Are you taking everything with you on your move, even the kitchen sink. Almost all of the time people will leave a sink when moving houses, but if you can’t bear to leave it behind here is a guide to transporting a sink.
Will the sink fit?
The first thing to do is to make sure the sink you wish to take with you will fit in kitchen that you are taking it to. It would be silly to move a single sink only to realise that the hole at the other end is for a double sink. Also check whether the place you are taking it to will be suitable for the type of sink you have for example and under mount sink can only be used with waterproof counter tops and not on wooden surfaces or laminate surfaces.
Removing the sink
Each type of sink will require a slightly different type of removal but essentially the principles are the same. Firstly disconnect the water supply, this can usually be done with the blue and red taps under the sink, but we would advise to also switch the water of at the mains as well for added security. Also open the taps on the sink to allow any water within to drain away. Once the water is off, disconnect the water supply lines that supply the sink and also disconnect the waste pipes.
Use a bucket under the loose lines and pipes to collect any excess water that may come out once the lines are disconnected. Next there should be some screws which secure the sink to the counter top, usually located on the under side of the sink, so unscrew these and carefully remove. Now you can carefully lift the sink out away from the counter, this could take a bit of effort as the sink may be attached slightly to the top with plumbers putty and may also need assistance as the sink may be heavy, especially ceramic sinks.
Transportation
For transportation we would recommend that you also remove the taps from the sink and wrap these separately, this will reduce the risk of exterior damage during the transportation to both the taps and the actual sink. If you wish you could also wrap the sink in a soft protective material, again to prevent any knocks it might take during transport.
When booking a large item delivery service through Shiply or indeed anywhere, you should try and gauge whether or not the driver will be working alone or be accompanied by a “driver’s mate”. If they do work alone, it is often expected that you, the customer can assist at pickup and drop-off locations (especially if the goods are particularly large and/or heavy).
Reattaching the sink
At the other end you will need to reattach the sink. This should be pretty straight forward if you have removed it from the previous house. Attach the taps and loose pipes to the sink while still away from the counter as it will be easier to work with the sink with it upside down rather than you lying working on the sink from below. If in doubt read the manufacturers booklet.
You will need some plumbers putty or silicone chalk; this should be applied to the underside edge (for a drop in sink) of the sink and the sink should then be carefully put into position. Next tighten up the mounting clips underneath the sink a little at a time, going round each one to fasten the sink to the counter top, once finished make sure to clean up any excess putty from the counter top that may have squeezed out during fixing to the counter. Now attach the water pipes and waste pipe, turn the water supply on and check for any leaks.