When a friend installed a vanity years ago, it was advised that we set it on a 2x4. Why are they so short?
If the vanity (or any other base cabinet) is of the European (or "frameless") style, then it doesn't have the normal inset part at the bottom (the 'toe-kick'). Instead, the bottom is just the flat bottom of the box, and the overlay doors would come to within 1/8" of the floor, which obviously wouldn't work. With these cabinets there are two approaches to getting them up to the standard height:
- Build a frame of 2x4s (inset several inches from the front to provide the toe-kick area) and then attach some vinyl molding or nice wood to the front of the box on the parts that show.
or
- Attach plastic legs can be adjusted from approx 3.5" to 5" tall. Then, with supplied clps, you attach the front trim panel to these legs.
The adjustable feet are nice, especially if you have to exactly match the height of the final countertop to something already in the bathroom/kitchen (e,g, a line of wall tiles)
BTW, this inset space below base cabinets is surprisingly important from an ergonomic standpoint. It's fairly uncomfortable to work at a cabinet if it is flush to the floor. It forces you to be back too far, etc.
thefed:
I like ERD50's idea. I built a vanity myself using nice plywood and it came out well, but you need a good table saw to make things come out square. It's much faster and easier to buy a knock-down frameless-style base cabinet (they sell them at HD and Lowes-last time I checked the ones at HD were sturdier. Look at the thickness of the particleboard.) Get one covered entirely in melamine. You can dress it up if you like: Glue on real wood veneer, or even apply solid wood overlay to the parts that show. The European-style door hinges are a dream to adjust compared to the old-style knife hinges.
Here's a source for frameless vanites and cabinets:
CabParts , in case you don't find what you like at Lowes or HD. (The shipping will cost 'ya--be sure to check that out!)
Here's a really top-line outfit that will make the frameless knock-down cabinet out of anything you want (to include hardwood-veneer plywood) and will also let you choose exactly the doors you might want. Not cheap, but very nice, high-quality work:
Scherr's
If you want a "traditional" vanity with a face frame, disregard all of the above.
