Remove a Bathroom Mirror
Mirrors are deceptively heavy. Bathroom mirrors are designed to be quite large, sometimes taking up entire walls. The mirrors are installed on the wall using brackets or heavy duty glue. Use these steps to remove a mirror in your bathroom.
Steps
- Protect the sink area. Lay down cardboard or plastic on any surface surrounding the mirror.
- Cover the mirror with duct tape.
- The duct tape will limit the amount of glass that drops if the mirror shatters during removal.
- Use a blow dryer to soften the glue. You can also use a small heat lamp.
- Blow-dry each area of the glass evenly. Focus the heat on the heavily glued areas if you know where the glue is.
- Instruct a second person to act as a spotter for the mirror.
- Because you will be working on removing the mirror from the wall, it's important to have a helper there to catch the mirror in case it slips down rapidly. This is especially important for larger mirrors.
- Pry the mirror from the wall at it's edges. Use a long putty knife.
- Hold piano wire or guitar string with 2 hands. Make a sawing motion with your hands. This separates the glue on the mirror from the wall.
- Repeat the process of prying the mirror from the wall and heating the glue if necessary.
- Pry the mirror from the wall. Use a pry bar once most of the glue has been sawed through.
- Lower the mirror from the wall.
Tips
- If you aren't worried about preserving your bathroom mirror, wrap plastic around the front and use a hammer to break the glass. The plastic will catch the broken pieces and much of the weight will be removed from the frame, allowing you to remove it more easily.
- If your bathroom mirror is not attached to the wall with glue, your job will be a lot easier. Remove the brackets with a screwdriver and carefully lower the mirror from the wall.
- You might have to repair the drywall once the mirror has been removed before putting up a new mirror.
- If all attempts at removing the glue or brackets holding a bathroom mirror have failed, cut out the drywall surrounding the mirror.
Warnings
- Do not attempt to remove a mirror with bare skin. Cover your body with a long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Wear protective gloves and goggles.
- Do not remove a mirror by yourself. Arrange for a partner to help you lower the mirror from the wall.
Things You'll Need
- Duct tape
- Blow dryer or heat lamp
- Helper
- Long putty knife
- Piano wire or guitar string
- Pry bar
- Towels
- Protective gear
- Hammer (optional)
