How to remove a bathroom mirror and install a new vanity top?

The mirror is likely glued to the wall. Great caution must be taken when removing it, as there is a good chance of it breaking. I would encourage you to consider having a professional remove the mirror for you. A professional will have specialised tools to cut through the adhesive on the rear of the mirror. In a D.I.Y. removal, your only real option is to try and cut the adhesive with an extendable knife and pry away at the sides of the mirror, hoping that it will pop off the wall. Prying the sides of the mirror puts great strain on the glass and can cause it to crack. It will likely not be safety glass, and if it does crack, it will be in large shards that can cause injury. If you do attempt removing it yourself, you must wear appropriate PPE gear, including a long-sleeved shirt and pants, enclosed footwear, gloves and safety glasses.

The mirror is sitting on top of the current benchtop, so it will need to be raised to accommodate the new benchtop. You could place the new benchtop in front of the mirror, but this will leave you with an unsightly gap at the rear that needs to be filled. Having said that, I think you'll find that many professionals would choose to place the new benchtop in front of the mirror and fill the gap at the rear with white silicone. This saves them time and prevents having to remove the mirror. However, it's not great practice and will lead to a not-so-fantastic finish on the back corners.

You'll need to bed the new vanity top down into position, and typically you'd use a wet area silicone for this. This silicone is placed on the top of the cabinetry where the top will be contacting. However, it's best to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Once again, there will be sealant between the basin bowl and the vanity top. But make sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations, as there might also be clips that need to be used. The wet area silicone can be used under the basin and for any other filling of joins on the vanity top.

Please let me know if you have further questions.

Mitchell

Thanks @MitchellMc . By the way, is it possible to remove the top without removing the mirror as the mirror is on top of the top (as per the photo below). Is there a glue between the mirror and the top I need to remove? I can see the screw inside underneath the countertop but not sure what else will be holding the countertop that I need to remove before removing the countertop

Hi @calccom21

Before attempting to remove the vanity top, please make sure to cut the silicone sealant between the mirror and the vanity top. I propose trying to slide the top out instead of lifting it so the mirror will not be stressed. For safety, I suggest covering the mirror with cardboard and masking tape just in case it breaks while you are removing the vanity top.

I suspect that your current mirror is glued into place. I suggest getting a professional handy person to remove it for you. It is extremely dangerous and there is the possibility of injury if the mirror is removed incorrectly. Please double-check all your measurements before making any attempt to remove your vanity top.

Please make sure to wear proper safety equipment such as work gloves, safety goggles and a dust mask when attempting to remove your vanity top.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Thanks @EricL for the advise. Do you think it is just silicon between top and the mirror or is it glued to it? I'm trying to avoid moving the mirror. So thanks for the advise of getting cardboard to cover the mirror. Didn't thought of it

I would imagine that the mirror frame is not glued to the vanity top. It's likely just the white silicone caulk that needs to be removed. You can cut it away with a retractable knife. Remember to wear those safety gloves when you do and keep your free hand away from the blade whilst cutting. Also, remember to cut away from yourself.

Mitchell

Thanks @MitchellMc @EricL . Do you know which masking tape is good to hold the mirror and not removing the paint from my plaster wall? Wanted to avoid needing to repaint the wall if it sticks on the tape

Hi @calccom21

I suggest using Paint Partner 24mm x 50m Blue 14 Day Resistance Masking Tape it is designed to be left on your wall for two weeks without leaving its adhesive on the wall. If you manage to finish the repairs in just a few days, it will be safe to remove the tape without having to worry about it.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Thanks btw does substrate use underneath the stonetop same as MDF board? What thickness does it usually comes on?

Hi @calccom21

The best way to get that information is to speak to the manufacturer of your vanity top. It's difficult to guess how thick the timber board is underneath unless a side portion of the vanity top is exposed. Drilling into the timber board could possibly damage the finish of the vanity top if you accidentally drill into it. In this instance, I suggest just using silicone to keep the vanity top attached to the cabinet.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Thanks everyone for the guidance and advises. Attached is the completed task. Feel happy and satisfied.

Great work, @calccom21! You must be pleased with the project as your new vanity top looks amazing.

How'd you go with the installation? Did you run into any difficulties?

Well done.

Mitchell

Jason

Congratulations @calccom21.

As Mitch mentioned, it would be great if you could please share any lessons learned along the way. I'm sure other members who are inspired by your handiwork will appreciate it.

Looking forward to also seeing what you tackle next. Please don't hesitate to post anytime you need a hand or have a new project to share.

Thanks,

Jason

I do it very slowly as I know my original thickness is 35mm whereas my new top is 40mm. So challenging when tapping the mirror. As I used the masking tape mentioned above..it is either the cardboard was too thick as it keep falling down no matter how many tape I uses.. cutting the old top out is also challenging as I wanna do it careful not to break the mirror.. after removing it, I was looking a solution to see how I can put some support underneath the mirror..so I uses the old top cut to the thickness and put under the mirror. Then another challenges is the hot and cold T pipe.. I need to gentle squeeze into it so to make sure it nicely fit onto the hole...lastly always make sure you put container underneath so it won wet anything if the water does comes out

btw does anyone know what the hole is for in the hot tap and cold tap? Inside I can see a pin but just not sure what it does to it. Also I can feel that when I turn the cold water the top tap scratches on the bottom tap that keep the valve in bay (see photo 1 it resulted a circa lines of scratches). Any solution?

Hello @calccom21

Thank you for that extra information about your vanity top installation. I'm sure our members will find it useful. In regard to your tap ware, the hole on the handle is the access hole for the Allen key. You place the Allen key inside to tighten the grub screw so that the handle will stay in place and not get pulled off.

I also suggest providing a gap between the handle and the base flange. This will prevent the handle from scratching the bottom. I've placed an image below to give you an idea on how it's supposed to be installed. I recommend using a 10C coin as a spacer so that the gap between the hot and cold will be uniform.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Thanks @EricL - that is awesome photo. I didn't know it. I have done it so it will leave it scratchless. Btw, unrelated to this project, do we know what can we use to cut colorbond roof? (multitool? and if oscillating is same as multi-tool or an angle grinder tool)?

Hello @calccom21

It is easier to cut Colourbond with an angle grinder, however you must have a steady hand as any errors in cutting can't be recovered. Using a multitool is possible but only for small precision cuts. There are custom cutting attachments, but if you are cutting only a few times it's better to use a grinder. The last tool which is tin snips is an excellent tool for cutting Colourbond. Among the tree, it's the tin snips that will give you the most accurate cut.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Hi all,

I'm going to proceed with second bathroom to remove the vanity top.. just wondering if cordless multitool is good to remove the top on the one circle in red.. the glue that stick on the bottom of the mirror to the vanity top? Previous I uses penknife to cut it.. also on the right side it stick to the tiles that is on the wall..can I use multitool without damaging the tile and the wall/mirror?

I'd suggest that it would be very hard not to cause some collateral damage when using a multitool. This might just be aesthetical damage, but if the blade digs in, it could cause significant damage to a surface. At a minimum, I would expect it to scratch the tiles.

I would always suggest you first start with a snap-off knife. A snap-off knife will effectively cut through any soft silicone that has been used; it'll also do a reasonable job of cutting through harder adhesives. A snap-off knife has a much thinner and sharper blade than a pen knife and will be far easier to fit into the small gaps.

Remember your PPE when working with knives and around the glass, including cut-resistant gloves, safety glasses, a long-sleeved shirt and trousers and enclosed footwear. Also, always cut away from yourself when using blades.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Thanks @MitchellMc .what do they usually use for in between tiles.. it doesn't look like elastic like sealant but Powderly white? Can this be replace with those.basin sealant?

It looks like they've tried to cover the gap between the tile and bench with cement-based tile grout. It's the same hard grout used between tiles. This joint is typically done with soft and flexible wet-area silicone. When you install the new bench you can fill this gap with silicone.

Mitchell

Hi All,

Just completed my other bathroom... Attached is the photo harder than the initial one

Also planning to change my kitchen top near future but prefer wooden type material any idea what type of material is suitable?

Also I'm planning to make a study table and I have a jigsaw and circular saw. Anyone know if it able to cut hardwood?

It was ozito corded think 400w

And the circular saw is Bosch pks1500 (1500w)

Hello @calccom21

Thank you for sharing that latest bathroom vanity update. That vanity top looks fantastic and certainly makes the area look brighter.

A corded jigsaw has more power than a cordless one and can cut through hardwood. However, it's important that you get the right type of jigsaw blade for your tool. I suggest visiting your local store and speaking to a helpful tool shop team member and explaining to them what you're after.

In regards to your Bosch PKS1500, it's powerful enough to cut hardwood, just remember to get the right saw blade for your tool.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Hi I recently installed this tapware and leave some gap spacer on the holt and cold..however after awhile it seem to drop down and scratching the bottom.. despite me keep using the Allen key to tighten. Any solution?