This article is about how to install a bathroom cabinet mirror. The bathroom is one of the most important rooms of our houses, so we put a lot of effort to make all sorts of home improvements, in order to make it more comfortable, functional and with a pleasant appearance. However, one of the projects with a great impact, but in the same time easy to do, is to install a cabinet with mirror. Just imagine an organized bathroom, with a great look, in which you can easily find the shampoo bottle, the soap or the body lotion.
You can find bathroom cabinets at your local diy store, in may shapes, colors and dimensions, so there is a large variety of products to choose from. The first step is to measure the space above your bathroom sink, as to determine a maximum dimension of the cabinet, and then you can set a budget for the purchase. From our experience, we recommend you a simple cabinet, with several shelves, as to be highly functional, and with a big mirror as to use efficiently the bathroom space. A cabinet mirror is a great choice as it represents the best compromise between a storage space and a place to perfect your look.
Although it looks like a difficult operation, in this article we will show you step by step, how to install a bathroom cabinet mirror in just half an hour. You just have to read manufacturer’s instructions, pay attention to our tips and will get the job done in a blink of an eye.
Materials
- Bathroom cabinet mirror
- Anchor bolts and dowels
Tools
- Spirit level, rubber hammer
- Measuring tape, drill machine with torque control
- Masonry drill bits, carpenter pencil
- Pliers, safety glasses
Tips
- Read safety and disclaimer pages
- Select the bathroom cabinet it suits your needs and tastes
- Use a laser level for a perfect alignment of the cabinet
- Use a good drill machine with torque control
How to install a bathroom cabinet
Materials for bathroom cabinet mirror installation
Usually the bathroom cabinets come together with the fixing system, so you don’t have to buy it yourself. In our case, we need two anchor bolts, which have to be fixed in dowels, as the whole bathroom is covered with ceramic tiles.
But you can also install a cabinet mirror if you have other types of walls, you must just use other types of screws and dowels. Nevertheless, the best advice we can give you, is to ask a qualified person from your local store, to recommend you a cabinet that suits your needs and tastes.
Determining where to install the bathroom cabinet mirror
The cabinet with mirror should be installed above the bathroom sink, as to both save space and to organize better the room. Generally speaking, the cabinet should be installed at about 15”/40 cm above the sink as to leave a high enough space between the cabinet and the bathroom tap.
Nevertheless, you can adjust the distance according to your needs, as some people are taller, others are shorter and may not reach the upper shelf of the cabinet. It is very important to verify this aspect before starting the installation, as you might eventually find out the cabinet mirror is wrongly placed for your needs.
In addition, clean the surface thoroughly, as after you have installed the bathroom cabinet mirror, you won’t be able to clear dust or other residues. This step is also important for the proper alignment of the cabinet mirror, so don’t oversee the importance of this step, as many diy beginners usually do.
Measuring the bathroom cabinet mirror
After we’ve made sure the surface is clean, we continued the project by measuring the cabinet mirror, using a measuring tape. You can notice the simple fixing system, placed at the back of the cabinet. The distance between the two metal fixing plates is essential, as it represents the length between the anchor bolts, so measure accurately. Meanwhile, check if the fixing system is properly connected to the bathroom cabinet, as to make sure it will support the cabinet on the wall for a long period of time.
Marking the middle of the bathroom sink
As we have already said, the cabinet mirror must be aligned with the bathroom sink, for a pleasant appearance. Consequently, measure the sink, by using a measuring tape, and mark with a carpenter’s pencil the middle of the length.
This spot is the starting point of determining the cabinet layout.
Marking the median of the cabinet mirror
In order to establish the median of the cabinet mirror, we used a spirit level and a carpenter’s pencil. Make sure that the bubble level is set on the previous mark, and that it is perfectly straight, then you should draw a line.
The line should be drawn up to the hight where you want to be the upper edge of the cabinet mirror. In order to calculate the length, just measure the height of the cabinet mirror, and add the space you want to leave between the sink and the cabinet.
In order to get a perfect result, you should pay attention to all these steps, otherwise the cabinet door wouldn’t open and the bathroom ‘s appearance would be appalling. Keep the bubble level firmly on its position, as to get perfectly straight lines. In order to do that, push the level against the wall with one hand, as with your other hand draw the line.
Marking the spot for the anchor bolts using a level
Next, using the same spirit level, you should mark with the pencil the spots where to install the anchor bolts. The marks should be symmetrical to the median line, at a distance equal to half of the space between the metal fixing plates (which we have determined in a previous step), on both sides.
After you have marked the spots, just measure the distance between them, and compare it to the distance between the two metal fixing plates. The figures should be equal, otherwise you should analyze and find out the mistake.
Spots to drill holes for fixing the anchor bolts
In this image you can see the marks of the spots where we will drill the holes, along with the guidance lines. Note that the upper line must be perpendicular to the median, otherwise the cabinet mirror won’t be plumb.
This is the last chance for verifying the correctness of the drawn lines, so if you are not sure if your marks are right, just redo the previous steps. Make sure your bubble level is well calibrated before using it.
Drilling hole for the anchor bolt
In order to fix the anchor bolts, we need to drill holes on the marked spots, using a good drill machinery with torque control. The drill machine must be hold with one hand like a gun, with the index finger on the start button.
With your other hand hold the drill’s handle firmly, in order to have greater control. The drilling must be progressive: at first use low speeds to create a shallow hole. Afterwards, the speed should be increased, but at every few seconds pull the drill slightly out and press it back in again, not to block her in concrete.
Inserting the dowels for the anchor bolts
Next, we installed the dowels in the drilled holes, using a rubber hammer. The rubber hammer should lined up with the dowel, as not to injure yourself or damage the dowel.
In order to protect the dowel, we hit it on top by several light strokes, until the dowel is totally inserted in the floor’s surface. If the holes are big enough, you can insert the dowels using your hand, but we recommend you to use the mallet.
Fixing the anchor bolts with a plier
After we’ve made sure that the dowels are properly installed, we have screwed in the anchor bolts. In order to fix tightly the anchor bolts, we have used a pliers. Make sure you don’t damage the anchor bolts with the plier, by applying to much force, so screw the anchor bolts progressively.
Anchor bolts before attaching the cabinet mirrors
We have installed both anchor bolds, so that they are upward orientated. This aspect is essential to securely fix the cabinet mirror to them. Another matter is related to the space between the anchors and the wall. If you screw them too tightly, then you won’t be able to attach the cabinet store.
On the other hand, if you screw the anchor bolts too loose, then you will get a gap between the upper edge cabinet mirror and the wall. Consequently, in most cases, the distance between the anchor bolts and the wall should be around half an inch/ 1 cm.
Fixing the bathroom cabinet mirror
The next step is to fix the cabinet mirror in the two anchor bolts. It takes two persons for this operation, as one must hold the cabinet, as the other one locks it in the two anchor bolts.
This is one of the last steps of the project, so pay attention to the risk of damaging the cabinet mirror, if you do not hold it properly. Notice that this operation cannot be done by only one person, so schedule the project in a day when you may get the help of another pair of hands.
Ensuring the bathroom cabinet mirror is leveled
After we have fixed the cabinet mirror in the two anchor bolts, we made sure it was properly leveled using a spirit level. If by any change you notice that there is an issue regarding this matter, then you must have made a mistake during the process.
It is common for beginners to hurry and not double check the marks and dimensions, so work attentively to do a proper job. If you make a mistake, it will take much more time to repair the issue, than to be proactive, from the very beginning.
Bathroom white cabinet mirror installed
After half an hour, our cabinet mirror is well installed and ready to help us better organize our bathroom. The cabinet is leveled, is firmly fixed on the wall, and also gives a modern look to our bathroom. We hope that this article has shown you how to install a cabinet mirror, and you have found our tips useful.
Please work with patience and more importantly, just read all the instruction which come with the cabinet mirrors, as they are very useful when installing them. Make sure you use a laser level, or a spirit level, to make sure the cabinet will be plumb.
Thank you for reading our article on how to install a bathroom mirror cabinet, and we recommend you to check out the rest of our projects. Please share our projects to your friends, by using the social media widgets.
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