Sinks & Cabinets

Sinks

The actual term for sink is “lavatory,” sometimes called “lavs.”  If the sink bowl is mounted on a pedestal instead of a cabinet base, then it is called a “pedestal sink.”  Most sink bowls and pedestals are constructed of cast vitreous china, similar to toilets.  However, you may find sinks made of glass, acrylic, steel, cast iron, or anything else that will hold water.  Each type of material has its own advantages and disadvantages.

One of the more common types of sinks is the cultured marble or stone sink.  This is much like a plaster-of-Paris that is poured into a mold and finished with a plastic layer. Cultured marble sink tops are popular because the entire cabinet counter top is usually formed as an integral part of the lavatory. As with the large variety of "lavs" choices, the choices of lavatory faucets are also widely varied.  It is important that they be capable of being turned on and off repeatedly, day in and day out, for many, many years. They are designed for both aesthetic appeal and longevity

Cabinets

Similar to the cabinets in the kitchen, sink-base cabinets in bathrooms are the standard storage space.  There are two basic methods of construction--face-framed and faceless. In face-framed construction, the cabinet body has a hardwood or plywood-framed face to which the doors are attached. In frameless construction, as the name implies, there is no face and the doors are attached directly to the cabinet body. Approximately two-thirds of the cabinets in the U.S. are made in the face-framed manner.

Cabinets are made of a wide variety of materials, the most common being plywood or compressed particleboard. The counter top is anchored to the top of the cabinets.