How do I do a mirror like this? (pic inside)

[sugarbeth]

I'm starting to get to this point in our bathroom. I'd like to do a tiled mirror like this. I have backerboard to cover the whole area covered by the mirror and tile. Should I just mortar the mirror on? This picture is from a magazine, so I can't get the details - do you think the tile is overlapping the mirror's edge or just butting up against it?

Any tips you might have will be appreciated!

Hi Beth,

The tile could be installed either way, but if it were up to me....I would layout exactly where the mirror goes, allow for a small amount of play, tile it, and then let the glass contractor come and install the mirror within the area surrounded by the tile.

I like the picture!

[rich7]

I just did exactly the same thing...there is a special mirror mastic for that purpose..you will need to support the bottom edge of the mirror until the mastic sets up..I can't tell by the pic if you are using mirror rail or not, but I just set my tile and the next day set the mirror right on the top of the tile, and used wedges to space it up an 1/8" for the caulk...one caution..that stuff grabs right now, so be sure you have it where you want it...press the mirror back slowly and the mastic sort of spreads out behind the mirror..once you have it back to where you want it, that's it..no need to tape or secure it...works great..check with any glass or mirror place...

my duece

rich

[Westie]

Plain old silicon caulk works great for installing mirrors. Just have some means of supporting the bottom (tile spacers work well) so it doesn't slide down the wall until the silicon sets up.

[opiethetileman]

I use mastic for mirros it works well

[MHI]

Mirror Mastic is best, and comes in caulk tubes or gallon cans. There is a special silicone made for mirrors, but most silicones will eat through the silver backing over time and leave black spots.

[Shaughnn]

I would lay out the wall based on the dimension of the tile and liners for full cuts in the pictureframe and then have the glass company cut the mirror to fit and install it. If it were an existing mirror, antique or otherwise, I would then layout the pictureframe "dry" to minimize awkward pieces and such before placing anything on the wall.
Best of luck,
Shaughnn

[td]

I would highly recommend mirror mastic, like someone else stated, some of the other products can eat through the finish.

I just finished putting a 4ft X 4ft mirror up in our family room and used a stone trim around it...sort of like a picture frame look. I tiled first, then set the mirror in, I had about a 1/8 to 1/4 inch around the mirror. I elected to not caulk around the mirror...some people told me the caulk might overtime corrode with the mirror. That small of a gap is not very noticebale at all....so we just let it be.

We did not want to use the little metal tray that mirrors set in, so instead we used these clear little plastic 1/8 in. blocks that the mirror store has. We just used 3 of them along the bottom...this just lets the mirror sit ontop of them...they are real small and not too noticable...about 1/8x2in.

We're ready to redo our master bath....I like that look, do you know what magazine you found that in and what issue?

Thanks
Troy

[sugarbeth]

Thanks, all.

Troy~ I don't remember what magazine it was from - it was a couple of years ago that I tore out the picture. Sorry! I believe those cabinets were custom-made, though. I'm getting a somewhat similar look from the MasterBath cabinets through Home Depot. Cinnamon, Shaker style, and they have skinny upper cabinets that you can put on top like in the picture.

[John Bridge]

Hi Sugarbeth,

I didn't hear anybody warn about keeping water from getting behind the mirror. Want to try not to do that. It can erode the silver finish and eventually show through.

[Rd Tile]

Ahhh, so that's what's happening to the mirror above my tub, on the ceiling.

[Raymond S]

Too much splashin' around.

[jdm]

Troy,

The plastic spacers you used were only necessary to maintain the space between the mirror and the tiles until the mastic cured. You can pull them out now, if you want.

jeff

[WilliamL]

Is it my browser or are there no pics in this thread?

[jgleason]

Must be your browser William. The first post has a picture.