I was wanting to add a light switch box next to another switch box in my bathroom. The problem is that there's mirror on the wall. So how do you even cut a rectangular hole in a mirror?
One option is to just take this small section of mirror out and have a craftsman cut exactly what I need. The section is about 1 foot by 4 feet.

UPDATE: I just watched this video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21bgTTT8VFg
This would seem hard to do unless I remove the glass from the wall first.

 

Correct, you need to remove the glass or mirror and this type of procedure is best left to the professional. Also the thickness of the glass makes a difference. Ordinary window pane glass is easy to cut, but a high quality mirror is usually twice the thickness and requires special tools.

 

Listen to Norm201, leave it to the professionals. Since you have to remove the mirror, why not have a glass shop make a new piece with the hole since they will not be responsible for working on your piece.

 

You said you have a switch box already, can you double up and put two switches in that one box?

Bud

 

Most likely it's a single gang box and attached to the stud on the mirror side. He could open the wall remove box, locate it on the other side of stud (if it's not in a corner) and make it a two ganged box.

 

This is what I was thinking of, double switch in a single gang box.

Bud

 

Of course, I forgot about that style! Good Idea!

 

What special tools are needed? AFAIKT you need a special glass bit and you need a grinder (which I have) and water sprayer. What kind of saw blade do you need?

Hopefully the mirror mastic doesn't make it too difficult to pull the mirror out. Probably not. House was built in the 50's. I had another sheet of mirror spontaneously fall over a few years back (!).

The box has room for 2 switches. I will look into (I guess what you call) a 3 gang box. Currently there's a 3 way switch for a Nutone ceiling heater/fan/night light and one more switch for the vanity lights. I want to put a countdown timer switch in there for the heater and maybe even the fan. Need this for careless Airbnb guests who may leave the suite and forget to turn off these fans, especially the heater.

 

That is a diamond blade not a grinding wheel. Do yourself a favor and buy a new mirror with the cut out....it's only 12" X 48".

 

I finished this job months ago. The grinder went through this mirror like butter.

 

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