Apt.1 Laundry Room Vol.7b: Vanity Installation Pt.2

u270fufe0f Originally published: January 6, 2022 / ud83dudd04 Updated: May 8, 2026

2026 DIY Dad’s Note: Finishing the Laundry Room & Completing the 1st-Floor Renovation

The finishing work in the laundry room u2014 wallpaper, cushion floor, and vanity u2014 is complete, and the full 1st-floor renovation has finally come to an end!

Wallpaper Finish (Vol.5)

Wallpapering in a laundry/changing room demands more moisture-resistance than a typical room:

• Choose wallpaper with anti-mold properties (essential)
• Apply caulk behind the vanity and around the bathroom door frame
• Breathable wallpaper is preferable u2014 it lets moisture escape
• White and light tones are popular for a clean, fresh look

This room gets hit with humidity every single day at bath time. Taking moisture-resistance seriously from the start keeps the interior looking great for years.

Cushion Floor Finish (Vol.6)

The cushion floor (CF) in a laundry room must handle wet conditions:

• Choose a water-resistant CF rated for bathrooms and laundry areas
• Install base molding at wall joints to prevent water from seeping underneath
• Caulk around the vanity legs for waterproofing
• Minimize seams in the CF u2014 each seam is a potential entry point for water

Water getting under the CF can cause rot. Take your time with the seam waterproofing u2014 it’s worth the extra care.

Vanity Installation (Vol.7)

Replacing a bathroom vanity is one of those plumbing jobs that’s genuinely DIY-friendly:

1. Remove the old vanity (disconnect the cold water, hot water, and drain lines)
2. Set the new vanity in position and secure it to the wall
3. Connect the cold and hot water supply lines (flexible hose connectors)
4. Connect the drain (P-trap)
5. Open the shut-off valve and check for leaks
6. Caulk around the vanity perimeter

Supply and drain work is generally DIY-legal (unlike gas, no license is required). That said, be meticulous about checking all connections for leaks.

Apt.1 u2014 1st Floor Renovation Complete!

Japanese-style room, kitchen, toilet, bathroom, and laundry room u2014 every room on the 1st floor has been renovated.

1st-Floor Renovation Summary

• Japanese room: sandy plaster walls u2192 wallpaper, tatami u2192 CF, ceiling repainted
• Kitchen: fixtures replaced, walls refinished
• Toilet: full gut renovation u2014 new toilet and interior
• Bathroom: converted from traditional wet bath to unit bath
• Laundry room: new partition wall and all fixtures installed

The sense of accomplishment from doing every room yourself is something special. “It was a lot of work u2014 but I’m really glad I did it” u2014 that’s the honest take from DIY Dad.

ud83cudfe2 Thinking About Apartment Investment or Renovation?

For apartment renovations, return on investment is everything. DIY Dad dramatically cuts costs by doing the work himself.

Marutoku Shop u2014 Renovation Materials & Timber Online u00bb

Hey there u2014 DIY Dad here! The 1st-floor laundry room renovation continues. Walls and floor are finished, so now it’s time to install the fixtures.

Washing Machine Pan Installation

First up: the washing machine pan. No photos for this part, so I’ll walk through it in words.

I used a 640mm square washing machine pan with a bottom-drain trap. I cut a notch in the floor around the drain pipe using a drill and jigsaw u2014 drill a hole at each corner, then connect the holes with the jigsaw. I fitted the washing machine pan and drain trap together, then connected the drain pipe to the trap. The gasket was sealed with silicone caulk (just pressing it in would technically work, but I always caulk it) to keep odors and insects from coming up through the drain. Finally, I secured the pan to the floor with screws through the four corner mounting holes, then covered the holes with decorative caps.

u2191 Washing machine pan installed.

Vanity Installation

Next: the vanity. I used a LIXIL unit, 750mm wide. The vanity comes in two pieces u2014 lower cabinet and upper mirror/cabinet u2014 and you install the lower section first.

Temporarily set the lower cabinet in position.

u2191 Vanity lower cabinet.

u2191 Back of the vanity upper cabinet.

The drain connection u2014 which was handled by a subcontractor u2014 turned out to be slightly off from the specified position. I discovered this on installation day, so I had to make an emergency adjustment. Since there wasn’t time to work under the floor, I rerouted it above the floor using an elbow fitting, concealed within the space behind the lower cabinet.

u2191 Vanity lower cabinet u2014 plumbing connections.

Connect the cold water, hot water, and drain lines. Before attaching the upper cabinet, caulk the gap between the lower cabinet and the wall.

u2191 Caulking.

u2191 Caulking.

u2191 Caulking.

Attach the upper mirror cabinet.

u2191 Vanity upper cabinet installed.

u2191 Vanity lower cabinet.

Stepping back a little…

u2191 The finished vanity.

And stepping back even further…

u2191 The finished laundry room.

Starting to feel like someone could actually live here! Funny u2014 at the beginning of this project, I was pretty sure I’d never want to live here myself. That’s all for today u2014 see you next time!

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