Do you feel like you have more items in your bathroom? If you spend the weekend cleaning your bathroom but by the middle of the week you find your counters cluttered, you need extra storage. maybe. But if you’re working with a limited area, you may not know the most effective way to improve your clutter problem. We have the solution: recessed or surface mounted chemical cabinets.
Installing a medicine cabinet is an effective way to store necessities, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, and other amenities that you use every day. Best of all, installing a medicine cabinet is a relatively easy do-it-yourself project for the average homeowner. However, there are some complications depending on the installation method.
Kitchen Cabinet Kings explores two ways to install a medicine cabinet in your bathroom. Learn how to wall mount the recessed medicine cabinet and how to use surface mount.
Inset and Surface Mounted Chemistry Cabinets
After browsing the aisles of your local department store, you’ve probably realized that you have a choice. A home renovation project isn’t as simple as choosing a medicine cabinet design and planning how to fit it into a small bathroom. You need to decide whether you want the chemical shelf to be recessed or surface mounted.
The chemical cabinet is embedded inside the wall, and the door of the chemical cabinet is almost flush with the wall. To install this style of medicine cabinet, you will need to cut into the drywall to create a hole the size of the cabinet that can be recessed into the wall.
Another option is a surface mounted chemical cabinet. This is the perfect home improvement project for beginners. Cabinets are wall-mounted rather than installed inside the wall. This is an ideal option for homeowners who are not ready to tackle large projects or homes with plumbing pipes running inside walls.
Installing a surface mount chemical cabinet
For those new to home improvement projects, surface mount chemical cabinets are a great place to start. It’s easier and less time consuming. Here are his four steps for installing a chemical cabinet using surface mount.
1. Check stud position
Since the chemical cabinet will be attached to the bathroom wall, we need to know the location of the wall studs. This will allow you to bond your cabinets in the safest way (and avoid accidentally hitting pipes or electrical elements behind the wall). I recommend using a stud finder to slowly scan the wall and mark where the beeps that indicate the start and stop of the studs are made.
2. Determine placement
Determine the placement of chemical shelves on the wall. Consider height and optimal placement for easy access. If you have a mirror in front of you, you should also be aware that you will be reflected in it when you stand in front of it.
Once you’ve determined the general placement, have a helper hold the chemical shelf in place. Use a spirit level to ensure the cabinet is straight and adjust as necessary until it is properly positioned. Once you’re happy with the position, use a pencil to draw a thin line on the wall to indicate where it’s going.
3. Create mounting holes
While holding the cabinet in place, open the cabinet door and mark the location of the mounting holes on the wall. Then pull the cabinet away from the wall and lay it on its side. You will need to use a drill to drill holes in the cabinet where you marked the holes. Please pay attention to the size. If the holes are too wide, the cabinet may not be sturdy.
4. Install chemical cabinet
Now that you’ve created the mounting holes for your chemical cabinet, place the cabinet where you want it by aligning the holes in the cabinet with the holes you drilled in the wall. Secure the cabinet to the wall by screwing the fasteners into the holes while holding the cabinet in place. Tighten each fastener loosely at first, then slowly tighten when satisfied with placement.
Installation of recessed medicine cabinet
If you are looking for a chemical shelf with a little more luxury, we recommend that you consider a built-in chemical shelf. You can complete this project yourself, but it’s considerably more difficult and time consuming than a surface mounted chemical shelf. But I promise you the effort will be worth it.
1. Inspect the walls
Do you know what’s under the drywall? A recessed medicine cabinet requires you to drill holes in the wall where you install the cabinet, so it’s important to understand how your bathroom’s plumbing and electricity are set up. To understand where the studs are, it’s always a good idea to start with the stud finder and mark the start and end of the stud with a pencil.
Once you have located the studs, outline a 5-inch square between the two studs and cut it out with a drywall saw. Note: Turn off the bathroom light before cutting into the wall. This hole allows you to look into the wall and get a better idea of what’s going on underneath. Use your flashlight to look for wires, pipes and other hidden objects. If the area is empty, you can proceed with installing the chemical shelf.
2. Determine placement
Hold the medicine cabinet up against the wall using the hole as a frame of reference to better understand the optimal placement of the medicine cabinet. Use a pencil to mark the wall where the cabinet will be installed.
Next you need to measure the size of the box for your cabinet. To this dimension he adds 1/4 inch to give you some room and recommends locating the cabinets inside the wall. Measure these dimensions and use a pencil to lightly add them to the wall around the hole. Use a level on the contour to make sure the cabinet is level. After adding the contours to the wall, lift the cabinet to make sure it looks like it will fit in the opening.
3. Cut drywall
Note: This step requires the bathroom light to be turned off. Use a drywall saw to cut along the contour you created and remove the section of drywall where the inset chemical cabinet will be installed.
Place the chemical cabinet in the hole and make sure it fits properly and the door can be opened and closed. Trim the drywall as needed for a better fit. Once you are happy with the fit, set the cabinet aside.
4. Secure the chemical cabinet in place
To hold the cabinet securely in place, you will need two pieces of 2×4 lumber cut 2 inches longer than the height of the chemical cabinet. Place the 2×4 vertically into the holes on either side of the opening and secure in place with drywall screws.
Then place the snap-on medicine cabinet into the hole and work it into place so that it is firm and level. Once in place, drive the screws through the wall of the chemical cabinet into the wooden block. Tighten the screws to secure the cabinet in place.
FAQ
Is installing a chemical shelf a cost-effective project?
Adding storage to your bathroom doesn’t have to be expensive. The cost of installing a chemical cabinet depends on the type of cabinet and whether you choose a DIY approach or professional installation. On average, you can expect installation to cost between $100 and $300.
Where is the best place to put the medicine cabinet?
It is usually recommended to have a medicine cabinet directly above the sink or toilet for easy access to toiletries and medicines. However, the exact location depends on the layout and size of your bathroom.
If you have a small bathroom, a recessed medicine cabinet is a good option as it maximizes space and provides a seamless look. Large bathrooms with ample wall space are ideal for surface-mounted medicine cabinets. However, there are no hard and fast rules for the placement of the medicine cabinet and should be based on individual needs and preferences as well as the layout and size of the bathroom.
Does a medicine cabinet add value to your home?
The medicine cabinet itself doesn’t necessarily affect the overall value of the home. But bathroom storage, in particular, is in high demand and can drive home prices up. A medicine cabinet provides convenient storage space and can enhance the overall aesthetics of your bathroom, which in turn will attract buyers.
What styles of chemical cabinets are available?
There is never a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to bathroom storage. Therefore, different types of chemical shelves are available. Depending on your needs and bathroom layout, you can consider surface mounting, recessed, corner mounting, or installing a mirrored medicine cabinet.
