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Recessed medicine cabinet cost versus surface-mounted value
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I’m pricing a bathroom vanity remodel for an investment property and trying to decide whether a recessed medicine cabinet is worth the added labor over a surface-mounted model.
The target cabinet would be roughly 24 to 30 inches wide, with mirrored doors. The vanity is being replaced at the same time, but I’m not assuming built-in lighting unless that changes the estimate substantially. The wall may contain plumbing or electrical, so I’m concerned about opening it up and then discovering that the cabinet location needs to move.
For those who’ve quoted or completed this type of work, what would be a realistic labor range for:
- Installing a surface-mounted mirrored cabinet
- Cutting in and installing a recessed cabinet
- Adding lighting or an electrical connection
- Patching drywall and repairing or replacing tile around the opening
How much do wall type, stud placement, plumbing, and existing electrical typically affect the price? I’d also want the quote to separate the cabinet, installation, permit or inspection costs if applicable, wall repair, tile work, paint, and finish carpentry rather than combining everything into one allowance.
For a rental or resale bathroom, does the cleaner recessed look and extra storage usually justify the added cost, or is a good surface-mounted cabinet the better value?
1 reply
For an investment property, I wouldn’t assume the recessed option provides better resale value. A quality surface-mounted cabinet can be the better choice if opening the wall risks relocating around plumbing or electrical, followed by drywall, tile, paint, and possibly permit costs. Those items can easily outweigh the extra storage or cleaner appearance.
I’d price the surface-mounted installation as the baseline, then have the contractor inspect the proposed recessed location with a stud finder and, if needed, a small exploratory opening before committing. The quote should identify whether the recessed price includes framing, moving utilities, waterproofing or tile repair, and finish work. If those allowances are uncertain, the surface-mounted cabinet offers more predictable cost and easier future replacement, which is often more useful in a rental than a flush installation.
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