1. Hold the basin against the wall and mark the new fixing points. This may require an extra pair of hands. Be sure to get it level and at the right height.
2. Lay the basin on the floor on a protective cloth to prevent scratching.
3. Make suitable fixing points in the wall.
4. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, assemble the taps on the basin. Be sure to fit the supplied washers at the appropriate positions. These are designed to cushion the tap against the surface of the basin so that they do not damage it. Check the direction of the tap before final careful tightening. Do not apply excessive pressure as the basin may crack.
5. Insert the waste outlet into the basin and fix in place. Some outlets are mounted on a rubber gasket – others require a sealing compound or silicone sealant. Check the recommendations. This provides a seal so that water is directed to the inside of the waste pipe rather than the outside.
6. Some modern taps come with small tail pipes which are fitted at the same time as the taps. If not, you may find installation a lot easier if you connect a short length of copper tube to each tap at this stage. These can then be connected to the supply later. The advantage is that you can fit these while the basin is on the floor and you have plenty of working space. Once the basin is mounted on the wall, connecting the pipes to the taps can be very awkward. These tails may be carefully shaped before connection to ensure that they line up with the supply pipe work.
7. Place the basin into position and fix it using the appropriate brackets and screws. Most have a rubber washer for each fixing through which the screw is passed. This will prevent cracking the basin as the screws are tightened.
8. Now connect the hot and cold pipes to the tails fitted earlier. The type of connection used, (soldered or compression) depends on your preference, but keep heat away from the basin. You may like to use the opportunity to fit a small stop valve. This can double as your connecting piece and also provides the facility for you to isolate the supply later.
9. Assemble the waste trap and connect to the waste pipe.
