Recessed Medicine Cabinet Installation — Cut Into the Wall and Cased
The surface-mount cabinet sticks out over the sink and hits your head — swapped for one that sits in the wall, flush with the tile or paint.
Recessed medicine cabinet installation means cutting the cabinet into the wall instead of hanging it on the surface. JMB Builders finds the stud bay, checks it for pipes, wires and vents, frames the opening with a header when a stud has to be cut, sets the cabinet flush, and patches the old surface-mount holes. Priced per cabinet, quoted from your photos within one business day, Twin Cities metro.
- Priced per cabinet
- Stud bay checked before the cut
- Header framed when a stud is cut
- Quote from photos in 1 business day
- Licensed MN contractor BC809005
A recessed medicine cabinet sits in the wall cavity between studs, so only the door and a thin frame stand proud. Most cabinets are made to fit a standard stud bay on 16-inch centers. The first step is finding where the studs actually are over the sink and whether anything is in that bay: a drain vent, supply lines, a wire to the vanity light or an exhaust duct.
If the cabinet is wider than one bay, or the bay is in the wrong place, a stud has to be cut. In a partition wall that is simple framing: a header across the top and bottom, the cut stud tied in. In a load bearing wall the header is sized to carry the load, and anything larger than a normal bay cut is sized by an engineer. An exterior wall is a poor place for a recessed cabinet, since it loses the insulation behind it; we steer you to an interior wall or a surface cabinet.
Then the finish: the cabinet is set level and flush, screwed into the framing, and the drywall around it patched and taped. The old surface-mount holes are filled. If the vanity light has to move or the cabinet is a lighted one, the wiring is done by a licensed electrician.
What you supply
- The cabinet, or its model number so we check the rough opening size
- Photos of the wall over the sink, the existing cabinet and the light
- Whether there is a room, closet or exterior on the other side of the wall
- Your paint color if we paint the patch — quoted as its own line
What JMB supplies
- Old cabinet off and hauled away
- Stud bay located and checked for pipes, wires and vents before the cut
- Opening cut and framed, with a header where a stud is cut
- Cabinet set level and flush, screwed to the framing
- Drywall patched, taped and finished around the cabinet and over old holes
- Casing or a trim frame when the cabinet style calls for it
- Photos of the framing and the finished cabinet in your job folder
- Painting of the wall when you want it, quoted as its own line
How it is priced: per unit
Quoted in writing from your photos within one business day. What moves the number:
- Fits one stud bay vs. a stud cut and header
- Partition wall vs. a load bearing wall
- Pipes, wires or a vent in the bay that change the location
- Tile around the cabinet vs. drywall
- Lighted cabinet or moved vanity light needing an electrician
- Painting the wall after, quoted as its own line
Send the cabinet's rough opening size from the spec sheet and a photo of the other side of the wall.
How long it takes
One cabinet in a single stud bay: half a day, plus a short return to finish the drywall. A cut stud and header: most of a day.
How your project works
- 1
Send photos, get a written quote
Send three photos of the space and a sentence about what you want. You get a clear, itemized quote within one business day. We only come out to measure first when the job needs a tape measure — no pressure, no games.
- 2
Pick materials, or bring your own
We help you choose profiles and materials that fit the house and the budget, or match your existing millwork exactly — or you buy the door or trim yourself and we install it. Everything is confirmed before the crew is scheduled.
- 3
Clean, precise installation
The crew shows up on time, protects floors and furniture, and installs with tight joints and consistent reveals. Photos of the finished work go in your job folder.
- 4
Walkthrough and invoice
We walk the finished work with you. If anything is not right, we fix it before we call the job done. Then one invoice, paid by check or direct deposit — no card fees, no payment links.
Situations and options
Single stud bay
A cabinet sized for the space between two studs. The wall is opened, the bay checked, blocking added top and bottom, and the cabinet set flush.
Wider cabinet with a header
One stud cut and headered above and below to make room for a wider cabinet. In a load bearing wall, the header is sized to carry the load.
Surface to recessed swap
The old surface cabinet comes off, its anchor holes are filled, and a recessed unit goes in the same spot or the nearest clear bay.
Recessed Medicine Cabinet Installation — Cut Into the Wall and Cased: questions, answered
Can you install a recessed medicine cabinet in a load bearing wall?
Yes. If the cabinet fits between two studs, nothing structural changes. If a stud has to be cut, it gets a header above and below sized to carry the load, and anything larger than a normal cut is sized by an engineer. We look at what is above the wall before deciding.
How do I know if there is room in the wall for a recessed medicine cabinet?
The stud bay has to be clear of drain vents, supply lines, wires and ducts, and wide and deep enough for the cabinet. A stud finder and a small inspection hole tell most of it. The wall behind a sink often has a vent pipe, which is why we check before cutting.
Can you replace a surface mount medicine cabinet with a recessed one?
Yes, and it is the most common version of this job. The old cabinet comes off, the anchor holes are filled, and the new one goes into the nearest clear stud bay. The patch around it is taped and ready for paint.
Can a recessed medicine cabinet go in an exterior wall?
It can, but we do not recommend it. The cabinet takes the place of the insulation, and that spot gets cold and can sweat in a Minnesota winter. An interior wall or a surface cabinet is the better choice.
What about the vanity light when the cabinet changes?
If the light stays where it is, nothing changes. If it has to move, or the new cabinet has built-in lights or an outlet, the wiring is done by a licensed electrician before the wall is closed.
Do you install the medicine cabinet I bought?
Yes. Send the model number or spec sheet before you buy if you can, so we check the rough opening against the wall. We install cabinets from any store.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners and for the builders and dealers we sub for. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough. You hear back within one business day. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
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Read morePage reviewed September 26, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All finish carpentry pages
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