Hey everyone! I'm looking for advice on how to mount a 20lb mirror in my powder room. The tricky part is that the mirror has a welded French cleat on the back that's only 8 inches wide, and I need it to be centered on the wall. However, my wall studs are spaced 16 inches apart, which means none of the screw holes in the cleat will line up with a stud when the mirror is centered. Since the cleat can't be removed or replaced for something longer, I can't anchor into the studs and will need to secure it to drywall instead. What's the safest way to do this? Are heavy-duty toggle bolts or molly bolts enough for this weight, or is there a better solution? Any tips or experiences would be super helpful!
2 Answers
Why not open up the wall and add a 2x4 between the studs at the height you need? It’ll give you a solid anchor point for the mirror.
I was thinking along the same lines, but what about using a piece of 3/4" plywood across the studs? It could look sleek and still provide solid support.
You could try using a wider wall-mounted cleat to provide more support. Just use the existing cleat as a template to make a wider one that can be anchored between the studs. This way, it'll distribute the weight better and you'll have a secure mount!
That’s true, but you might want to consider a 2x6 instead of just a 2x4 for extra support. Just a thought!