- Handyman
- Installation & Setup
- Home Repairs
Mirror Installation (Bathroom Mirrors, Full-Length Mirrors)
Want a mirror above your bathroom sink, a full-length mirror in your bedroom or entryway, or to swap an old mirror for a new frameless mirror or medicine cabinet? Your handyman chooses a suitable way to secure it based on the mirror's type, size and weight, hanging hardware, wall and location, and installs framed mirrors, frameless mirrors, mirror walls, surface-mounted medicine cabinets and plug-in lighted／anti-fog mirrors, and can also remove old mirrors, so your mirror is secure, level and safe to use.
- Service area
- Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond
Common issues
New mirror above the bathroom sink
Install a framed or frameless bathroom mirror, working around the faucet, light fixtures and outlets, and centred on the vanity.
Hanging a full-length mirror or securing a floor mirror
A full-length mirror can be hung on a wall or on the back of a door; a full-length mirror that stands on the floor leaning against the wall is secured to the wall with the manufacturer's hardware so it does not slide out or tip forward.
Large decorative or heavy mirrors
Large or heavy mirrors need sturdier fasteners and may take two people to carry; your handyman assesses the job first based on dimensions and photos.
Mirror walls or home gym mirrors
Full-wall or multi-panel frameless mirrors are installed with mechanical fastening such as bottom support and mirror clips, leaving room for existing outlets or switches.
Installing or replacing a medicine cabinet
Install a surface-mounted medicine cabinet, or replace an existing recessed medicine cabinet within the existing opening.
Replacing an old glued-on mirror
Remove an old mirror attached with mirror adhesive and install a new one; glued-on mirrors may break during removal, and the wall may also be damaged.
Installing a plug-in lighted mirror
Install a lighted or anti-fog mirror that plugs into an existing outlet, and test the lighting and anti-fog functions when finished.
What the pro will do
- 1
Your handyman gets details on the address, property type, the type of mirror or medicine cabinet, its dimensions, approximate weight or product model, the hanging hardware on the back, the wall material, the installation location and whether an old mirror needs to be removed, and collects photos of the mirror, the back of the mirror and the installation wall (including the vanity, faucet, light fixtures and outlets).
- 2
On site, your handyman confirms the wall, stud locations and hidden pipes and wiring, the fastening method and how many people are needed, and whether a permit, strata or landlord approval is involved; if custom-made mirror glass is needed, measurements are taken first. Work begins only after the scope of work and price are confirmed.
- 3
Installation or removal follows the agreed method. If it turns out along the way that opening a wall, electrical wiring, wall repair or other work outside this service is needed, your handyman will stop first and let you know; that part must be arranged separately.
- 4
Your handyman checks that the mirror is secure, level and aligned, runs a power test on lighted mirrors, cleans up the work area, and explains care points such as cleaning and ventilation.
Good to know
Share details in advance
Providing the mirror's dimensions, thickness (if known), model number or product page, along with photos of the back of the mirror and the installation wall, helps your handyman work out the fasteners and number of people needed.
Cleaning your mirror
Warm water and a soft cloth are the safest choice; don't spray cleaner directly onto the mirror, keep the mirror edges dry after wiping, and avoid cleaners containing ammonia, vinegar, acids or alkalis; for other products, follow the mirror manufacturer's instructions.
Keep the bathroom ventilated
Run the exhaust fan during and after bathing to reduce moisture building up at the edges and back of the mirror.
Choosing a lighted mirror
When choosing a lighted mirror, check whether the product carries a certification mark such as CSA or cUL, and make sure there is a usable outlet nearby; models that need to be hardwired require a licensed electrical contractor, arranged separately.
Secure floor mirrors
A full-length mirror standing on the floor against the wall should be secured to the wall according to the manufacturer's instructions; this is especially important if you have young children or pets at home.
Local tips
Earthquake safety
BC earthquake preparedness guidance recommends not hanging mirrors above where you sleep, and moving mirrors away from beds, sofas and chairs; if you're considering hanging a mirror at the head of your bed, please weigh this recommendation first.
Old mirrors can't go in the recycling bin
Mirrors and flat glass are not among the glass accepted in household recycling bins in Metro Vancouver cities; small or broken mirrors generally need to be wrapped securely or placed in a rigid container and disposed of according to your city's guidelines.
Disposing of large old mirrors
Most Metro Vancouver cities do not clearly commit to taking old mirrors through their large item collection service: Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Delta and Surrey explicitly do not accept them, while Burnaby lists wrapped mirrors as accepted (eligible residents only). Otherwise, you generally need to take them yourself to a recycling and waste centre, and there may be a fee.
Lighted mirrors are electrical products
Old lighted mirrors are electrical products and should not be thrown out as regular garbage; for example, Vancouver's guidance is to take them to an electrical product recycling depot.
Removing mirrors in older homes
About half of Metro Vancouver homes were built in 1990 or earlier; for these homes, or homes whose year of construction is unknown, if removing a glued-on mirror will tear off the wall's paper facing or scrape away wall material, asbestos sampling and lab testing must be arranged first.
Condos, strata and rental units
Large mirrors may not fit in a residential building's passenger elevator, so moving them may require booking the freight elevator; in a rental unit, get your landlord's written consent before installing a glued-on mirror or mirror wall, or removing the landlord's existing mirror; strata units must also follow the strata's rules.
This service covers only the installation, replacement and removal of residential indoor mirrors and medicine cabinets, including framed mirrors, frameless mirrors and mirror walls, surface-mounted medicine cabinets, recessed medicine cabinets replaced within the existing opening, and plug-in lighted／anti-fog mirrors. It does not include standalone custom mirror glass orders or glass fabrication, other glass work such as shower screens, mirrored closet doors, cutting new wall openings or enlarging openings, electrical wiring and outlet changes, relocating plumbing, wall repair and painting after removal, asbestos sampling and testing or handling of asbestos-containing materials, or full bathroom renovations; if you need any of this work, it must be arranged separately. Glued-on mirrors may break or tear off the wall's paper facing during removal, so the old mirror may not stay intact. Warped reflections, blackened mirror edges and similar issues are affected by the glass thickness, how flat the wall is, humidity, ventilation and how the mirror is cleaned later on; how the mirror holds up after installation depends on the actual mirror glass, wall and conditions of use. Permit, strata or landlord approval is confirmed based on the actual address and scope of work.
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