Waterproof Vanities

Are Waterproof Vanities Really Waterproof? PVC, Stainless Steel and MDF Compared

A waterproof vanity has a cabinet that does not absorb water, so it will not swell when splashes and steam reach it. In this range that means solid PVC board or a stainless steel carcass. Most standard vanities use MDF or moisture-resistant board, which resists splashes but can swell if standing water is left on it.

A waterproof vanity still needs a sealed install. The joint between the top and the wall needs silicone, and the product listings advise wiping up standing water rather than leaving it to pool. Shoppers who search for a plastic or vinyl vanity usually mean a PVC cabinet. The PVC models below are solid PVC board right through, not a PVC film over MDF.

Is a PVC Vanity Good? What to Check Before You Buy

A PVC vanity is a good choice for a bathroom that stays wet or steamy, because the board does not take on water. What separates one PVC vanity from another is the board, the top, the hardware and the warranty. Check those four in each listing before you compare prices.

• Board: look for solid PVC through the whole cabinet, as in Polar, Acacia and Harrington, rather than a PVC finish over another board.
• Top: some PVC vanities come with a ceramic top and basin. Others are sold as cabinet only, so you choose the stone top and basin separately.
• Hardware: soft-close drawers, finger pulls or handles are listed model by model.
• Warranty: it varies by range and is listed on each product page.
• What is not included: most listings exclude the tap and waste, so add a basin mixer and the right pop-up waste.

If you want one PVC vanity to start with, the Polar PVC 600mm freestanding vanity pairs a gloss white PVC cabinet with a ceramic top on legs.

Waterproof Vanities for Powder Rooms, Ensuites and Main Bathrooms

A waterproof vanity for a small room is chosen by depth first, then width. Depth decides whether the door and walkway still clear. In this range, PVC vanities fall into three depth bands: 255mm for powder rooms, 360mm for ensuites, and 455mm to 500mm for main bathrooms.

For the narrowest walls, compare all 450mm vanities. Where a vanity sits close to a shower or in a room with poor ventilation, a PVC or stainless steel cabinet is a safer choice than MDF. Water should still drain away from the cabinet rather than sit around its base.

Wall Hung or Freestanding Waterproof Vanity

A wall hung waterproof vanity suits plumbing that comes out of the wall. A freestanding waterproof vanity suits plumbing that comes up through the floor, because the kickboard or cabinet base hides the pipes. About two thirds of this range is wall hung.

A wall hung vanity leaves the floor clear for mopping, and it needs solid support in the wall behind it. Compare wall hung vanities.

A freestanding vanity stands on legs or a kickboard. Harrington lets you choose either base. Polar freestanding comes on legs, with a kickboard sold separately, and the Alpha 450 has a full kickboard. Compare freestanding vanities.

Waterproof Vanity Tops: Ceramic, Stone or Solid Surface

A waterproof vanity top in this range is one of three types: a one-piece ceramic top with the basin built in, a stone top with a separate basin, or a solid surface top with an integrated basin. Ceramic is the simplest choice. Stone gives you the most choice of basin and tap position.

• Ceramic top: Polar, Acacia and the stainless steel Midnight range come with a gloss white ceramic integrated basin, usually pre-drilled for one tap hole.
• Stone top: Brighton, Chester and Avalon are sold as cabinet only. You choose an above-counter or undermount stone top separately. Stone tops are cut to order for your basin and tap position, so they cannot be refunded.
• Solid surface top: the 255mm-deep Lukka Fluted 450 comes complete with an integrated basin, a single tap hole, an overflow and a 32mm waste.

When a listing recommends it, as the Avalon listing does, pair the stone top with an above counter basin.

Waterproof Bathroom Storage Beyond the Vanity

Once the vanity is chosen, you can add waterproof bathroom storage above or beside it. The Riva PVC waterproof shaving cabinet comes in widths from 600mm to 1500mm at 155mm deep, so you can match its width to the vanity below.

• Mirror storage: shaving cabinets in widths that line up with your vanity.
• Drawer storage: drawer vanities, including all-drawer models such as Hamilton, Fremantle and Midnight.
• Tall storage: bathroom tallboys for towels and spares.

Which Waterproof Vanity Should You Choose?

The right waterproof vanity depends on how wet the room gets, where the plumbing comes out and how much depth you have.

• If your bathroom stays steamy or the kids splash, choose a solid PVC vanity such as Polar or Acacia.
• If you want a metal cabinet with a timber-grain or marble-look finish, choose a stainless steel vanity from Midnight, Snowy Oak or TimberLux.
• If the room is a powder room or toilet room, choose the 255mm-deep Lukka Fluted 450.
• If your plumbing comes up through the floor, choose a freestanding PVC vanity with a kickboard.
• If you need two basins, start at 1200mm. The Brighton listing notes this is the smallest width where two basins still work.
• If you want a textured front, compare Brighton, Avalon and Eden in fluted vanities and curved vanities.
• If you want a dark finish, see black vanities, including matte black Acacia, Harrington and Avalon models.

Delivery, Pickup and Viewing for Waterproof Vanities

Waterproof vanities ship Australia-wide at trade prices. Free metro delivery applies to orders over $2,000 in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, $2,500 in Brisbane and Adelaide, and $3,200 in Perth.

• Melbourne: more than half of this range, every Poseidon and Koti model, can be collected free from Dandenong South, VIC.
• Brisbane: more than 40 models can be collected free from Rocklea, QLD. Call 0480 746 325 to check a model.
• Sydney: collect free from our Sydney warehouses, or view a vanity by appointment on 0480 746 325.
• Installation: Sydney customers can add vanity installation to the order.

The RJ Bathroom team in Sydney wrote this guide from the product listings in this collection. If a listing and this guide ever differ, the listing is correct, and you can call us to check before you order.