How To Install A Wall-Mounted Mirror
Written by Wilfred WeiheIf you have always wanted a wall-mounted mirror, but you were not ready to spend a lot of money on an installation, now it is the right time to start thinking about getting one again! In this installation guide, I will lead you through the process of installing a wall mounted mirror without any help of a professional. You will learn how to do this project by yourself. If you are interested in this challenge, you are more than welcome to read on.
What Do You Need?
Before we start with installation steps, we need to make sure that we have everything that we will need for the installation.Here is the list of things that are usually necessary to do the installation:
- Stud finder
- Pencil
- Drill and driver bits
- Picture hanging hardware
- Painter’s tape
- Level
- Wall anchors
- Ruler
Step 1
Some mirrors need to have their hardware installed because they are not hanging safely if there is not hardware attached.Check that first, and if your mirror already has that, you can move on, but if you see that there is no hardware installed yet, you will first have to do that.
If you didn’t purchase a new mirror, but you would like to keep your old one, you need to make sure that the frame is reinforced because they usually need that to hang on the wall safely.
This is actually pretty easy to check and to do, you can do it by installing angle brackets which are placed on the back of the frame.
Step 2
This step is useful when you need to install the hardware before moving on. Make sure that you check the weight limits of the hardware to keep things safely up to the wall.If the mirror is too heavy for the hardware you have, you will have to get new ones with a different weight limit.
The simplest way to weight the mirror is to put it on the bathroom scale.
Step 3
Don’t rush to the drilling step too soon because you might feel sorry later. An important thing to do before you start drilling is to check the walls and what type the walls are.For different wall material, there are different drywalls and plasters. Make sure you have the right equipment.
Step 4
Now it is time to mark the zone where you want your mirror to be hanging. Take the stud finder and locate the studs. We want our mirror to be placed in the center of the studs.When you know the exact position, it is time to mark the zone with a pencil.
If you are installing the mirror near the faucet, outlet or light switches you need to be careful about the utilities there too, so you don’t cut them when you start drilling.
We always try to avoid areas like this because you never know when you are too close to the wires.
Step 5
When you have found the perfect position, it is time to check if the mirror is at eye level. Take a pencil and mark the top and the bottom of the mirror, so you will know where you have to cut later.Now it is time for fixing the position because when you start drilling it is actually a little bit late. If you are pleased with the level, you can move forward to step 6.
Step 6
When it comes to mirroring you can have two options: d-rings or wires. You will need to install hooks on the wall for hanging the mirror on them.You want to have them in the right position, so it is smart to mark the level and painter’s tape and mark the right place on the wall. With the help of the painter’s tape, you will be able to mark the position of the d-rings on the wall.
How will you do that? You will place a piece of painter’s tape on the level and lay it on the back of your mirror.
With that, you will mark the placement of the d-rings on the opposite side of the level. Easy isn’t it?
Step 7
Remove the level and hook one of the hooks in the package to the d-ring in the same position that will later be installed to the wall.Now take the ruler and check the distance between two different points – between mounting hole and the middle of the hook (on the top of the mirror).
Step 8
If you check the step 5 again, you will see that you made a line there and now it is time to measure the distance on the wall. Use a pencil for doing that.Step 9
Almost at the end! Now you only need to mark the placements for the holes for mounting the hook.You will again need to use taped level, and you will position it to the center of the wall. Mark the placement of the hooks on the wall with a pencil.
Step 10
When you have done all that it is time to secure the hardware which was mounted.If the lines are correct you can install it to the wall itself, but if you are not in line you will first need to install wall anchor, and after that, you can attach the hardware.
Step 11
It is time for the last step, and here you only need to hand the mirror onto the hooks, and you are ready to enjoy the view now!I hope you like what you see.
In this article, I tried to go step by step to help you install a wall mounted mirror, and I hope it was at least a bit helpful to you. If you will follow all the steps carefully and do what I say, you will be soon able to enjoy a great view.