WHAT IT TAKES
TIME: 1/2 day
SKILL LEVEL: Beginner
Surface-mounting a large medicine cabinet is simply a matter of centering it, leveling it and screwing it to the wall studs.
An old cabinet may be surface-mounted or recessed into the wall cavity between the framing. Remove a recessed unit simply by opening the door, backing out the screws in the side of the cabinet and pulling it out of the recess. Cut around it with a utility knife if it’s caulked or painted in around the edges. Have a helper support surface-mounted cabinets, then back out the screws; or if working alone, hold the cabinet by screwing a temporary 1x2 support ledger under the cabinet as shown in Photo 1. Move or replace the lighting beside or above the old cabinet, if needed.
Hold the new medicine cabinet against the wall and adjust it up and down to find the perfect height, then mark the bottom and set the cabinet aside. Use the mark to draw a level line for positioning the 1x2 ledger (Photo 1). Then follow Photos 2 and 3 for installation details.