The vanity in the bathroom or in another room is a convenience that we take advantage of every day. It is also an area of the home that sometimes experiences a problem. What can you do if a gap forms between the vanity and the wall?
The easiest way to fix a gap between the vanity and the wall is to use caulking. It can fill a small gap nicely to the extent that it practically disappears. If you have a larger gap, you can use a backer rod to fill the gap and then use caulking to finish it off.
There are many options available, even though it is a relatively simple fix. You have to choose the type of caulking you will use, as well as colors and how you will finish things off when you are done.
Generally speaking, a tub and tile caulk is all that is needed for this type of job. It works well, is very pliable, and is paintable. Essentially, it has everything you need in order to get the job done.
Can You Fix The Gap Between Wall And Vanity? (How To)
There are some tools you will need in order to do this job. Some people are comfortable enough with their abilities that all they really need is a finger and a damp rag. Other people can use a caulking tool, which makes it look beautiful with very little experience.
Essentially, you are trying to fill the gap but you don’t want the caulking to smear over onto the vanity or onto the wall unnecessarily. That is why you use the rag after you’re done.
Tub and tile caulking comes off very easily with a damp rag so it will clean up the area before it dries. You can then allow the caulking to dry and paint it.
As a final step, you would paint the caulking. It should be painted the same color as the wall so that it disappears effectively. If the wall is tile, you may need to use colored caulking that matches the tile or use some grout.
Fixing the problem in this way can save you a lot of time and expense. It keeps you from having to pull the vanity to get it tighter to the wall. It also allows you to continue to use the same vanity, making it seem as if it was freshly installed.
The one thing that you don’t want to do is get into a major remodel of the bathroom, simply because there is a gap between the vanity and the wall. Once you tear into the wall and start moving any plumbing around, you are sure to experience problems.
Let’s consider some reasons why the gap between the vanity and the wall is so undesirable. We can then talk about other methods of fixing this gap, which you may need to consider.
Why You Should Fix The Gap Between Wall And Vanity
There has always been some debate as to whether a vanity needs to be flush with the wall or not. Perhaps you have considered this yourself and you even wonder if the gap needs to be fixed. Here are some reasons why you should.
Looks – The most important reason why you are doing any work such as this is that it makes it look better. If the gap exists between the vanity and the wall, it is going to be noticeable and your eye is going to be attracted to it anytime you’re in the area.
Quite honestly, this is a very DIY-friendly project and it will take you only a few minutes to get everything done. Rather than having to worry about the way something looks in your home, you can be proud of the way that it looks again.
Moisture – The caulking is going to do more than make the vanity look better, it is also going to keep moisture from getting down into an area where it shouldn’t go. If moisture does run down behind or alongside the vanity, it can cause the vanity to rot. Then additional problems set in.
Mold – The last thing that we want in our bathroom is mold. Unfortunately, this is something that can happen if there is a gap between the wall and the vanity. By sealing the gap, you keep the moisture out and you stop the issue from occurring in the first place.
What Is Causing The Gap Between Wall And Vanity?
You might be interested in knowing why the gap is occurring between the vanity and the wall. Knowing this can help you to fix it properly and to keep it from happening in the first place.
Shifting – There is a certain amount of shifting and settling that happens in any home. Over the course of time, it can cause the vanity to pull away from the wall and the gap will form. Fixing the gap may be a temporary measure in this case, but it is one that will last for a long time.
Installation – If the vanity was not installed properly, you can experience a gap between the wall and the vanity over the course of time. One way that this may happen is if the vanity was not attached to the wall by using screws into studs. If you are just screwing into drywall or using construction adhesive, it may eventually pull away.
Damage – If moisture managed to get under the vanity or alongside it, the wood could be rotting. As a result, it may be pulling away from the wall and the moisture is causing damage where the gap exists. If this happens, you have to fix the problem rather than simply hide the gap.
How To Prevent Gaps From Forming Between Wall And Vanity
Unfortunately, one of the only ways to prevent gaps from forming between the wall and the vanity is to do so during the initial installation.
Installing a vanity properly will help to keep the gap from forming. This would mean using some good construction adhesive and screwing through the vanity into a stud.
If you are concerned about the installation or if you see small gaps forming, you can always add some additional screws and see if they will pull the vanity tightly against the wall. If that is the case, you just prevented the problem from getting worse.
You might still need to add some caulking to the area in order to hide any gap that does exist. You can be happy, however, knowing that the gap is not going to get larger.
3 Ideas To Fix The Gap Between Wall And Vanity
1. How To Fix The Gap Between Wall And Vanity (Caulking)
There is a product that is used in many different parts of the home and it is the perfect product for hiding small gaps between the vanity and the wall.
You can use caulking to seal the gap between the vanity and the wall and hide it completely. After cleaning the area, put down a bead of caulking and then smooth it out with your finger. Use a damp rag to clean up any additional caulking in the area, allow it to dry, and then paint it.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on October 18, 2022.
When painting the caulking, it is important to make sure that you used paintable caulking in the first place. Personally, I use tile and tub caulking for almost anything inside of the home because it works well and it is perfectly paintable.
You should also ensure that you are painting the caulking the same color as the wall.
If you have a gap forming between the wall and the vanity and it is tile, you can always use grout. It works almost as well and it can be a color that makes the job seamless.
2. How To Fix The Gap Between Wall And Vanity (Sealant Tape)
If you have small gaps that are forming between the vanity and the wall, there may be a simple solution.
A product known as sealant tape that is specific to the bathroom can be used for covering small gaps between the vanity and the wall. After cleaning the area, you can apply the tape and press it on to get it to stick.
Bathroom sealant tape is waterproof and it works well in these types of areas. That being said, it is not something that can be used on a larger gap. If the gap is more than just a tiny crack, you should use caulking.
Eventually, the sealant tape is going to need to be replaced. Just remove the old tape and follow the same method in order to hide the small gap again.
3. How To Fix The Gap Between Wall And Vanity (Backsplash)
There is another method that you might not have considered but it is one that can dress up the area and make it look even more beautiful.
You can install a backsplash or some title to the wall where the gap exists. This will help to clean up the area and will add a professional touch to it. You might even appreciate the way that the tile looks and want to do the same thing to other areas of your home.
As long as you match the design with the backsplash, you would be surprised by how seamless of a job this can be. It doesn’t matter if you are using subway tile or a granite backsplash, it adds beauty and character to the home.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on October 18, 2022.
The easiest way to fix a gap between the vanity and the wall is to use caulking. Narrow gaps can be filled with a bead of caulking and wider gaps can be filled with a backer rod before you use caulking. Paint the caulking the same color as the wall.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on October 18, 2022.
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