ᐅ Load-bearing vanity cabinet in the bathroom (e.g., for Keramag Icon)
Created on: 14 Aug 2015 18:03
M
makohafoDear Building Experts,
We are currently constructing a new house, and due to some planning difficulties, not everything has worked out as we initially expected in the current execution.
A specific problem is that the partial wall in our bathroom is not strong enough to support the sink (there are many pipes running behind it). Therefore, the sink must rest on the vanity cabinet below (which itself cannot be supported by the partial wall and must stand on the floor).
I am not very experienced in these matters, so I would like to ask the following:
1. Can sinks that are originally intended for wall mounting (such as the Keramag Icon with a 900mm (35 inch) tap hole) also be supported by a suitable base cabinet, or is the porcelain’s load-bearing structure not designed for this? I am referring specifically to the Icon because we have actually chosen it already and, at least in terms of design, it seems it could physically rest on a base.
2. For the Keramag Icon, there is no load-bearing vanity cabinet available (at least not from Keramag). A Google search for "load-bearing vanity cabinet Keramag Icon" mainly yields results unrelated to the issue. So I am wondering if there are any suppliers offering a suitable vanity cabinet that can actually support this sink.
3. If no such cabinet exists, we could commission a carpenter to build one. But who guarantees that it will really hold up?
4. Does this approach even work as I imagine? The sink is supposed to remain visually connected to the wall (at least a silicone sealant joint should be applied). But if the underlying load-bearing (wooden) frame sags under the weight (due to support), won’t the seal joint crack again?
One more particular detail: We cannot use wall-mounted faucets because the partial wall is not strong enough for these either. So the sink must have a tap hole.
Alternative suggestions (also regarding the basic construction) are welcome. However, the following options have already been ruled out:
- Moving the sink to another location
- Strengthening the partial wall
Changing the sink is only an option if it is at least similar in design to the Icon and ideally also made of porcelain (i.e., no acrylic or steel if possible).
Thank you very much in advance!
Best regards,
Markus
We are currently constructing a new house, and due to some planning difficulties, not everything has worked out as we initially expected in the current execution.
A specific problem is that the partial wall in our bathroom is not strong enough to support the sink (there are many pipes running behind it). Therefore, the sink must rest on the vanity cabinet below (which itself cannot be supported by the partial wall and must stand on the floor).
I am not very experienced in these matters, so I would like to ask the following:
1. Can sinks that are originally intended for wall mounting (such as the Keramag Icon with a 900mm (35 inch) tap hole) also be supported by a suitable base cabinet, or is the porcelain’s load-bearing structure not designed for this? I am referring specifically to the Icon because we have actually chosen it already and, at least in terms of design, it seems it could physically rest on a base.
2. For the Keramag Icon, there is no load-bearing vanity cabinet available (at least not from Keramag). A Google search for "load-bearing vanity cabinet Keramag Icon" mainly yields results unrelated to the issue. So I am wondering if there are any suppliers offering a suitable vanity cabinet that can actually support this sink.
3. If no such cabinet exists, we could commission a carpenter to build one. But who guarantees that it will really hold up?
4. Does this approach even work as I imagine? The sink is supposed to remain visually connected to the wall (at least a silicone sealant joint should be applied). But if the underlying load-bearing (wooden) frame sags under the weight (due to support), won’t the seal joint crack again?
One more particular detail: We cannot use wall-mounted faucets because the partial wall is not strong enough for these either. So the sink must have a tap hole.
Alternative suggestions (also regarding the basic construction) are welcome. However, the following options have already been ruled out:
- Moving the sink to another location
- Strengthening the partial wall
Changing the sink is only an option if it is at least similar in design to the Icon and ideally also made of porcelain (i.e., no acrylic or steel if possible).
Thank you very much in advance!
Best regards,
Markus
makohafo schrieb:
Dear building experts,
A specific problem is that in our bathroom the solid wall in front is not strong enough to support the washbasin (there are many pipes running behind it). Therefore, the washbasin must rest on the vanity cabinet (which itself cannot be supported by the solid wall but must stand on the floor).
Thanks in advance!A solid wall in front is outdated. Today, pre-wall frames are used. Plumbers often prefer the GIS system from Geberit.You won’t find a sturdy vanity cabinet off the shelf; the only option is to commission a carpenter.
Best regards,
Markus
Hello Tubifex,
Thank you very much for the suggestion.
That would indeed be a practical solution, and actually something I should have thought of myself.
I’m just wondering why our installer hasn’t proposed this to us so far.
Is it possible to install something like this "after the fact" (with reasonable effort), meaning once the screed is already in place?
(At this point, maybe it’s worth mentioning that we have a ceiling heating system, so having pipes running under the floor is not fundamentally an issue.)
Thank you very much for the suggestion.
That would indeed be a practical solution, and actually something I should have thought of myself.
I’m just wondering why our installer hasn’t proposed this to us so far.
Is it possible to install something like this "after the fact" (with reasonable effort), meaning once the screed is already in place?
(At this point, maybe it’s worth mentioning that we have a ceiling heating system, so having pipes running under the floor is not fundamentally an issue.)
makohafo schrieb:
Hello Tubifex,
thank you very much for the suggestion.
That is indeed a practical solution, and I probably could have thought of it myself.
I’m just wondering why our installer hasn’t suggested this to us so far.
Is it possible to install such a thing “retrofitted” (with reasonable effort), meaning after the screed is already in place?
(At this point, maybe a note that we have a ceiling heating system, so having pipes running in the floor is not fundamentally a problem.)Hello,
it is certainly possible to install this retroactively, even if the screed is already in place! Nowadays, nothing else is installed in new buildings.
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