Upgrade your bathroom and make it look like one you’d want to come home to by installing a chic and supremely functional bathroom shaving cabinet. They come in myriads of styles and sizes to suit your design preferences. You can try and include custom built shaving cabinets to leverage the limited space within your bathroom. You can likewise spruce up the bathroom cabinet you already have. However there’s no denying the fact that nothing provides a facelift to the room like bathroom mirror cabinets especially if they come with lights. But first, you have to familiarise yourself with the shaving cabinet installation process. Read on for a handy, comprehensive guide.
How to install a shaving cabinet?
There are many benefits to installing a shaving cabinet. If you’re planning on installing the shaving cabinet yourself you may want to consider the complications involved in the processes while making your decision. When it comes to wall mounted cabinets, as the name implies, they are mounted to the wall. This means in certain cases the wall has to be framed and reinforced first to support the weight of the vanity adequately. Usually the installation process varies from one fixture to the next. If it’s too tricky don’t worry! Most come with thorough and extensive installation instructions and a mounting template too to help make the job at hand easier!
How to install a Recessed Shaving Cabinet?
A recessed shaving cabinet is usually anchored inside the wall to rectangular framing. It’s important to ensure that the framing is devoid of all obstructions which might be a little challenging. So if there are plumbing lines or wires that cannot be eradicated or relocated you’ll need to look at other options like a surface mount cabinet. Installation of a recessed shaving cabinet is fairly simple.
A few things to keep in mind before you begin:
It’s always better to have someone trained and professional to do this. If you are keen on getting it done by yourself, it’s advisable to consult a professional beforehand nonetheless to be safe and to keep unwanted surprises at bay.
Read the installation and product manual to point out any additional considerations or quirks required for that specific model.
Determine if the wall is load-bearing or an exterior wall because in that case you may have to reach out to a professional.
Leave 3 inches of space above and below the cabinet. Ensure that it clears the vanity lighting and faucets. If you have tall soap dispensers, faucets or relatively large light fixtures, you have to plan your cabinet placement around those.
Don’t mount it too high. Ensure you can see your face and your body adequately according to your preferences.
At any point if you see electrical lines, vents or vent pipes, plumbing pipes or drain pipes you need to stop right away and call a professional to get them rerouted.
Let’s take a thorough look at the steps:
Precisely mark the position of the cabinet: Measure the cabinet recess (both width and height). Draw a levered rectangle on the wall that is at least 1/4 inch larger than it.
View the inside of the wall: Determine if there’s a stud in the area you want to install the cabinet. You may have to cut out a hole on each side of the stud to look for obstructions. Make sure this ‘peep’ hole is located within the marked cabinet location. Ensure you’re not cutting too deeply through the drywall to avoid chopping off plastic pipes or wires inside the wall!
Cut out the wall opening for the cabinet: Cut the drywall/plaster out by using a reciprocating saw with a nail cutting blade. Don’t worry too much if right now your hole is not looking too pleasing. You’ll get there soon!
Make two cuts through the stud: Make one cut at the top of the cabinet opening and the other one near the bottom. Remember to cut as squarely as possible.
Install the nailers for the cabinet: Since recessed cabinets attach to the wall by screws through the sides, you can easily install nailers on both sides of the opening. Cut two pieces almost 2x4 the length of the opening to create the framing for your cabinet. Slide them into the wall between the drywall after putting some construction adhesive on both edges.
Insert the cabinet, level it and then screw it into the place.
If you want more light in your bathroom you can choose to install an LED light strip to your shaving cabinet as well. They add that extra touch of warmth and vitality to the space while lighting up your bathroom. LED strip lights come in more than one option so you have many to choose from!
A recessed bathroom shaving cabinet brings an element of innovative sleekness and style to your bathroom or powder room. It also melds nicely with any and every bathroom style from traditional to contemporary ones. It also saves a lot of space because you won’t have a cabinet that sticks out from the wall. If you manage to successfully overcome the challenges of the installation process, you’ll have found your bathroom and yourself a shaving cabinet that you’ll absolutely adore!