Installing a Vanity Unit on top of carpet

Avoriaz

Hi, I am replacing a bathroom basin and pedestal with a Basin and Vanity Unit, similar to this one.



The basin will be fixed to the wall with fischer type bolts but a lot of its weight will be supported by the Vanity Unit. I will also be fixing the Vanity Unit itself to the wall with four brackets.

The Vanity Unit has four plastic feet on its base which are designed to raise the MDF carcass a few millimetres above the floor to prevent the MDF absorbing water from a wet tiled or vinyl bathroom floor.

I am installing it in a fully carpeted bathroom.

Can I fit the Vanity Unit on top of the carpet or must I remove a section of carpet and underlay and rest it directly on the floorboards? The former will be easier and neater as I won’t have to accurately remove an area of carpet. The carpet does not normally get wet like a tiled floor does.

I could place the Vanity Unit in position with the basin on top, perhaps with some extra weight, and leave it for a few days to allow it to settle into the carpet before completing the fixings and plumbing. There is then unlikely to be any significant further downwards movement.

Comments and advice please.

Thanks

Buttwhy?

Peel you carpet back and fit the unit to the wall then trim you carpet. If you dont you'll make leveling the unit difficult as it's on a soft surface and what happens when you replace the carpet in the future i.e you have a flood from leaking pipes, you'd be amazed how often it happens.

Chunks

Agree with before. However, use the vanity unit as the template to cut out the carpet for a perfect fit. Position vanity unit where it will be installed (carpet in place) cut round with a stanley knife then remove vanity unit (and carpet cutout). Now you can install on the firm subfloor beneath.

phill99

I agree with the above 2. Puttting it on carpet is a bit of a bodge. Even if you aren't confident cutting the carpet, a carpet fitter will probably do it for £20. Much better finished.

And I can't help thinking you are over analysing the fitting of a vanity unit.

martinthebandit

Personally, as the legs will raise it off the floor slightly I would put it on top of the carpet. If you trim the carpet back you run the risk of the edges of the carpet showing.

har0ld

The adjustable feet are usually nothing more than screw in bolts. I would consider putting longer bolts in of the same thread to give a little extra clearance and then be able to easily access them later to adjust a little if required. The basin fixing bolts if fitted properly will easily take the whole weight of the basin. In addition I would consider adding (if not already there) some fixings to hold the weight of the vanity unit to the wall. I am used to fitting continental furniture that doesn't usually have any floor support at all and there is no reason that you shouldn't effectively do this, even on a stud work/partition wall!!
All you have to do, especially where you are fitting the basin, is to make sure your bolts are being screwed into something solid - this may mean adding extra support between uprights behind the plasterboard and tiles - it might sound difficult but it really isn't.