Author Topic: Removing a "fully enclosed" mirror  (Read 1887 times)

AccidentialMustache

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Removing a "fully enclosed" mirror
« on: April 01, 2018, 10:49:13 AM »
We had our basement flood from a rain-event sanitary sewer backup. We've already ripped the carpet up and the bottom drywall from the rest of the basement. Now we're looking at the source: the bathroom. We know there's mold growing on/in the vanity wall (via access from the other side). We suspect the vanity itself also has those issues too. However, above the vanity is a wall-to-wall and vanity-to-ceiling mirror. It isn't clips (there's no space) so I've only got a couple options -- one it is glued. The other is it was shoved up into the too-tall top track and the set down into the shorter bottom track (plus possibly also being glued while that happened).

I'm hoping to find some suggestions for how to pull it, and/or a risk assessment of tearing out the vanity below it causing the mirror to drop and shatter (on us). If we tear out the vanity, we'd have a space we could start shimming to try to pop the glue, if it is glued on, but that seems like a high-risk removal since you're working underneath and if it does shatter, any lose parts you can't catch via taping the front are heading down where your arms are.

Pics here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qlIXpj4JT61Y9sNB2

All that said, there is a fair possibility the former owner who put it in did it wrong. There's been a number of other wrong findings in the basement (lack of moisture barrier between wood and concrete, wrong depth on outlets, improperly wired 2-switch circuits, etc).

Any hints?

sokoloff

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Re: Removing a "fully enclosed" mirror
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2018, 11:19:16 AM »
Likely dollops of construction adhesive.

Are you trying to remove it permanently? If so, dress in leather full length arm covering and work gloves and have at it. (You want to protect yourself from cuts from the glass if it breaks.)

AccidentialMustache

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Re: Removing a "fully enclosed" mirror
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2018, 11:59:14 AM »
At some level if its a huge pain in the rear to remove... I'm not putting it back. I'm not going to do that to my-future-self. I'll swap it out for something smaller.

I'm sure it was done XL to make the (very small bathroom space) look bigger, but...

lthenderson

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Re: Removing a "fully enclosed" mirror
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2018, 08:13:53 AM »
Normally I would say it was "glued" on as well but the tracks make me think otherwise. I think I would probe around gently with a screwdriver to see if that top track is just a cover and see if it pops off and you can see some retaining clips behind it that hold the mirror in place. If that is the case then you could lift it out of the way until you were ready to put it back in. Even if it is glued, you can sometimes still get them off if you are careful and pull slowly and gently.

AccidentialMustache

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Re: Removing a "fully enclosed" mirror
« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2018, 08:58:12 PM »
The top track is on both sides of the mirror and is some type of metal. I don't think I'll get it to pop off and I can't pop it up because of the ceiling. I'll have a check when I'm down next but I can't think how I'd get it off other than possibly pliers, pulling, and hoping that it is *not* holding the mirror.

index

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Re: Removing a "fully enclosed" mirror
« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2018, 09:37:54 PM »
Screw 2x4s into the wall on both sides of the mirror to stop it form falling toward you when you rip out the vanity. It will either day to the floor and break in a few pieces or stay attached. If it's attached with glue, use contact adhesive and glue 6 mil plastic to the face and take a hammerr to it or just wear a sweat shirt and eye protection and have at it with hammer and flat bar. It will come if in bigger pieces than you think.

AccidentialMustache

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Re: Removing a "fully enclosed" mirror
« Reply #6 on: April 16, 2018, 08:28:04 PM »
Well, we didn't remove the mirror. The counter and vanity are gone though! The backsplash is still there, very obviously glued to the wall like someone meant it. Given that I'm pretty positive someone glued the mirror to the wall, the only question is did I damage that attachment in prying the counter off (had to rock it up and down).

Hopefully we can get a plumber in to evaluate getting a lift pit put in. If that's a no-go, then we'll figure out where to go from there.