How to Install a Pedestal Sink

By: Thomas Baker, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. PEDESTAL SINK

2. LEAD-FREE SOLDER

3. PVC CLEANER AND SOLVENT
for joining PVC pipe

4. FLUX
acidic paste applied to copper before soldering

5. FINE-GRIT SANDPAPER ROLL
for polishing the outside of copper tubing before soldering

6. FENDER WASHERS AND 2 1/2-INCH LAG SCREWS, TWO EACH
for attaching sink basin to wall) Damp cloth (for cleaning and wiping up freshly soldered joints

7. SPRAY WATER BOTTLE
for preventing fires that may be ignited while soldering

8. BUCKET
for collecting water drips

9. PIPE DOPE
Teflon-based paste for sealing pipe threads

10. PLUMBER'S PUTTY
for sealing drain and faucet flanges against the sink

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Hacksaw,
  for cutting PVC and thick brass pipe
- Propane torch,
  for soldering copper tubing joints
- 1-foot level,
  for leveling basin
- Water-pump pliers,
  for gently tightening large nuts on drain pipes
- Crescent wrench,
  for tightening small nuts on compression fittings
- Compact tubing cutter,
  for cutting copper tubing in tight locations
- Tubing cutter with reaming blade,
  for faster cutting on bigger, accessible tubing
- Wire brush,
  for cleaning inside of copper tubing before soldering
- Basin wrench,
  for tightening the nuts on faucet valves and spouts in the virtually inaccessible regions under the sink's basin
- Socket wrench,
  for driving lag screw
- Drill and bit,
  for drilling holes for lag screws
- Slotted screwdriver,
  for attaching lift rod to actuator arm
- Tape measure
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Photo: David Carmack

Introduction
Overview
Steps:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10

1. Prep the rough plumbing, Part I

Shut off the main water supply and drain the hot and cold lines into a bucket.

At the sink location, place a bucket under the copper supply lines and, with a compact tubing cutter, shear them both off about 2 inches from the wall.

Tighten the cutter slightly after each turn around the tube to avoid distorting the soft copper.

Find the distance from the center of the basin's drain to the wall. (On new sinks, this dimension is supplied with the instructions.)

Measure out from the wall and mark this distance on the PVC waste pipe.