The average homeowner spends about $225 to remove a wall mirror. Depending on the size of the mirror and the aftermath left behind on the wall, most spend between $162 and $290.
While taking down a mirror isn't the most complicated home project you'll ever take on, it can be more complicated than expected. How much does it cost to remove a wall mirror that's glued or wired to a wall? Here's a look at the factors to prepare for as you plan mirror removal.
Professionals generally charge based on the time it takes to unfix a mirror. A larger mirror that exceeds standard mirror sizes will cost more to remove due to its bulk and extra adhesive, making the job more complicated.
Size | Removal Cost |
---|---|
10 x 12 | $100-$110 |
12 x 12 | $115-$120 |
24 x 36 | $130-$190 |
64 x 16 | $200-$250 |
70 x 18 | $280-$350 |
In general, hiring a local handyperson to remove a mirror consists entirely of paying for labor unless you're also hiring a repair expert to patch up the wall space behind the mirror or calling a mirror repair pro near you to repurpose the mirror. The hourly rate to hire a pro for this task is between $35 and $120 per hour.
If you need to hire a drywall contractor separately, expect the cost to be between $60 and $90 per hour. For professional painting services, costs can range from $20 to $100 per hour.
Patch Size | Cost |
---|---|
1-5 square feet | $75-$110 |
6-10 square feet | $115-$120 |
12-20 square feet | $130-$140 |
25-30 square feet | $145-$160 |
30-50 square feet | $165-$170 |
50-70 square feet | $115-$120 |
Tipping is optional when hiring a handyperson for mirror removal. If your handyperson goes above and beyond, consider a tip totaling 15% to 25% of the bill. Tipping is considered more appropriate if the person you hire hauls the mirror away without charging a disposal fee.
Overall, removing a wall mirror can be a very achievable DIY pursuit. However, the process can be more complicated than it appears once you dig in, depending on how the mirror is secured to the wall. If your goal is to preserve the mirror, hiring a pro to safely and carefully remove it may be a smart idea. Additionally, professionals have removal tools that can reduce the likelihood of pulling away drywall or removing paint from the wall during removal.
If you're attempting to remove a wall mirror on your own, the cost can total roughly $20 to $90 when you factor in the need for a plastic tarp to protect your floor costing $10 to $20 per pack, a drywall knife costing around $12, and plywood needed to neatly pry the mirror from the wall costing $15 to $80 per board. Additionally, you may require a wire saw or heat gun costing between $12 and $20 each to loosen the mirror from the wall. If you'll be touching up the mess left behind on your own, expect to pay between $3 and $15 per container of drywall putty and $18 to $40 per gallon of interior paint.
If you choose to hire a handyperson, the rate will be closer to $60 to $125 per hour. Meanwhile, professional mirror installers generally charge $50 to $150 per hour for this service.
While removing mirrors glued to the wall seems straightforward enough, some residual problems may need to be addressed before you send your handyperson away. Here's a look at some add-ons to consider to make sure the job is fully done:
Patching wall damaged by mirror: $100-$225
Repainting the room to conceal mirror marks: $200-$800
Hauling away old mirror: $25-$45
Disposing of old mirror: $30-$90
Ordering a custom-cut mirror: $74-$445
Replacement mirror installation: $75-$200
There are several ways homeowners can bring down the cost to remove a mirror that's glued to the wall. Here are some tips:
Ask your handyperson if they can handle any drywall repair or painting that will be necessary to bundle costs into one fixed price or hourly rate.
Consider repainting the room on your own once the mirror is removed.
Consider giving a mirror away for free on an online marketplace or donating it to Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity to avoid disposal or hauling fees.
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Generally, large bathroom mirrors that have been secured to the wall with glue require a multistep removal process. By taping the mirror with masking tape or duct tape, you can potentially prevent dangerous shards from falling as you loosen the mirror. A heat gun or other heat source may be needed to loosen up the glue before it can be freed using a wire saw. With glued-down mirrors being the most dangerous to remove, it's wise to hire a professional instead of handling glass on your own.
For small cracks, glass-bonding glue that can be pressed into cracks may be able to save a broken mirror. If a corner of a mirror has been chipped, you may be able to conceal the fact by adding a border or frame to the mirror. Deeper cracks and chips should be addressed by a glass-restoration professional if you're trying to preserve an antique or heirloom mirror.
While finding your mirror cracked can be spooky, there are actually many logical and common reasons why this happens. First, the mirror may have been mounted unevenly in the first place. Over time, poor mounting leads to stress points that will eventually cause a mirror to crack. Other common causes of a mirror spontaneously cracking include dramatic temperature shifts, strong thunder or a loud crash somewhere in the distance, exposure to heat and sunlight, and an uneven wall in your home. It's also possible that your mirror had a manufacturing defect or microscopic cracks that occurred during glass cutting or handling that eventually caused it to shatter.