I’ve been asked this question a few times over the last couple weeks and despite my inquiries and offers to help anyone who wanted it…I could not find a single person in my area that had a builders mirror they wanted removed.
So, here is my best explanation with not enough pictures of how to remove your builders mirror!
First, I tried to criss cross tape all over the mirror in case it broke, so it wouldn’t shatter…because that’s what they do on DIY shows! But, I ran out of tape so it ended up being a useless V of tape! You might want to do a better job, just in case!
My mirror was about 8 feet long and HEAVY! So, it was a 2 person job. (Thanks Melissa!) I just put a prybar behind the mirror on one corner and SLOWLY, GENTLY pulled. See the globs of glue?
Each one popped away from the wall, one at a time as I moved down towards the other end of the mirror. We each stood on the counter and once the top row of glue was “popped” off, we both pulled GENTLY and SLOWLY and each additional row or GLUE GLOBS popped away from the wall. Then we lifted it out of the metal track.
There is nothing you can do (in my opinion) to avoid damaging your wall. The glue is made to STICK and it does. It tears the drywall paper off with it! Whoever installed my mirror used Black adhesive which I had to scrape off before I could patch.
After removing the black glue residue, I patched the drywall with joint compound. Some of the areas with torn paper required a little drywall tape too because the paper kept bubbling from the water in the JC.
It took about 3 coats and sandings, about the same as an actual “patch”, to get it smooth enough for paint.
Then you can install you mirror of choice.
The actual mirror removal took about 5 minutes. The patching took a couple days.
Tags: Tutorial
Wow! This is gorgeous! Thank you for posting!!!
Am I to assume that the mirror you removed here is the same mirror that smashed into a million pieces in your garage? You remove your builders' mirror and I glue mine on! It was just attached with mirror clips. I did, however, add moulding to the perimeter to give it a framed mirror effect. Looks much better now!
We have been planning to remove our large builder's mirror from the master bath for awhile now. If it doesn't break, it will be moved to the workout room so we have a mirror like in a gym. Just an idea for all those mirrors that are going to be removed, now that Sandra has posted this
Oh. my. word. Are you telling me that you and another female removed that mirror? Because I have one exactly, EXACTLY, like it, which I hate, but I've waited, not knowing what to do. Mine isn't even glued to the wall, it has little holder thingies. And girl, I do seriously LOVE the new mirrors, what a total transformation!!! I'm gonna do it! Question: What did you do with that monster mirror? Did you have to carry it down steps (I will have to)? How'd you get rid of it? I was wishing I could have mine cut into pieces and then frame them, so I didn't have to buy real mirrors. Wondering if a glass shop will do it?
hi there
i to just read her post and i am over joyed to get rid of my eyesore in the bathroom….. but i myself have had mirror cut to size from bit old mirrors and u can even frame them in old picture frames…where we found to get them cut is the little hardware stores the mom and pop shops do it for as little as 1 a cut ….got luck……..
I don't have any of these huge eyesores (The house was built in 1927 and still has the original medicine chests), but I would have been right there with you on getting it the heck out of the house. Great tips.
Great job on getting it removed in one piece! I haven't tried the prybar method, but you can also use picture wire (the metal stuff) and run it back and forth behind the mirror so it cuts through the glue.I like the new mirrors!
I wish I'd had this post a year ago when we first started renovating our place! We've now removed five builders' mirrors, and at first we were totally thrown by that horrible black adhesive. Now we're used to it and are better at repairing the walls, but that didn't prevent a little mishap when removing our mirrored kitchen backsplash!
Been trying to convince my hubby to remove ours since we moved in! Your project turned out beautiful!
Ok, I just found your blog, so I'm perusing old posts and just have to say that swapping out that huge builder's mirror for the new ones made me want to hang out in your bathroom…it is gorgeous!!!
Thanks Sandra for posting the link to your article on Hometalk. We have the exact setup as you and hopefully I’m successful at removing our mirror