If you have an older home, there’s a decent chance that somewhere in the
house you have at least one large, bulky wall-mounted mirror. While not all
older homes will feature one of these mirrors, various types of mirrors do seem
to come back into fashion again and again over time. Whether you’ve got a
single large mirror mounted directly to the wall or mirrored panels that cover
an entire wall surface, it’s important to remember that you still have options
to update your home even if your mirrors have been around for decades.
Mirrors as Decoration
It’s not surprising that mirrors keep coming back into style as a form
of home decoration. They capture the attention, and when done well, a mirrored
accent can make a room seem all the larger and more impressive. Unfortunately,
some mirrors can dull or become scratched over time, and whether it’s a matter
of the glass aging poorly or the silvering of the mirror losing its luster,
this can have a negative impact on the room as a whole. In some cases, the
mirror glass may even become cracked in one or more places, which not only
spoils the look but can also create a potential hazard that you have to keep
people away from. Regardless of how time has affected the mirrors in your home,
it should be obvious why proper maintenance is important.
Wall-Mounted Mirrors
One common type of mirror that you find in older homes is the
wall-mounted mirror. Unlike more modern mirrors that use brackets or other
mounting hardware to hold the mirror next to the wall, some of these older mirrors
are actually attached directly to the wall with adhesives or other materials.
Being adhered to the wall is useful insofar as it keeps the mirrors from
shifting or becoming loose as time goes by, but it does limit your options when
it comes to moving or replacing the mirror. These mirrors take some work to
remove if you plan to redecorate, and the removal process often damages the
drywall or paneling behind the mirror, so you will probably have to do some
repairs once the mirror is free.
Mirrored Wall
Coverings
Unlike single mirrors that are attached to the wall,
mirrored wall coverings are often installed using a track system. This secures
multiple mirrored panels without the need to adhere and line up each one. This
doesn’t mean that you won’t find mirrored panel walls that are applied with
adhesives, of course, but track systems are common, as the brackets used in
track systems provide more stability. Brackets make removing or replacing
panels easier, though the process can still leave some damage to drywall or
other wall surfaces that will need to be patched later on.
Moving on From Mirrors
Regardless of the type of mirror that’s in your home, if
you feel the need to remove it then you’ll have a little bit of work ahead of
you. With adhesive-based mirrors, you’ll often need heat the adhesive around
the edges first; this softens it and allows you to begin working the mirror
loose. It may then be possible to pry the glass free, or you may need to work a
piano wire behind the glass to separate the adhesive. Track-mounted panels are
a bit easier to deal with since you can unscrew the brackets to remove the
panels, then pry the tracks off the wall. Regardless of how you deal with the
mirrors, be sure to use hand and eye protection and take your time to prevent
potential injuries that might result from broken glass.
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