Introduction

When considering a new bathroom washbasin (or bathroom sink) the biggest variable driving selection will be the location within the house you wish it to be in. A washbasin in a master bathroom will often need to be large enough to allow one's face or hair to be washed in it, whereas a washbasin for a cloakroom really only needs to allow hand washing.

Type of washbasin

• Types of washbasin

Washbasin materials

Until relatively recently, the range of bathroom sink materials from which one could choose were very limited. Today’s technological developments, however, have widened the selection considerably.

By far the most popular choices are still porcelain and vitreous china (ceramic), however contemporary bathroom designers are increasingly turning to glass, natural stone (granite), Corian^®, and even copper to give a distinctly stylish feel to the room.

Selection considerations

Remember to ensure that you choose a washbasin that can accommodate your choice of tap. Washbasins are available in a large variety of sizes and shapes and often the style and format of tap can play a large part in one’s choice of washbasin. The basin also needs to have holes with the correct spacing to receive the taps, or have no holes at all if the taps are to be wall mounted.

Unlike a WC, a washbasin does not need to be connected to a soil pipe and so can be sited anywhere you like within a bathroom. Just ensure you give adequate thought to how you will run the waste water to the vertical stack pipe. The waste pipe must have a fall of at least 6mm (1/4 inch) for every 300mm (1ft) of pipe length, and should not ideally be longer than 3 metres (10ft).

Further information and useful links

• Toilet (WC suites)
• Bidets
• Baths
• More bathroom topics

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