Dear Pat: I want to remodel my bathroom, but I can only afford to do it in stages. I think installing a pedestal sink would be a good starting point. Can I install one myself without a plumber? — Becky S.

Dear Becky: The sink and the bathtub are the two most prominent items to influence bathroom decor. Installing a new retro-style pedestal sink in place of your old sink/cabinet is a great first step in your gradual bathroom remodeling project.

The prices of pedestal sinks vary from about $200 to more than $500 for ornate ones or sinks made of special materials. Other than a few plumbing supplies, this should be the total cost. It is a project you should be able to handle yourself, so there will be no additional labor cost.

With pedestal sinks and lavatories being so popular these days, your home center or kitchen and bathroom store should have a selection of them on hand. You might also check the websites of some of major bathroom fixture suppliers: American Standard at www.americanstandard-us.com; Crane Plumbing at www.craneplumbing.com; and Kohler at www.kohler.com.

Pedestal sinks are very attractive, but you will be losing the storage space in the sink-cabinet you are removing. Some options are a larger medicine cabinet for frequently used items or additional wall cabinets. Fancy cabinets can cost as much as the sink itself, so include their cost into your budget.

To get started, remove all items from the cabinet below the sink for easier access to the plumbing. Also, no matter how careful you are, some water will run out and could soak anything still in the cabinet. Because you are going to dispose of the cabinet, remove the doors to provide for more elbowroom.

Turn off the hot and cold water supply valves under the sink and remove the pipes. If they have not been turned off for many years, they could be stuck in position. If you have to use pliers to get them to turn, wrap the valve handles with rags and be gentle. The handle knobs are often made of brittle metal and it is easy to damage them by squeezing to tightly with pliers.

You might be able to remove the old sink and cabinet as one unit. If not, you will need to remove the sink from the cabinet to gain access to some of the screws that hold the cabinet in place. Plastic or ceramic sinks are usually screwed to the cabinet top. Cultured marble sinks are often glued.

To install the new pedestal sink, you will need to add some support lumber inside the wall. Place the sink loosely on the pedestal to determine the position of the wall supports. Remove the sink and cut out a piece of drywall between two studs. Nail a horizontal piece of 2-by-4 in place. Replace the piece of drywall and finish the seams with drywall tape and drywall compound.

Place the pedestal and sink in their final position and mark the locations of the mounting holes on the wall and floor. Use standard hanger bolts to mount the sink to the wall and lag bolts for the pedestal in the floor. Be careful not to over-tighten the bolts because the material could fracture. Connect the plumbing with the kit included with the sink.

Send your questions to Here's How, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com. To find out more about Pat Logan and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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