How to Cut Porcelain Sink Pedestal

Introduction

Porcelain is a high-fired vitreous ceramic. Heating raw materials produce temperatures of 1112 to 1370 degrees Celsius, which fuses the quartz particles in the clay into an inseparable mass. The resulting material is rolled flat under pressure and baked at approximately 980 degrees Celsius for several hours. It gradually transforms from white kaolin to gray-white porcelain with denser, more durable properties during the baking process. Porcelain was first developed in China around 2,000 BC using pottery techniques adapted for high-temperature firing. This advancement represented a significant step forward in human history as it introduced simple ceramic objects that were both functional and beautiful. In this article, I will discuss how to cut porcelain sink pedestal. So let us get started.

How to Cut Porcelain Sink Pedestal

A Detailed Stepwsei Guide on How to Cut Porcelain Sink Pedestal

Cutting Porcelain Sink Pedestal for new faucet drilling takes a bit of work to cut out the old pedestal sink without breaking the tiles around it. Here are some tips on how to do this with minor damage possible. A pedestal sink is a great addition to any bathroom. They are very easy to install and can be done by anyone with some basic carpentry skills.

STEP 1:

Make sure you have all your tools before you start. They will be needed, especially one long blade drywall saw, drill bit set, and a masonry hole saw. If you do not have these items, make sure you borrow them from someone or buy them at your local home improvement store before starting this project because they will make cutting much more straightforward and successful if available.

Local Home Improvement Store

STEP 2:

It is imperative first to remove the drain and overflow or make a huge mess, and you do not want to make the pedestal sinkhole more significant than your new faucet. Remove overflow faceplate, unscrew drain assembly.

STEP 3:

Remove screws holding the bottom tile in place, especially if it is porcelain tiles. There are usually about five screws but be careful not to break when being removed or drill them out carefully if they are stripped. Then pop up the rest of the bottom edge of the first tile with a flathead screwdriver, so there is enough room to see through the gap between the first and second tile underneath. Do this for all tiles until you have cut through to underlying subfloor material so tiles can easily be pried off without breaking.

STEP 4:

Once you have removed all bottom tiles and cut through the tile to the underlying subfloor material, it is much easier to drill out all tiles around the pedestal sink with a 1/2 inch masonry drill bit. If you do not have one of these, a regular electric drill with a long 1/2-inch metal twist drill bit will work, but for a little while since it is tougher to go through porcelain tile without shattering the tile or cracking the concrete underneath. There might be 1 to 3 screws that hold each tile in place, so take time and get them out carefully because if the screwdriver slips off, it may crack the surface of your finished tile job. Also, if there are two screws on each side of the tile, try to remove both screws, holding them in place at once by slowly twisting them out with pliers. If you only remove one side screw and attempt to pry the tile off, it will crack, probably making this entire project useless.

Removed All Bottom Tiles

STEP 5:

Once all tiles around the pedestal sink have been removed and your cut(s) through subfloor material has been made, go ahead and drill out inside of pedestal sink area if desired with a 3/8 inch masonry drill bit. Be careful when drilling deep into concrete because it is straightforward for the bit to slip down into concrete after hitting steel pipe or joist, which could send chunks of concrete flying up when trying to stop the drill. Also, most porcelain sinks have a steel inner-ring sent through the drain outlet, so if the exercise hits it, aluminum shavings will go flying everywhere. If you are not worried about creating more work for yourself by drilling holes in your finished area, go ahead and drill out inside the pedestal sinkhole very carefully.

You Can Check It Out to Get Wax Out of a Ceramic Candle Holder

STEP 6:

Now that all tiles around pedestal sink have been removed, bottom tiles drilled out to subfloor material with 1/2 inch masonry drill bit or long 1/2-inch metal twist drill bit, each tile on the outer perimeter has been cut out without cracking with a drywall saw (or long blade knife), the pedestal sink area is drilled out with 3/ inch masonry drill bit or long 3/8-inch metal twist drill bit, and all tiles around edges have been broken off by prying with a flathead screwdriver during Step 4. it is now time to remove the pedestal sink without causing any damage to it or sink area cut into flooring material. First, make sure that drain assembly is removed from both sides of the old pedestal sink. Then put a small bucket under a new hole cut in the floor, take a saw and cut along the bottom edge of the pedestal to separate from the pedestal sink base underneath.

STEP 7:

If you see any screws holding column structure together inside existing screw holes, mark them all with an electric marker so they will not be missed when separating the column from the underside of the sink. Drill 1/4 inch pilot holes in existing screw locations, then carefully drill out screws with a cordless electric drill. Repeat on each side. Mark the locations of column screws to be removed for later replacement. Unscrew and remove all door handles, escutcheons and wall cover plates.

Drill Out Screws

STEP 8:

Separate column structure from the underside of the sink by carefully prying the edge loose until you can get your fingers behind it to separate each piece. When disconnecting the bathroom pedestal sink, make sure not to damage the outside edges of the cutout hole but only concentrate on removing the pedestal base while still intact. Once you have removed all pieces, remove a large steel pipe (most likely 3/8-inch diameter) connected at the bottom of the new cutout hole with a long flathead screwdriver. Then go ahead and clean out old remnants of a wax ring, etc. and use silicone caulk around the rim of the new cutout hole before installing a brand new bathroom pedestal sink.

Precautions While Cutting a Porcelain Sink Pedestal

  • Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is required. In addition, the provision of gloves, dust masks, and safety goggles is recommended.
  • Do not use power tools that produce sparks, such as grinders or saws fitted with metal cutting blades. Instead, use a glass cutter to score the porcelain, then snap it along this line using a chisel and mallet.
  • Wear appropriate clothing for protection from possible slippage while cutting the sink pedestal. For example, if one hand will be used to guide a chisel or large screwdriver during the cut, that arm should be protected by wearing long sleeves, which will reduce exposure to flying fragments if slippage does occur. In addition, one could wear leather gauntlet-style gloves to protect the hands, although these may be cumbersome and could make the work more difficult. Mark the line to be cut on the sink pedestal with a pencil.
  • To prepare the work surface to avoid slippage, cover it with a few layers of newspaper or other paper suitable for protecting surfaces against paint spills.
  • Wear protective ear gear to protect your ears from possible damage due to contact with metal implements during any required plumbing repairs, which may follow cutting out the sink pedestal. This is important because a pedestal sink is supported by its metal base. If the sink is to be removed, you will need to cut out the metal base to free the sink from the floor.
Arm Should Be Protected by Wearing Long Sleeves

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Pedestal Support a Basin?

A basin is a bowl-shaped sink. A pedestal support is an extension of the basin that has a hole in it and also can be found at the back end. It allows you to hang your faucet on it or place anything else.

What Is the Width of a Pedestal Sink?

A pedestal sink is an ideal solution for small bathrooms that don’t have much space. It is typically a pedestal-style sink with the cabinet placed below it.

Width of a Pedestal Sink :

The width of a pedestal sink will vary depending on the model you choose and how wide your countertop is. Most pedestal sinks are 32″ wide, which can fit into most standard cabinets but might not fit in more narrow cabinets.

Are There Different Heights of Pedestal Sinks?

There are different heights of pedestal sinks. Some of the Most Common Ones Are as Follows :

1. Low-profile or under-mount sinks that are approximately 2 to 3 inches below the countertop surface and require a small lip for support on either side of the sink.

2. Countertop sinks that are approximately 4 to 6 inches below the countertop surface and require no lip for support on either side of the sink.

3. High-profile or overmount sinks that sit about 1 inch above the countertop surface, with no lip required for support on either side of the sink.

Can You Remove Just the Pedestal Without Removing Sink?

The pedestal will need to be removed and replaced with a new one. The sink is attached to the cabinet and cannot be removed without removing the entire cabinet.

The Sink Is Attached to the Cabinet

Conclusion

Replacing the bathroom sink pedestal is an easy fix if all tiles are removed to access the area under the old pedestal. Making sure not to crack any tiles or surface material when cutting between tiles after removing existing toilet bolts will ensure your new look for your bathroom will be finished appropriately. Follow these easy steps, and your new bathroom sink installation should go smoothly with no significant issues that you could have prevented from causing damage to surrounding flooring materials. I hope you have obtained all the necessary instructions on how to cut porcelain sink pedestal. Thank you and have a nice day!

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