In the average household you will come across a numerous amount of mirrors, ranging from minute pocket sized things that are used on the go to check whether make-up is properly done, right the way up to large framed mirrors that hang above the mantel piece in the living room. They are both functional — being used for personal grooming and to check your own appearance — and aesthetic items that can be used to enhance the interior of any room in a property. Are you aware however that it’s possible to have mirror walls installed at your property that span the length of a complete wall? During this article we are going to talk about some of the benefits that mirror walls offer and a number of factors to consider when purchasing them.
What Advantages Do Mirror Walls Offer?
Many homeowners choose to have mirror walls installed in either the bathroom or the bedroom area of their property. Why? This is simple. These are the rooms where you get dressed and ensure your appearance is to your liking each and every day, which requires the use of a reflective surface. Some of the main advantages of mirror walls include:
- Larger Size – While this may seem a little obvious it is actually a huge advantage with regards to being able to assess your appearance. It’s often impossible to see yourself from head to toe in a wall hung mirror without standing several metres away, and even then you can’t see yourself in enough detail. Mirror walls solve this problem and allow you to look at anything in an instant; you can easily check whether your collar is twisted or whether your shoes go well with the trousers you are wearing.
- Makes the Room Appear Larger – A room that once seemed small and pokey to anyone that set foot inside it can be transformed with the installation of mirror walls. While the dimensions of room itself may not actually change, the room suddenly feels twice as big as it did before.
- Brightens Up the Room – Mirrors are reflective surfaces and when light hits mirror walls this light is redirected all around the room, creating a warm, open environment. A small mirror placed on the wall cannot create this effect.
Things to Think About Before Buying Mirror Walls
Having mirror walls installed at your home is not the same as going out and buying a hanging mirror for your bedroom. There are a number of considerations that are unique to mirror walls that you need to take into account. Failure to do so could result in you purchasing a product that is not suitable or safe to install in your home.
- Supporting Wall – The glass used to manufacture mirrors is extremely heavy and fragile and mirror walls can easily weigh several hundred pounds. It’s important to ensure that the supporting wall is able to take this kind of weight. In almost all cases the supporting wall must be a solid rather than a studded wall.
- Type of Installation – There are generally two different types of installation for mirror walls; wall to wall installation and short of wall installation. As the name suggests a wall to wall installation spans the entire surface of the supporting wall meaning the measurements that are taken must be extremely precise. It’s also usually necessary to complete this type of installation using a J-bar. With short of wall installations there is border (usually an inch or two) right the way around the mirror, providing a little margin for error. This type of installation is less labour intensive and as a result often works out cheaper.
- Safety Backing – We would always advise that you seriously consider having safety backing installed along with the mirror walls as this will ensure the glass fragments remain in place if the mirror is accidentally broken. The safety backing also increases the strength of the mirror, making it more resistant to damage, and prevents moisture from getting trapped behind the mirror.
- Finish of Edges – There are two main choices here; flat polished edges and seamed edges. The most appropriate option will depend on whether the edges will be visible once the mirror is installed. A flat polished finish is essential if the edges will be visible after installation, whereas a seamed edge is sufficient if you plan on framing the mirror.
Keystone Home Products Ltd has been producing and expertly installing mirror walls for two decades and we are renowned for both our precision and the speed at which we work. If you live in Toronto, Mississauga or Brampton and are interested in a quote, call us today to arrange a free consultation.
