How To Install A Recessed Medicine Cabinet In A Load Bearing Wall

How to install a medicine cabinet a recessed medicine cabinet needs to be anchored inside the wall to a rectangle of framing the center of which must be clear of obstructions.

How to install a recessed medicine cabinet in a load bearing wall.

Use a mirror and flashlight to look inside the wall cavity to see if there are any surprise obstructions. To install a surface mounted medicine cabinet scan the wall with a stud finder and use a pencil to mark the location of the beams. This is where the reciprocating saw and jigsaw will come in handy. Start in the middle of the desired location and cut a small rough opening.

Hold the cabinet in place and use a level to make sure it s perfectly straight then open the doors and mark the installation holes. With the studs marked mark a horizontal line between the two studs where you want the top and bottom of the cabinet to be. Time to cut the hole. A recessed medicine cabinet will give a modern appeal to your bathroom.

Put some construction adhesive on both edges of the 2x4 s and slide them into the wall between the drywall. If the body portion of the cabinet is small enough to squeeze between studs and your studs are positioned correctly it s easy. It can keep your counters clear of clutter but still provide what you need at hand. So i am installing a recessed medicine cabinet and it looks great after i cut the huge 14 5 x 34 opening.

So the first order of business in installing one before you even buy the cabinet is looking inside the wall see step 2 to be sure there are no obstacles that can t be moved. Once the drywall is all cut out you can get started on cutting the wood studs. How do i finish tie in the other studs without ripping down the drywall i don t want to. Which means i have to cut into some studs.

Step 1 position the cabinet. It s off center so now i have to move this opening over just a few inches. Cut two pieces of 2x4 the length of the opening. The normal height is 72 inches from the floor to the top of the cabinet.

So you will have to install nailers on both sides of the opening. Normally you d start by simply measuring how big the back of your medicine cabinet is and making a cut roughly 1 4 larger into the wall. If the recessed cabinet is designed to fit between studs this is super easy. Most recessed cabinets attach to the wall by screws through the sides from inside the cabinet.

I wouldn t suggest cutting through any studs. Use a stud finder and if they re in the right spot for your desired location it s pretty easy to score the drywall and knock out the middle. Recessing cabinets involves fitting the back of the cabinet between the framing behind the drywall.