Putting something over a wall of mirror.

Mary Insana
by Mary Insana
I currently have a wall to wall built in china closet that goes from counter height down. Above this is 3 very large (tall and wide) mirrors. It would be a real pain to remove the mirrors. I would like to put cabinets across the top to use for more storage. I plan on using unfinished cabinets and stain them to match the bottom cabinets. I have had someone tell me I could drywall or put nice stained plywood over the mirrors and then when I drill holes to put up the cabinets it will be fine. Any thoughts on this. I plan on doing the work myself so any suggestions will be appreciated. I've done major things before but this one is making me hesitate because i don't want to ruin my dining room!
I can take a picture later and add it here.
  9 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Oct 01, 2012
    Having the glass behind plywood or drywall is just asking for trouble down the road. upper cabinets are "hung" from the walls studs using long screws. I may be possible to build these new cabinet as a free standing unit. but my rule of thumb is to attach all tall bookcase and any other "tall" cabinet unit to the wall via a "L" bracket. This is a safety measure that prevents them from tipping. I may be a pain to remove the mirrors but you only have to do it once.
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Oct 01, 2012
    You're right about attaching them to a wall, I would never want them to fall. I really don't know the first thing about removing mirrors. There are no noticable areas where they are attached to the wall so they may be glued to the wall. What kind of person would I call to removed mirrors? There is a mirror and glass store nearby, they made my custom shower doors. Would that be someone to call?
  • I agree with Kevin on this. I would go through the process of removal of the mirrors and then install the uppers. You need long screws to fasten the cabinets safely and doing this wrong can spell disaster should something fail. How are the mirrors fastened?
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Oct 01, 2012
    The mirrors were here when we moved in. I think they may be glued somehow to the wall. There are no noticable exposed fastners
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Oct 02, 2012
    I have heard of some removal tricks where a thin wire is slipped behind the mirror and then pulled across...this "slices" the mirror off the wall. depending on the size of the mirror this may work. if the mirror is pried off it may break into sections, before trying that trick tape the face of the mirror with lots of tape to hold it together.
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Oct 02, 2012
    I just read about that method last night. Lots of duc tape over those mirrors just in case. I also read about someone that used shims down the back of the mirror. I couldn't use that method since the mirrors are up o the ceiling and no place to start a shim.
  • you would use the shims on the sides in your case however if its a really large glass, the shim method really does not work all that well. A long piano wire is used to cut the mastic loose from the wall. You use a sawing action to cut into the old glue. Duct tape is ideal to support the glass should it crack with removal. The older it is, the more likely it is to crack during removal. Be sure to put down large drop cloths, wear eye and hand/arm protection and do not carry the glass in a flat position. Keep us posted on what you decide to do.
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Oct 02, 2012
    I may have to put this off until after the holidays :( I would hate to have a large mess on my hands. I wish i had someone to help me. My husband is not handy AT ALL. I do all the handy work at home and he works and pays for my supplies :-) I got a circular saw and a work bench for my birthday !
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Nov 29, 2012
    I just hired someone to talke the mirrors down and they are now a thing of the past. The dining room looks so different already. They are going to dry put up new dry wall and then I have a blank canvas to work on in my dining room. My first project is to paint and then possibly put up cabinets and a shelf or two. Unless I change my mind again.