How easy is it to install a sink tap and waste?

[mimos4]

We had a cloakroom toilet fitted recently, and I just hate the basin
tap. I'm going to ask the plumber to remove it, and wonder if we will need him back to fit the new one, or if it's something we can do ourselves?

This is the current tap, and we will be getting one that's structurally the same but looks different www.building-supplies-online.co.uk/burlington-chelsea-chrome-basin-mono-mixer-waste.html

If you're getting the plumber to remove one, half his costs at least are on coming out to you...so you might as well get him to fit it while he is there.

Have a look under the basin, quite often these days the tap is connected by two flexible pipes and there may a small shutoff valve (operated by a screw driver) on each 'pipe'. If so it it should be easy to isolate the tap from the water supply and then remove it.

Check the new tap has similar connections first.

Why can't you just get him to replace it when he removes the other one?

It's an easy job, if you have the tools but if you can't take a tap off I can't see how you'd put one on.

We won't have the new one by the time he's done with the job. So I'm wondering whether I can get him to take the old one off, and leave us to fit the new one when it arrives.

They are easy to fit yourself especially as most come with flexihoses these days.
Have a look on YouTube, there are lots of helpful diy videos for this. We watched some from b&q and did the job ourselves in our own bathroom

If he takes the old one off you won't be able to use the sink until you get a new tap & waste fitted.
No waste means big round hole in the sink so if anyone forgets & tips water/mouthwash/whatever down there it will just fall straight though onto whatever is below.

Without a tap, leaving it for an indeterminate amount of time he'll have to cap off the pipes & maybe fit isolation valves (if they aren't already there which they should be).
It's more work than just swapping out the existing tap because then you'll need to uncap the pipes to fit the new one so it's an extra step each time (cap just means put something on the ends of the pipes so stuff can't get in/out of them).

Why not just leave the fittings you don't like on it until you've got the one you do then get them swapped over?

It's not a big job & most plumbing supply companies deliver very quickly so it's not like you'll be waiting months to get a new tap unless you are getting it custom made which I'm pretty sure you are not.

It's your sink so obviously do what you want, but if you were my customer I'd just think you were being a huge pita.

It’s a 10 minute job to swap them round if they are structurally the same and you have the tools you need.

Once a tap and waste have been installed, would they still be in resaleable condition once taken off again?