Concrete Bathroom Vanities: What to Know Beforehand

Most of the concrete countertops we build end up in outdoor kitchens, but some of our favorite projects are inside the house. A concrete bathroom vanity gets poured to the exact length and depth of your space, and the sink can be cast right into the top. That makes it a good option for bathrooms where a standard vanity top never quite fits, or for homeowners who want something you won't find in a showroom.

If you're weighing one for a remodel, here's what we talk through with homeowners before we build the form. You can see more about our concrete countertop work on our services page.

Pick the Sink Before Anything Else

The sink decides a lot about how the top gets built, so it's usually the first thing we settle.

With an integrated sink, the basin and the counter are one piece of concrete. There's no rim or seam where grime and soap scum collect, which makes it easy to wipe down. The bowl can be shaped however you like, from a shallow ramp that slopes toward a hidden drain to a deeper basin or a long trough with two faucets for a shared bathroom.

Some people still want a separate sink, like a bowl that sits on top of the counter or one mounted underneath. We can build around either kind. Pick out the sink first and get it to us, or send the spec sheet, since the hole for it gets formed when we pour.

Choose the Faucet Early

Faucet holes are cast into the concrete, not drilled afterward, so we need to know what faucet you're using and where it goes before the form is built. A wall-mounted faucet is another option and keeps the top completely clear, but your plumber will need to run the lines through the wall first. It's worth getting the plumber and us talking early so the drain and supply lines end up where the vanity needs them.

Make Sure the Base Can Hold It

Concrete is heavy, and a vanity top with an integrated sink can weigh a couple hundred pounds once it's in place. Most solid wood cabinets handle that fine, but some lighter or older ones may need reinforcing. We'll take a look at what you have before we start.

Floating vanities that hang on the wall need extra attention. The wall has to be framed or braced to carry the weight, which is easiest to do while the bathroom is torn down to the studs. If you're planning a floating vanity, bring it up early in your remodel so the backing goes in before the drywall.

Color and Finish in a Bathroom

Picking a color for a vanity is a little different from picking one for an outdoor kitchen. The room is small, the light is usually coming from a fixture instead of the sun, and the top sits right next to your tile and faucet. We can make up color samples so you can hold them in the actual bathroom before we pour. A lot of our customers here end up going with a light sand or a soft gray.

For the finish, we almost always steer people toward smooth. Toothpaste dries into anything with grooves in it. And if you have hard water, a really dark top is going to show every spot. Our countertop gallery has some of the bathroom vanities we've built.

Living With a Concrete Vanity

A bathroom throws different things at a counter than a kitchen does. The usual troublemakers are toothpaste, makeup, hair dye, and nail polish remover. Most of these wipe right off a sealed top if you catch them the same day. Hair dye and acetone are the two to keep an eye on, since they can mark the sealer if they sit.

When cleaning, warm water and a mild, pH-neutral cleaner are all you need. Skip bleach, vinegar, and scrubbing powders, which can wear the sealer down over time. Every so often, the top will need a fresh coat of sealer. How often depends on how heavily the bathroom is used, and we'll let you know what to expect for the product we put on.

Humidity is part of life here, and bathrooms get the worst of it. Running the exhaust fan while showering (and after) helps the whole room, vanity included. If you're comparing materials for other parts of the house, our post on concrete vs. granite countertops goes into how the two hold up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will water leave marks on a concrete vanity?

Water by itself shouldn't hurt a sealed countertop. Hard water can leave mineral spots if it dries on the surface, so wiping the counter down after use keeps it looking clean.

Can a concrete top go on my existing vanity cabinet?

Often, yes, as long as the cabinet is solid and level. We'll check that it can carry the weight before building the top to fit it.

Is an integrated concrete sink harder to clean than a regular sink?

Usually it's easier, since there's no rim or seam between the sink and counter. Just use gentle cleaners so the sealer lasts.

Can you match a concrete vanity to other concrete in the house?

We can get close to an existing piece using color samples. Because each pour is handmade, expect a little natural variation rather than an exact match.

Planning a Bathroom Remodel?

If a concrete vanity is on your list, the best time to call is before the old one comes out. That gives us time to look at the cabinet, talk through the sink and faucet, and work with your plumber on where things need to go.

Coastal Masonry builds custom concrete vanities and countertops for homes in Corpus Christi and around the Coastal Bend. Contact us to talk about your bathroom.