42 May/June 2020
A BATHROOM MIRROR IS SURPRISINGLY EASY TO
remove and replace. First, determine
whether your mirror is held in place
with clips or glue. To remove a mirror
held with clips, have a helper hold the
mirror while you undo the top and side
clips. Carefully tilt the mirror forward
into the helper’s hands and lift it off the
bottom clips. If the mirror feels like it’s
still attached to the wall as you try to
tip it forward, it might be sticking to the
paint or be fastened with adhesive.
Removing an adhesive-fastened
mirror is a tougher job, requiring safety
glasses, a long-sleeve shirt, and work
gloves. (1) First, thoroughly tape down
and across the mirror with strips of
painter’s masking tape so that the
whole thing doesn’t break. It’s better to
err on the side of more tape than less.
Starting at the top center of the mirror,
carefully pry it away from the wall using
a thin pry bar, then insert a thin shim of
wood behind the glass. Work to the left
INSTALL A NEW MIRROR
DIFFICULTY: ●●○○○
or right sides of the mirror and down,
doing the same. You’ll be prying the
hardened adhesive off the surface of
the wall, lifting the drywall face with it.
If the mirror is attached to plaster, the
job will be more difficult: Contractors in
the plaster days seem to have been real
fiends for adhesive, so a mirror installed
back then might be stuck pretty tight.
The same procedure is used, but be
prepared for the worst.
With the mirror removed, perform
any drywall repair, applying drywall
compound with a six-inch drywall
knife. Sand patched areas smooth;prime and paint the wall, including
behind the mirror.
(2) You can glue your new mirror
in place, squeezing lines of adhesive
(one specifically rated for mirrors)
over the back and making sure to leave
two bare inches along the perimeter
for the adhesive to spread when you
press the mirror against the wall. (3)
You can also install it using mirror clips
and hollow-wall anchors. Or, if you
think you’ll change your mind in a few
years, choose a framed mirror that you
can hang on drywall using hollow-wall
anchors and picture-hanging wire.TOOLS AND
MATERIALS
Thin pry bar
Hammer
Painter's tape
Shims
Mirror adhesive
Caulk gun
Mirror clips123