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mounting mirrors and foam trim

darrel | Posted in General Discussion on August 10, 2005 05:02am

This seems like an easy question, but I’m stumped.

We’re finishing up our bathroom remodel and I have two items to yet mount that I’m not quite sure what the best method would be.

The first is a mirror. We’re mounting it to the wall with metal trim (z-channel?) The mirror store sent along a tube of adhesive and said just glue it to the wall. If I do that, should I glue the actual mirror or just the channel? The channel does have screw holes, but, obviously, I can only get one side screwed in as if I do more than one, I can’t slide the mirror into them.

The other question is in regards to the pre-finished foam (EPS?) crown moulding. I was just going to nail it up but then realized that foam probably doesn’t hold on to the nails very well. I assume I should maybe just glue it with adhesive. If I do, is there a particular brand/type that won’t dissolve the foam?

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  1. PhillGiles | Aug 10, 2005 08:10pm | #1

    I've done a couple of mirrors, and most were on j-hooks, so treat this as a limited opinion.

    1) technically, the mirrors are glued to the wall with Proglaze (clear silicon adhesive that's used now instead of the old black mastick stuff). You put several beads on the wall (vertical, so they don't trap dirt, moisture, or bugs against the silver on the mirror

    2) On the ones I did, the channel had slotted screw-holes so that you can put the mirror into the channel (the bottom channel is screwed down tight and takes the weight of the mirror while the adhesive dries), and then slide it closed to hold the mirror on the wall.

    .
    Phill Giles
    The Unionville Woodwright
    Unionville, Ontario
    1. darrel | Aug 10, 2005 11:11pm | #2

      Ah...J-channel. That's the stuff.Yea, the channel I have does have keyholes so I could screw into the wall, and then slide the channel on to that. I'd still have to glue the top channel, though (we're using the channel as a frame)...though, come to think of it, there'd be no need to really secure the top part...I could just have it sit there i suppose.If I can hook the channel onto the screws, should I still glue the mirror itself, or just let the channels hold it up?

  2. dustinf | Aug 10, 2005 11:52pm | #3

    If you use mirror mastic you shouldn't need the J-channel.  If you use the J-channel you shouldn't need the mastic.

    There should be two different pieces of J-channel.  One, the exposed part should be about 1/4" wide.  The second piece, the exposed part should be about 5/8".  The thinner piece goes at the bottom, and the thicker at the top.  Measure carefully, and the mirror will slide up into the 5/8 J, swing against the wall, and finally drop into the 1/4" J.  Suction cups make life alot easier. 

    Make sure to screw the J-channel to the studs, counter sink the screws, and tape over them with electrical tape(so you don't scratch the backside of the mirror).

    If you glue the mirror up, like Phil said, vertical strips, then just wedge some supports to hold it against the wall till the mastic drys.

    1. darrel | Aug 11, 2005 12:54am | #4

      the J-Channel the mirror place gave me is all the same.We're actually using the j-channel as a 'frame', so we want it to go around all sides (except the bottom, which is going to be trimmed in wood.)So, I don't think I can do the slide-in thing. I may be able to put channel up, slide it back out over the screws, attach it to the mirror, and then slide the whole thing (mirror + channel) back on.I'll report back on how well that goes ;o)Thanks for the advice!...and good tip about covering the screw heads.

      1. PhillGiles | Aug 11, 2005 06:43am | #5

        In my scenario, the bottom piece of J-channel is fixed solid, the upper channel is screwed into the slots so that it can slide down low enough to capture the mirror or high enough to clear the mirror and then let it slide back down to capture the mirror. The side pieces just float until their bedded into a couple of dabs of adhesive.The mirror place I deal with tells me that all mirrors should be "stuck" to the wall: it stops them from rattling, cuts down on thermal noises, keeps them from accidentally falling down, limits the reasonance space, and helps to prevent breakage from someone merely leaning on the mirror..
        Phill Giles
        The Unionville Woodwright
        Unionville, Ontario

  3. Bruce | Aug 11, 2005 04:45pm | #6

    All of the glass subs I've seen use only mastic, applied as a i" blob about 1' on center both directions.  If the bottom edge is landing on some surface, they blob the wall, smack the mirror in place, and say, "See ya."  If the mirror is floating on the wall, screw a temporary ledger in place, and mount the mirror.  Remove the ledger and touch up in 24-48 hours.

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