Any idea on to remove a very large mirror from bathroom wall?

[daniel600x]

I'll be replacing my 26' vanity with 36' one and now my very large mirror will no longer fit. How can I safely remove it from the wall by myself?

 

[havasu]

Is the mirror glued to the wall with black mastic, or just screwed to the wall with mirror clips?

 

[nealtw]

I have just cut the drywall all around and carved a couple hand holds and pulled the drywall off the screws and then just repair the drywall.

 

[oldognewtrick]

I use to have a condo with 6-2×4' mirrors that were glued to the dinning room wall. I removed them intact by using thin wire pulled between the mirror and wall. Wear gloves, eye protection and long sleeve shirt and be very careful.

 

[slownsteady]

Ol'dog used to be an assassin in a former life

 

[havasu]

'ol Dawg Garrote!

Garrote - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrote
A garrote or garrote vil is a weapon, most often a handheld ligature of chain, rope, scarf, wire or fishing line used to strangle a person. ... A garrote can be made out of many different materials, including ropes, cable ties, fishing lines, nylon, ...

 

[latelifebiker]

Play it safe, Daniel. Before you make any attempt to remove a mirror by ANY means, first run a crosshatch pattern of duct tape firmly attached to the surface of the glass. These things break easily, and they cleave into dagger-like shards that can sever an artery in the blink of an eye. (Speaking of which... wear eye protection.) I recommend heavy, leather gloves, as well. Fabric gloves just offer a false sense of security and don't even slow down the broken glass. I've done several of these successfully, and I've had a couple of near-miss learning experiences. In one seemingly unworkable case (mirror was 6 feet long and 3 feet high) I taped it up like a mummy and use a 6-foot, iron spud bar to break it up as it was still hanging on the wall. Still had to be very careful removing the broken pieces. Neal gave good advice in suggesting you ignore any efforts to protect the sheetrock. It's gonna look like crap anyway after you get the mirror off, and it's a lot easier to fix than a trip to the ER. Good luck.

 

[daniel600x]

Is the mirror glued to the wall with black mastic, or just screwed to the wall with mirror clips?

I am not sure yet. All I can see is 2 white plastic clips on top of the mirror and one long metal trim/guide on the bottom of the mirror that is of the length of the whole mirror.

 

[daniel600x]

I use to have a condo with 6-2×4' mirrors that were glued to the dinning room wall. I removed them intact by using thin wire pulled between the mirror and wall. Wear gloves, eye protection and long sleeve shirt and be very careful.

I like that idea of the wire. Thanks

 

[daniel600x]

Play it safe, Daniel. Before you make any attempt to remove a mirror by ANY means, first run a crosshatch pattern of duct tape firmly attached to the surface of the glass. These things break easily, and they cleave into dagger-like shards that can sever an artery in the blink of an eye. (Speaking of which... wear eye protection.) I recommend heavy, leather gloves, as well. Fabric gloves just offer a false sense of security and don't even slow down the broken glass. I've done several of these successfully, and I've had a couple of near-miss learning experiences. In one seemingly unworkable case (mirror was 6 feet long and 3 feet high) I taped it up like a mummy and use a 6-foot, iron spud bar to break it up as it was still hanging on the wall. Still had to be very careful removing the broken pieces. Neal gave good advice in suggesting you ignore any efforts to protect the sheetrock. It's gonna look like crap anyway after you get the mirror off, and it's a lot easier to fix than a trip to the ER. Good luck.

Great advice. Thanks very much. I will definitely put a lot of tape throughout the surface before I attempt to take it off the wall. I'd Like to save it and maybe even take few $ for it on Facebook if possible

 

[nealtw]

I am not sure yet. All I can see is 2 white plastic clips on top of the mirror and one long metal trim/guide on the bottom of the mirror that is of the length of the whole mirror.

See if the top clips will slide up just far enough so the mirror will lean out then you can lift it out of the lower trim.

 

[Thomas529]

Don’t count on saving it. I would bet it is both glued and mechanicaly attached. Don’t overlook safety trying to save a 39 dollar item.
OV removed 5-6 of them and haven’t saved one yet.
The last one I covered with duct tape and then tapped it with ball peen hammer until it cracked in small pieces. Used box cutter to cut duct tape and threw in large trash can in bathroom. Any mastic comes off with the drywall paper so a bit of repair but it’s going to be covered with new mirror anyway.

Be safe

 

[nealtw]

Don’t count on saving it. I would bet it is both glued and mechanicaly attached. Don’t overlook safety trying to save a 39 dollar item.
OV removed 5-6 of them and haven’t saved one yet.
The last one I covered with duct tape and then tapped it with ball peen hammer until it cracked in small pieces. Used box cutter to cut duct tape and threw in large trash can in bathroom. Any mastic comes off with the drywall paper so a bit of repair but it’s going to be covered with new mirror anyway.

Be safe

And that is why you take the drywall with it.

 

[Johnboy555]

I've taken more than a dozen of these mirrors off the walls, usually in one piece. From 3x4 foot to 4x8 foot in a dance studio.
The secret is patience. First make sure that it's not held up by plastic mirror clips (almost all will be set in an aluminum "J" channel) Duct tape the face of the mirror as advised prior. I've made up a number of wedges, out of 2x4 s. Starting with a pair (or more) thinner wedges along one side or top and gently tapping them in. Keep tapping slowly and the glue "globs" will start to pop loose, some will stay on the mirror and some will stay on the wall. It's amazing just how strong a 1/4" plate mirror is. As it pulls away from the wall use longer/larger wedges. Believe me, it WILL work. In all my years, I've only broken 1 mirror since I've been using this method.

 

[daniel600x]

So I took it out in one piece by first taping it all over with a duck tape and then slightly prying it out from the top using in and out very short motion. After few seconds the 4 blobs of the black glue started tearing off and eventually the mirror pulled away from the wall. Next all I had to do its just lift it up from the aluminum track on the bottom. Wasn't that hard. The thought of what can happen was the hard part to deal with, lol. Thanks guys for all your help.