Remodel Guide: How Bathroom Sinks and Lavatories Work

Bath sinks or lavatories are similar to kitchen sinks with a few notable differences. First, though bath sinks are made from the same variety of metals and other materials as kitchen sinks, many are made from vitreous china.

Though china would be prone to chipping or cracking with the heavy use a kitchen sink receives, it is plenty durable for the bath. Because of this, beautifully-finished bath sinks are available in nearly every color of the rainbow.

Of course, most bath sinks are smaller than kitchen sinks. In addition, they're made in many different shapes, including ovals, rounds, modern angular forms, flowing curves, shell-like patterns and Victorian reproductions.

Another big difference is that, though bath sinks are often set into counters on top of bath cabinets, they're also made as freestanding pedestal models. These have beautiful lines, but they offer no storage. Some older bath sinks are wall-mounted.

A bath sink typically has two fixture holes on either 4, 6 or 8-inch centers. The wider types are meant to receive a split-set faucet, with faucet handles separate from the spout. The 4 or 6-inch holes may receive a center set or single-lever faucet.

The drainpipe that fits in a bath sink usually is fitted with a pop-up stopper that raises and lowers when you pull up or push down on a handle that protrudes through or behind the faucet body.

--Don Vandervort