Here’s a tip for all you do-it-yourselfers out there: when purchasing a second-hand sink through a popular online classified posting, be sure to obtain all relevant information and potential sources of cost savings. No, I didn’t get ripped off or encounter a shady salesman, I actually scored a great deal from an old couple trying to get rid of their large pedestal sink for $20. Let me tell you what I learned…
Test the fixtures before installing the sink in place. I purchased the sink early enough to plan the plumbing installation for that specific fixture, installed custom plumbing lines, finished floor, walls, paint, and finally discovered the leak from the faucet.
“Not a problem, I will just grab a new faucet, I saw them at the hardware store for, like, 30 bucks.”
Time for lesson 2:
When you have this:
Sink
And you want to get this:
You really have to get this:
You see the subtle difference between the first fixture and the second, the spacing of the handles on the sink do not permit a standard cheap faucet type. Instead we discovered we would not be able to purchase a replacement faucet for less than $100 anywhere. Sure there are some resources to purchase used fixtures of this design, and with enough patience the online classifieds could again be useful, but the bottom line is this bathroom has been in half-way to completion for several weeks and through the holidays, so it is time to finish it.
We purchased a new faucet last night and will be installing it this week, hopefully to complete the plumbing requirements for this particular room, never mind the shower room next door.
Elliott with new faucet
Not to be discouraged, my wife has been moved into the nearly functional bathroom for a few weeks now as the mirror and lights work just fine!
Looks good enough
p.s. as we drove to the Syracuse airport yesterday to see my father-in-law off, we made the marvelous observation that it appears winter is back!
Driving
