How would you go about building this vanity? My contractor is putting in this new powder room but I'd like to build the vanity to save money and also have my only imprint in the project. Questions: How do I avoid an obvious seam on either the top or front? what type of wood would you recommend? Best way to hang it on the studs? I was planning to seal with Waterlox Original - sound ok?

https://www.houzz.com/photo/86608333...se-powder-room

 

IMHO I'm not sure you're going to save money by building it yourself. But doing it is not a hard project if you have some carpentry experience.

I don't understand your concern about a seam. It looks to me to be nothing more than box with a sink atop it. Do you want a whole vanity with doors and shelves that go to the floor? What is the actual cavity size? I'm betting an off the shelf unit can fit or be slightly modified to fit. Do you want typical counter top?

A horizontal board perhaps a 1 x 4 across the back side would be used to attach it to the studs. Or if a fully enclosed back attached to the studs.

 

OK, I took a second look at this. Very simple. You're going to add clips or stringers along the sides of the walls at the height of your sink top, less the thickness of the counter top. Screw stringers to the studs every 16". Your top will sit on top of these stringers. You might want to use 2 x 4's for stringers and lots of ledge room for the top to sit on. You can then glue or screw the top to these stringers. You can then add fronts to the underside of the top edge (to avoid the seam you speak of) and provide stringers along the wall edge to help fasten the sides. You may want to build a frame for the front sides to hep add strength. This can be put on the underside of the top. You can also add a 2 x 4 or similar (perhaps round spindles) from the floor to the underside of the top to help support the top. These can be put just behind the front sides. If you don't want the this everything will be supported by the back and side walls.

Does this help?

PS...You could also build the box independently and then hang it on to the walls. If so I would use lots of screws into the sides up and down at each stud. I don't see how you are going avoid a seam in the front. But a heavy coating of urethane should give sealing properties from moisture.

 

Only comment I have is if you really want a wood counter top?

Granted it's a powder room and a big sink but it will see some water.

I'd consider some type of granite/quartz/corian top with the wood front.

 

Thanks Norm201. This is very helpful. Thanks for the details on how to put it together.