Hang a bathroom mirror on a solid brick or block wall

Fit a bathroom mirror safely and level, checking for pipes and cables before drilling into a solid wall.

BM-01Check the mirror's weight and fixing pointsLook at the back of the mirror to see how it hangs — a cleat, keyhole slots, or fixing lugs with holes. Weigh it or check the manufacturer's spec sheet, since this decides the size of wall plug and screw you need. Heavier mirrors (over 5kg) need bigger plugs and at least two, ideally four, fixing points.

BM-02Gather your tools and clear the areaLay a dust sheet under the work area to catch tile and brick dust. Get your drill, masonry bits, a tile bit if drilling through tile, spirit level, pencil, tape measure and screwdriver ready. Keep the mirror packaging nearby in case you need to set it down safely.

1 each · Dust sheet

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1 each · Cordless drill

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1 each · Masonry drill bit (matched to plug size)

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1 each · Tile and glass drill bit

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1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Tape measure

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BM-03Check for pipes and cables before you drillBathrooms often hide pipework behind tiles near sinks, showers and baths, so run a detector over the area first — but still expect something to be there, since detectors miss deep cables, metal-cased pipes and anything behind metal-backed board. Find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely before you start, so you can shut the water off fast if you hit a pipe. If you have any doubt about what is behind the wall, isolate the electrics at the consumer unit before drilling.

1 each · Cable and pipe detector

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BM-04Mark and level your fixing pointsHold the mirror up (or better, get someone to help) at the height you want and mark the top fixing points lightly with a pencil. Use a spirit level to draw a level line between them before marking any second or third fixing point, so the mirror hangs straight.

BM-05Drill through tile, then into the brick or blockStick a strip of masking tape over the mark to stop the tile bit skating, then drill slowly through the tile using a tile or glass bit with no hammer action. Once through the tile, swap to a masonry bit and hammer action to drill into the brick or block behind, to the depth stated on your wall plug packet (usually 5mm deeper than the plug length).

1 roll · Masking tape

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BM-06Fit the wall plugsPush a wall plug matched to your drill bit size fully into each hole, tapping it gently with the handle of a screwdriver if needed until it sits flush with the tile. Use red plugs for lighter fixings and brown or blue plugs for heavier mirrors, following the size stated on the packet.

4 each · Wall plugs (brown/blue, size to match screw)

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BM-07Drive in the screws and hang the mirrorDrive a screw into each plug, leaving about 5-8mm proud if the mirror hangs on keyhole slots, or fully home if it uses brackets or a cleat. Lift the mirror onto the screws or into its bracket, then check it's level and give it a firm push to make sure it's seated.

4 each · Screws (size to match mirror fixings)

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BM-08Seal the edges and clean upIf the mirror sits close to a shower or bath splash zone, run a thin bead of sanitary silicone along the top edge to stop water getting behind it. Vacuum up tile and brick dust, wipe down the tiles, and stand back to check the mirror is level.

1 tube · Sanitary silicone sealant

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1 each · Sealant gun

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