finish nails.
  • Le'a Gerhardt Le'a Gerhardt on Sep 06, 2015
    I have same problem with short counters in baths. Did you have to add extensions to ALL the other equipment? Pipes, water lines, drains, etc?
  • Janice Maharrey Janice Maharrey on Sep 06, 2015
    I re-tiled and added a vessel sink!
    • Z Z on Sep 07, 2015
      @Janice, that's a brilliant idea with absolutely the least amount of work!
  • Sharon Bourque Betsill Sharon Bourque Betsill on Sep 07, 2015
    I actually had somewhat of a base board BUT I added bunt feet it looks really nice
  • Salvatore Salvatore on Sep 08, 2015
    Jann G has the best solution, and have seen some builders do it that way. They also run led rope lighting under the cabinet kick space hich adds a nice touch.
  • Connie Connie on Mar 18, 2017

    What to do about the back splash around the vanity top and the mirror?