You want the mirror flush in the wall, not sticking out four inches over the sink. That has little to do with the cabinet and everything to do with what is behind the drywall. Bathroom medicine cabinets in Jacksonville, FL are a small piece of the bath cabinetry our shop builds, and here the wall decides for you.
| Recessed | Surface mount | |
|---|---|---|
| Projection | 3/4 to 1 inch of trim | 4 to 6 inches |
| Wall work | Cut and frame an opening | Screw to blocking |
| Works on a block wall | Rarely | Always |
| Storage depth | 3 1/2 to 4 inches | 4 to 6 inches |
| Install time | Half a day or more | 1 to 2 hours |
A recessed medicine cabinet is carpentry, not accessory hanging. We cut the drywall, and if a stud lands inside the opening we cut it and add a header and sill so the wall keeps carrying load. Anything wider than one bay crosses a stud, so header work is in the price.
A surface mount medicine cabinet stops being the compromise the moment your wall is block, the bay is full of plumbing, or the tile is up.
The install still deserves care. We find studs, add blocking where there is none, and set the cabinet dead level, since a mirror a degree off shows from across the room. On a block wall we anchor into the block, not into furring that is often 1 inch of soft pine.
An interior wall with 2x4 studs at 16 inches on center gives about 14 1/2 inches of clear bay and 3 1/2 inches of depth, which is what most recessed units expect.
A CBS block exterior wall is the hard case, and plenty of Jacksonville houses from the 1950s through the 1970s have them. There is no cavity, just block, furring and drywall, so you go surface mount or we frame a shallow bump out for depth.
Then there is what else lives in the bay: vent stacks, supply lines and vanity light wiring. We scan the wall, and when it is unclear we cut a small inspection hole that gets patched.
| Nominal size | Typical rough opening | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| 16 x 26 | 14 x 24 inches | A single stud bay |
| 20 x 26 | 18 x 24 inches | Wider bay or framed opening |
| 24 x 30 | 22 x 28 inches | Crosses a stud, needs a header |
| 30 x 30 | 28 x 28 inches | Double door, wide vanity |
A custom medicine cabinet is what you build when none of those land where your wall or mirror line wants them. We size the box to the bay you have, match the door and paint to your vanity, and run plywood shelves on adjustable pins. It also solves height, since a 40 inch mirrored front does not exist in a catalog.
A mirrored medicine cabinet replaces the mirror you would have hung anyway. A beveled edge suits an older Avondale bath, and a flush polished edge reads modern.
Defoggers are a thin heating pad behind the glass, wired to the light circuit, that holds a clear patch through a shower. In a Jacksonville bath with a weak exhaust fan they earn their keep, and they need power in the wall.
Sconces flanking the cabinet light your face, while a fixture above puts shadows under your eyes. For lighting built into millwork, see integrated LED lighting.
Medicine cabinet installation lives or dies on layout. Center the cabinet on the sink bowl rather than the vanity, because people notice it immediately.
Leave 6 to 10 inches between the counter and the bottom of the cabinet so a faucet and soap pump clear the door swing, which puts the mirror center near 60 to 66 inches off the floor. On a double vanity, two cabinets over the bowls beat one wide unit.
The sequence: confirm the wall, frame or block, set the cabinet plumb and level, trim the perimeter, then adjust the doors. Most jobs run a single day.
| Scope | Typical Jacksonville range |
|---|---|
| Surface mount unit, installed | $250 to $600 |
| Recessed, stock unit, clean framed bay | $450 to $1,100 |
| Recessed with header or rerouted wiring | $900 to $2,000 |
| Shop built custom box, painted to match | $1,200 to $3,000 |
| Framed bump out on block, plus cabinet | $1,800 to $4,000 |
The wall moves this number, not the cabinet. Framing a header adds labor and drywall repair, and a block wall adds furring and often tile. Those are Northeast Florida ranges, not a firm quote.
4.8 ★
Klein Carpentry holds a 4.8 star average across 51 Google reviews. Homeowners keep mentioning the same things: fast replies, crews who show up when they say they will, and attention to detail. Every bathroom medicine cabinets project gets a written quote, a clear schedule and a daylight walkthrough at the end.
Humidity
Wood gains and loses moisture with the air around it, and the USDA Forest Products Laboratory's Wood Handbook shows how much it swells and shrinks as a result. We plan every bathroom medicine cabinets job for that movement: stable sheet goods, acclimated lumber, moisture-resistant material near slabs and wet rooms, and joints with room to move.
3 Heights
Jacksonville homes range from plaster and concrete block to square new construction. We measure each opening at the floor, mid height and ceiling before building, then scribe the finished work to the wall. Depending on the piece, it is built in our shop and brought in finished or built on site in your home, so the fit stays tight either way.
4.8from 51 Google reviews
Very happy with the professional work done by Klein Carpentry. We had wood accents done for the entrance way, great room and master bedroom. Fantastic craftsmanship and took the time to make it look perfect. Also had ceiling beams placed in the great room and master bedroom. They really complete both rooms. Lastly had wood accents for the half bath in the living area. Made a noticeable difference. Would highly recommend Klein Carpentry, highly detailed and professional.
Mike C · a month ago on Google
The level of quality Klein Carpentry has is next level. Their service is incredible and are very responsive and knowledgeable. They do all kinds of work. Highly recommend them for any projects you may have coming up!
Vladimir Orgunov · 4 months ago on Google
Very professional and high quality work. Done a wonderful job with the mantle, floating shelves, ship lap, crown and base board! Totally recommend if you’re looking to finish up a home project.
Alec Lambert · 11 months ago on Google
Reviews from Google
Generally no, not without building out. Block walls have no cavity, so the options are a surface mount unit or a shallow framed wall for 4 inches of depth. We can tell you which is cheaper in one visit.
In most Jacksonville bathrooms, yes, especially older ones with a weak exhaust fan or none at all. Humidity here keeps a mirror fogged long after a shower. It needs power, so budget for an electrician.
Yes, that is the usual reason people have one built. We match the door profile, the paint or stain and the hardware so the two read as one set.
Look at what sits directly above and below the spot. A vent stack usually runs up from the sink or toilet below, and upstairs supply lines often share that bay. We scan, and when it is not clear we cut a small hole that gets patched.
Leave 6 to 10 inches of clearance above the counter so the faucet and soap dispenser clear the door, which centers the mirror about 60 to 66 inches above the floor. Adjust for the height of the people using the bath.
The cabinet this one should match.
A new door on a sound box.
Glass and mirror door construction.
For units you already bought.
When the wall could hold a linen tower instead.
The rest of our work.
Call Klein Carpentry at (904) 759-4988 and we will come look at the space, take measurements and give you a written quote.
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