What kind of bathroom vanity top material can be easily cut?

[OnionPatch]

We're remodeling our bathroom and need to replace the vanity. The closest standard width I can find for a pre-cut bathroom vanity top is 49". The opening in our bathroom for the vanity is 47.75 inches.

I've never remodeled a bathroom before and could use some advice. Would it be cheaper to buy a 49" pre-cut top (which usually includes the sink) and cut some off the sides or would it be better to just buy a custom sized vanity top? It looks like the former owner cut a standard 49" to size, so it must be possible.

If cutting one to size is the cheaper/faster option, what materials are easier to cut and what kind of saws are required?

I actually tried to ask these questions at the local home improvement store but got only a confused and harried response. I'd like to go back with a better idea of what I'm looking for. Thanks for any advice you can offer.

[Phoenix61]

1. Formica is the easiest to cut but you can't use an

under mount sink with it. I'd be leery about trying to cut a solid surface especially if it has a backsplash. What's there now?

[pscot]

2. Youtube is my goto source

for technical information on any home improvement project. Store clerks are generally not very knowledgeable about installation methods or options.

[Control-Z]

3. More info needed.

1.) "The opening in our bathroom for the vanity is 47.75 inches."

Is that a wall to wall opening? No space on either side of vanity before the enclosing walls?

2.) "It looks like the former owner cut a standard 49" to size, so it must be possible."

Did he cut the ends accurately and clean to butt up precisely with the walls? If not did he cover any nicks and imperfections with side splashes? If so, have you removed and looked under the side splashes?

3.) Does the current vanity have a built in backsplash? Do the tops you're looking at have a built in backsplash and optional side splashes?

[Nwgirl503]

4. Formica is most readily available.

You can use a circular saw, but place painters tape on the laminate and cut through the tape, using a new, fine-tooth blade. It def doesn't leave a finished edge, but there are a few finishing options depending on the area. If it's enclosed on 3 sides, you can add backsplash to cover the rough edges. If it's exposed edge, you can add trim moulding that's sealed for water exposure. I've also tiled many countertops, which, while sort of time-consuming, is very simple.

[Nwgirl503]

5. Or....

If you have granite places in your town, go and ask to see their remnants. You can usually get a 3 cm piece for a couple hundred bucks and they'll finish the edges for you and cut the sink and faucet holes if you give them the specs. Depending on the base cabinet, you may have to add braces under the granite, but that's really simple.

Biggest consideration I've found is making sure the existing plumbing underneath matches up with your new fixtures. Try to stick with the same dimensions you currently have, unless you want to add a weekend plumbing lesson to your remodel.

[juxtaposed]

6. what's wrong with what you have now? You can always re-laminate

the existing top which isn't hard. I've installed thousands of countertops from solid surface, tile, metal, laminate, and other things.
In the posts above have some good ideas. If you're going to cut a laminate top, cut it from the back side, use a triple chip blade. Solid surface use a triple chip blade too. Use straight edges to guide your saw. If you have a small table saw it makes everything easier but you can do it with a typical 7-1/4" power saw. Habitat for Humanty have tops you could use.
Out of the thousands I've done I'd say I screwed up about half of them.

[OnionPatch]

7. Wow thanks for all the responses.

I totally forgot I posted this because we had a family emergency today. I'm just now sitting down. Long day!

To answer some questions:

The space where the vanity goes is 47 and 3/4 inches wide and yes it's between two walls. One is the back wall of the bathroom and the wall on the other side separates the vanity from the bathroom closet next to it.

It looks like the current vanity was a standard 48" and was sawed off a little on both sides to fit the space. The rough edges were covered with matching wood trim. The top was also cut off to fit the space and the rough edges covered with matching three inch backsplash on all three sides. The top is a fairly outdated fake marble material with little gold sparkles that I don't much care for so I definitely want to replace it.

We've just had subway tile installed around the tub/shower and a new floor of porcelain stone-look 12x24" size tiles. It looks great so we definitely want to get an updated vanity too. But our remaining budget calls for us to DIY the rest. I don't think I want Formica. We have that in the kitchen and I'm not thrilled with it. We are selling the house soon so I'd like the bathroom to look updated with the under the counter sink and all.

Maybe I should take the advice of NWgirl503 and just get a piece of granite to fit. And I'm glad to be reminded of making sure the plumbing fits.

One more thing. I have a good bit of leftover subway tile and was thinking I might use it to make an 18 inch backsplash around the sink rather than a three inch strip matching the counter top like it is now. Does that sound like it would work or look good?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

8. If you are up for tiling why not make a custom tile counter top?

You can use your subway tile or go with a larger format tile to reduce your grout lines. 12x24 or even 24 By 24 would work.

Either edge the edges with bull nose pieces or have field tile bullnosed. The the local tile shop might have someone who can bullnose tile for you. Or band the edge with hard wood beveled and stained. Or if you pick a travertine with honed finish you can probably bullnose it your self with an orbital sander.

Or, my favoririte idea, check out the local granite supplier. You want a warehouse not a store front.

My local shop here has remnants they will fabricate. They also have undermount sinks for cheap.

They also have a bunch of tops that were not picked up, mis measured or whatever for cheap.

I took these pictures for a friend but he didn't like the color match for what we were doing. These were like $75 bucks and could have been cut to fit.





We ended up picking a remnant from the pile.




And I made him a cabinet to fit. It will be finished with milk paint sampled in the pic. We also had a window sill made for the shower.

All in we have about $360 involved in the top, undermount sink and window sill and backsplash. Which is about what he was going to spend on a glacier bay crap vanity from HD with a plastic "cultured marble" top.

[OnionPatch]

9. I should have mentioned; We hired someone to do the tile.

Our budget was such that we hired out the part we didn't think we could handle, the tile. The rest is up to us.

I'm liking more and more the idea that I could go to a granite supplier like you and another poster mentioned. Will the supplier usually cut a remnant to fit? I think I pass a place like this on the way to work every day. I will stop in and talk to them next time I can.

I'm also thinking I may remove the top and doors on the existing vanity and give it a really good cleaning and paint job, then install new doors and the top/sink. The vanity base is in good shape and since we would have to cut a new one to make it fit, we could save ourselves the trouble by just refurbishing the existing base and buying new doors and a top.

BTW, Your work looks great!!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. Try milk paint or chalk paint.

My boyfriend did his mom's oak vanity with chalk paint from Loews. It turned out fantastic. Very minimal prep. Just a good cleaning I think. I think it is supposed to adhere to just about anything.

You can finish it with their wax finish or get a water based poly. I like the Varathane brand water based poly from menards.

I've been wanting to try milk paint for some time. Milk and chalk are similar in properties. The milk I purchased is actually "milk like" from General Finishes (sold at specialty lumber or actual paint stores or Amazon ).

I'll see if I can rustle up a pic of the vanity I made with the milk paint on.


Here is the boyfriend's mom's vanity. They picked up one of those "cultured marble" tops. She's 3 hours away otherwise we could have gotten her a top here:

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. Here is a video on milk vs chalk.

[Demsrule86]

12. I got scrap piece of granite and had it cut for 20 bucks in Ohio...

I got the granite at the craftmaid cabinet outlet in Warren Ohio..open on Saturday every couple of weeks. found a local small time granite guy to cut it.