Removing wall mirror

Becky Murphy
by Becky Murphy
We have a large mirror over our bathroom vanity - no frame around it - and it is somehow attached to the wall behind it. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to REMOVE it? I've seen some HGTV shows that gave some ideas using tape and/or covering it up before breaking it, but don't remember the process. I don't want anyone to get cut from the glass but the mirror has to go. Any ideas would be appreciated. Sorry I don't have a photo.
  9 answers
  • Sometimes they glue mirrors onto the wall. If you find no mirror holders, then you probably have to break the mirror. What you need is painters or duct tape and tape the whole mirror up real "good" so when you try to pry it or smash it the tape and mirror come off together. I had to do this another bathroom remodel. Put a drop cloth or something to catch any stray glass and just use a pry bar to try and lift it off before tapping it with a hammer and breaking it off the wall. Good luck
  • Becky Murphy Becky Murphy on Feb 04, 2014
    Thanks so much. I will try this method with my husband's help of course. Somebody else suggested contact paper - I might try both since I have more than one mirror. I appreciate the help.
    • See 1 previous
    • Becky Murphy Becky Murphy on Feb 10, 2014
      @The Garden Frog with C Renee Thanks - I think the duct tape might work better for us. Contact paper might be okay for a smaller mirror.
  • Lynn Lynn on Feb 05, 2014
    We are going to tackle this same thing in the near future. My husband has mentioned using piano wire to pry the mirror as loose as possible. There will definitely be breakage, but we also plan on using tape all over it. Your idea of contact paper might be better!
  • Diane Woods Diane Woods on Feb 05, 2014
    We have been researching the same job. It makes me nervous to get hurt with all the cautions I've read, so safety googles, long sleeves and pants, gloves, heavy dropclothes and tape, tape, tape the mirror. I like the contact paper idea too! I read using a hairdryer to loosen the glue a little at a time works, but takes time. Use shims (or braided wire and putty knives) to tap down as the glue is heated (not the mirror). Since we aren't tied to keeping the mirror, we might try this first, and if it takes to long, just break it. Let us know what worked!
  • Becky Murphy Becky Murphy on Feb 05, 2014
    Will do. We have all the safety gear and will definitely use it. Thanks from another Tennessee gal.
  • Lisa Bare Lisa Bare on Feb 06, 2014
    First time I had to do this, mirror was almost 12' long. I paid a glass company to do it. Charged $200 and took them 10 minutes. They put a large X with tape, attached 2 large suction cups, and gently pulled it off wall. Came in one piece. Not that much glue on it. I won't pay that again. Did it myself in our next house. Only problem was getting rid of the glass. Put it on FREECYCLE, could be cut to smaller. Irons, etc. or break it up and use it to do a mirror mosaic piece of furniture. Wear heavy gloves, safety glasses, and try it yourself.
  • Becky Murphy Becky Murphy on Feb 06, 2014
    Thanks Lisa. Our mirror is not quite that big; we will tackle it this weekend. Safety gear for sure!
  • Becky Murphy Becky Murphy on Mar 13, 2014
    Sorry so late to post my SUCCESS in this project. To remove the mirror, I patiently taped the entire mirror with duct tape then placed a drop-cloth across the vanity and in the floor to catch any slivers of glass or gunk. After I put on my gloves and safety glasses, I got the trusty old hammer and started tapping with my right hand while holding the upper left corner of the mirror against the wall with my left hand. I tapped and moved from left to right and then moved down a few inches and continued. At this point my husband came to assist by holding the top right corner against the wall. After only a few minutes we were able to lift the tape from the wall and place the tape and 98% of the broken glass in a box positioned nearby. There were only a few small flecks of glass that managed to escape. This mirror was not very large and we were able to manage this project safely. I know it would require a few more people if the mirror was larger. Thanks for all your tips.....and once again duct tape saved the day!
  • Mary Mary on Mar 24, 2015
    I have read where the mirror was covered with plastic wrap and taped the edges down. We will be taking down our mirror in our bathroom in a couple of weeks and this is what we are going to try.