Bathroom vanities in Singapore: cabinets, tops, basins and mirror cabinets compared

Ready-made vanities usually come in standard widths. Home & Decor notes that ceramic wall-hung basins commonly come in fixed widths of about 45cm or 60cm, and ready-made vanities follow similar modules. Before buying, measure the wall between the WC and the shower area, and check where the existing waste pipe and water points sit so the cabinet does not clash with them.

Ask what the carcass is made of. Units sold for bathrooms are often PVC or aluminium, but some use particleboard or MDF, which swell once water gets into a cut or chipped edge. Look underneath and inside the cabinet: exposed raw board edges are a warning sign.

PUB lists installing, replacing or removing a washbasin or sink (including the trap below it) as simple plumbing work that does not need a PUB licensed plumber, so this is one of the easier bathroom upgrades.

PVC foam board is the usual answer when a homeowner asks for a "waterproof" bathroom cabinet. The core is plastic, so water that sits on it will not make it swell. The weak points are the things attached to it: hinges, drawer runners and laminate. Ask your carpenter how hinges are fixed (some use reinforcement blocks or through-fixings), and keep cabinet spans moderate so the top shelf does not bow under toiletries.

For a wall-hung vanity, check how the cabinet is supported. Foam board is light, but a stone top is not, so the frame or wall brackets need to carry the top, not the board alone. Specify edge banding on every exposed edge, even though the core is water-resistant, so the finish looks clean for longer.

Water-resistant plywood comes in grades. Boards described as moisture resistant cope with humidity, while boiling water resistant (BWR) and marine grades use stronger resins for wet conditions. Ask your carpenter which grade is quoted and whether it is written in the quotation.

The failure point is almost always an edge: the cut-out for the basin and waste pipe, the bottom of the side panels near a wet floor, or chipped laminate on the door. Ask for every cut edge to be sealed or edge-banded, for the cabinet to sit off the floor (wall-hung or on legs), and for a sealant bead where the top meets the wall. Check under the basin every few months for drips from the trap or tap hoses.

Aluminium vanities have become a common choice for owners who have had a wood cabinet swell before. The carcass will survive leaks, but check the finish: powder coat quality, how fronts are attached, and whether the hinges and screws are stainless steel or another corrosion-resistant metal. Cheap fixings can rust and stain long before the aluminium itself has a problem.

Ask whether the cabinet is assembled from a supplier system with spare parts available, because replacing a single hinge or panel years later is easier with a standard system than with a one-off build.

Home & Decor lists a simple wall-mounted counter as a sleek option that does not take up floor area, with storage moved to a mirror cabinet above. It works well for guest and common bathrooms used mainly for washing hands and brushing teeth.

If the trap will be visible, choose a chrome or matching bottle trap rather than a plain plastic one, and ask the plumber to keep the pipework neat and centred. The counter itself can be solid surface, quartz, sintered stone or tiled, as long as the brackets are rated for the weight.

Qanvast lists solid surface as the most affordable of the three common vanity top materials (solid surface, quartz and sintered stone). Its strength in a bathroom is the integrated basin: with no rim or silicone joint between basin and counter, there is nowhere for soap scum and mould to hide.

Keep curling irons and hair straighteners on a heat mat. Ask the fabricator for a sample showing a seam, and how they handle repairs if the top is chipped later.

Quartz is a common upgrade for master bathroom vanities in both HDB flats and condos. Because it is non-porous it does not need sealing, and it cleans easily with mild soap. Avoid harsh cleaners such as strong bleach or solvent-based products left on the surface.

Most bathroom vanities are short enough to be cut from one slab, so joints are rarely an issue. Ask for the basin cut-out edge to be polished and for the top to be fixed with a continuous bead of sealant at the wall. For a comparison with kitchen worktops, see countertops.

Qanvast describes sintered stone as the pricey option among vanity tops. In a bathroom its heat resistance is a real benefit if you use hot styling tools on the counter. The main risk is chipping on the edge or around the basin cut-out, so choose a slightly rounded or eased edge rather than a sharp square one, and confirm the fabricator has done bathroom cut-outs in the same thickness before.

Natural stone is beautiful but asks for more care than engineered tops. Marble reacts with acids (some cleaners, toothpaste residue left for long periods and certain cosmetics), leaving dull marks. Ask your supplier how often the stone should be resealed and with what. In a busy family bathroom, quartz or sintered stone in a marble look gives a similar feel with far less upkeep.

Qanvast notes that undermount basins give a seamless look and are easier for young children to reach. Home & Decor describes under-counter basins as a good choice if you want more vanity and counter space. Ask how the basin is supported (clips and adhesive, or a frame) and check the seal under the rim during handover, because that hidden joint is where grime builds up over time.

Home & Decor notes that countertop basins are usually more costly but easy to install, as long as the counter is sturdy. Plan the tap at the same time: a vessel basin needs either a tall basin mixer or a wall-mounted tap. Home & Decor also points out that in HDB flats, a wall-mounted tap may need a false wall of about 20 to 30cm to hide the pipes, which takes space from a small bathroom.

Check the overall height. With a vessel basin, the rim height is the counter height plus the bowl height, so lower the counter to keep the rim comfortable.

A mirror cabinet is the easiest way to recover storage if you choose an open counter or a slim wall-hung vanity. If you want built-in lighting or a demister, plan the power point early, because electrical work must be done by an EMA licensed electrical worker and is far easier before the tiles and vanity go in.

Choose a cabinet with sealed or protected mirror edges and corrosion-resistant hinges. Mount it so the bottom edge clears a tall tap, and so the shelves sit at eye level for the main users.