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Mirrors and adhesives..

bigbob2 | Posted in Construction Techniques on May 31, 2005 05:43am

I just completed 6 custom mirrors( ranging from 6′ to 9′), framed in moudlings to match doorways, and be installed over those doorways in a high-end house.  client designed the concept, I built the final projects.  because I had so little margin for securing the mirrors in the frame I glued 1/4 ” ply to dadoed frame, and then glued the mirrors to the ply.  Now here is the rub… I just talked to my mirror supplier and he said that the PL Premium adhesive I used to secure the mirrors will cause the silver on the back of the mirrors to deteriorate.  !!! He said there was a special mastik for these sorts of situations. (now he tells me!!) Does anyone have any sense of how long it might take, if ever for this deterioration to happen?  I intend to replace the mirrors if I need to, but I would like to get a practical assessment of the PL Premium adhesive.   

BTW, I first learned about it here in the forum when there was a discussion about melamine assembly. It has worked great in that context.  I welcome any educated feedback that there might be out there! thanks.

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  1. pyroman | Jun 01, 2005 08:31am | #1

    Just so happens I"m doing a similar project. Never hung mirrors before. HO wants mirrors surrounding whirlpool tub. To me it's a big insurance liability issue. If I install the mirrors wrong and they fall off the wall God forbid someone could get hurt very badly, not to mention sue me no doubt for improper installation. I decided to let a sub do it expert in mirror installation and handling. I did hear that you must use mirror adhesive. As to how long it takes to desilver the mirror with the PL adhesive, I have not heard, but I would suspect within a few months most likely since the silvering is very thin to begin with. But I do not know. My reply to you basically is to confirm what you've been told.

    Don't take this wrong or as a chastisement, not meant that way at all. But next time read the tube of glue for applications it's suitable for. Or..call an expert in advance to get all the lowdown facts you need to know about mirrors and fastening them. It'll just save you against these types of looming griefs over your head later on :)

    1. bigbob2 | Jun 01, 2005 05:42pm | #3

      thanks for the input.  Actually, there was no other product available to even know that something was specific for mirrors.  The mastic WAS listed on the PL Premium website, but when I read the tech sheet, it would not have been appropriate, in any case... it required brackets to secure the mirror.  that was something that was not acceptable!

      I called the chemist/tech at PL  in Ohio, and he said that the adhesive was actually more neutral than most Polyurethane products.  while he could not directly assure me that there would be no problems, he thought that if there were going to be problems, it would happen in the first 3-4 days, and he knew about the acid/silver problems I was mentioning.  The sample mirror I did has been up for almost 2 months when I installed the other 5 last night,  and it looked fine.  So I am going to stay positive and not worry about it for now.  Client was very happy and I will replace whatever I need to if it comes to that.  but mastic without brackets will not work in my application, in any case. 

      Good luck with your hot tub install.

  2. User avater
    MarkH | Jun 01, 2005 02:15pm | #2

    We used a product called amazingly enough "Mirror Mastic" when I was a glazier many years ago.  It's black and similar to tar, very slow drying.  I'm sure you have seen it on demos.  We always put huge blobs on the mirror and pressed it flat to the wall.  The whole mirror does not need to be coated, but the blobs have to be thick enough to bridge irregularities in the wall surface.

    Also, silicone will deteriorate the silvering, but if you coat the mirror with shellac I heard it will work.  I used mirror mastic myself.

  3. reinvent | Jun 01, 2005 10:30pm | #4

    Heard a story awhile back abought some guys who used some liquid nails for some mirrors when the mirror mastic ran out. Seems the client was a bit of a a^$% and the guys wrote his name and some expleatives with the liquid nails on the back of the mirror. A few weeks latter the GC gets a call to fix a probblem with the mirrors.
    GC took care of it no charge.

    1. Piffin | Jun 01, 2005 11:15pm | #5

      That must happen a lot. I was on a condo job way back when... and the guy installing mirrors wrote across the wall, F*** U and slapped the mirrort up. The first steamy shower nade it visible, the owner called the GC, and the installer was out of a job the same day 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  4. chuckkeller | Jun 02, 2005 01:37am | #6

    When applying mirrors over the bed, remember to install the Gov't approved sticker, that states, " Objects are much larger than what they appear to be!"

    If, at first, you fricascee, fry, fry a hen!

    1. User avater
      MarkH | Jun 02, 2005 01:44am | #7

      That's only for the REAR view mirror.

      1. chuckkeller | Jun 07, 2005 02:22am | #8

        "It's a good thing"If, at first, you fricascee, fry, fry a hen!

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