Removing & Installing A Medicine Cabinet
If you are entirely looking to renovate a bathroom or just want to update a few out of date or obsolete elements, then it is important to, first of all, pull out the medicine cabinet.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.
Removing 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.
Installing Medicine Cabinet
- Check The Wall Cavity: You need to lightly mark the wall to show the outline of place where the cabinet is likely to be fixed. Use a stud finder which will help to locate any studs that is within this outline. For this use a keyhole saw, to cut out 4 inch square holes on both side of the studs, that are within the cabinet outline. Don't cut any deeper than the drywall as there is a risk of hitting wires or pipes. Now remove the drywall cutout. With the help of a flashlight check in the openings for possible obstructions.
- Wall Opening: Now, mark and cut down the wall opening. Hold down the cabinet against the wall, at a comfortable height, for this you may need helping hand. Once the desired position is achieved then trace down the cabinet's outline on the wall with the help of a pencil. Now to cut out along the pencil line use a keyhole saw. Remove all the drywall in the cut line, if in case some of the drywall is attached to the studs then break it off.
- Drywall Screw: Once the above step is done than clear the opening of loose debris and insulation if there is any. Carefully slide a hacksaw blade, behind the exposed stud and then cut out through the drywall screws that will hold the wallboard to its back edge.
- Wall Stud: Now cut out the wall stud, for that use a handsaw to cut any stud flush having the opening at the top as well as at the bottom. Here you need to be very careful not to cut out through the drywall attached to its back edge. In order to make it easier to handle remove the cabinet's door, try dry fit of the cabinet in the opening. To fix tight spots use a rasp and utility knife.
- Install The Blocking: In the opening slide a horizontal 2x4. Hold it at the level, with its end against the next of intact wall stud. Mark at the point where it meets the cut stud, then simply saw it to length. Then you need to make 3 more pieces of blocking that will fit at the top and bottom. In order to attach down the blocking, put construction adhesive on both the ends and put it between the studs, it should flush with the drywall opening. Hold it in the right place by carefully driving the screws through the drywall straight into the blocking.
- Mount The Cabinet: Now, you need to fit the cabinet inside the blocking's, and press down all the edges of the face frame make it flush against the wall. Through the holes drive the drywall screws in the side of the cabinet straight into the blocking. In order to hide down the irregularities in the wall, caulk around the edges of the cabinet.
- Assemble The Rest Of The Cabinet: Finally, reattach the cabinet door but make sure not to bend the hinges, also attach any hardware and install the shelves, as well as stock the cabinet.