If you are entirely looking to renovate a bathroom or just want to update a few out of date or obsolete elements, then it is important to, first of all, pull out the medicine cabinet. Both recessed as well as surface-mounted cabinets are extremely easy to remove from the wall, even for cabinets having a built-in light fixture. However, the most difficult thing is to repair the wall after pulling out a recessed medicine cabinet, but it can be easily managed even if you have never worked with drywall.
Step By Step Process Of Removing A Medicine Cabinet
Whether you are looking to remove a recessed or surface-mounted cabinet, you need to make preparation first, that will help keep wall debris as well as screws from falling down the sink drain. Get rid of everything from the sink area before wrapping the entire sink using a towel or drop cloth. This, in turn, will make sure that anything that falls while pulling out the medicine cabinet won't make its way down the drain, where it could be a reason for a clog. For a medicine cabinet that is not near the sink, move anything that lies underneath the cabinet. This makes it easier when it comes to cleaning up the area after completing the project, and it is easier to spot fallen screws. Go through the below-mentioned steps carefully in order to remove a medicine cabinet:
- Remove Everything From The Medicine Cabinet: First of all, you need to take everything out that is inside the medicine cabinet, which may include the shelves if they are not fixed or secured. Place all of these items outside of the working area.
- Remove The Cabinet Door: Now, eliminate the cabinet door by unfastening or detaching the screws that secure the door to the hinges. Place the door as well as screws to one side.
- Turn Off The Circuit Breaker: For those cabinets having a built-in lighting, it is important to switch off the circuit breaker attached or secured to the bathroom. Test the wiring with the help of a non-contact voltage tester in order to make sure that the power is off. For the cabinet having no wiring that will be affected by eliminating the cabinet, then it is not necessary to switch off the power.
- Loosen The Screws: Next, unfasten the screws taking hold of the cabinet to the wall. For a surface-mounted cabinet, unfasten each one a little at a time so that the entire cabinet doesn't drop. For either type of cabinet, take the assistance from someone in order to hold up the cabinet as you remove it from the wall. When it comes to a recessed cabinet, use a putty knife in order to release any caulk on every side of the cabinet's perimeter.
- Disconnect The Electrical Wiring: Disengage the electrical wiring, if any, from the cabinet before pulling the cabinet completely off. If you are not planning to wire another light source to the old wiring, figure out where these wires associate or link to the power source and get rid of them while the power is still off. Otherwise, these former light wires are likely to be used to power a vanity light if the wires are in a junction box, which should always be used for wiring connections, in accordance to Frye Electric.