Do-it-yourself mirror restoration

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Many people think that restoring a mirror at home is an impossible procedure. In fact, it all depends on the degree of damage to the mirror and the ability to work with your hands. There are several techniques for updating an ugly, shabby and frankly scary mirror.

Some tips

Restoration of the mirror is possible only with minimal damage to the amalgam - a thin layer of metal deposited on the glass surface. If the mirror becomes less reflective, and light spots appear on the surface, then the mirror should be moved to a place where it will not be exposed to direct sunlight.

It is almost impossible to restore too deep scratches on amalgam at home, since metal zoning is carried out exclusively at the factory using special equipment.

In order not to bring the mirror to a terrible state, it is worth choosing the right place to place the object. A regular mirror should not be installed in a bathroom, as moisture will damage the amalgam, impairing reflectivity.

Restoring a damaged reflective surface

First you should preparenecessary tools and materials: glue for glass and metal, brushes, acetone for degreasing, paper napkins, brush with hard bristles, sponge for washing dishes, scissors, window cleaner, food foil.

The restoration of the old mirror is carried out in accordance with the following algorithm:

1. First you need to pull the mirror out of the frame. It is worth checking the extent of damage to the metal coating.
2. Gently clean problem areas with a brush. Do not press hard or clean out the amalgam. It is enough to remove the breakaway particles.
3. Wipe the mirror with a cloth lightly dampened with window cleaner. Then dry the surface of the product.
4. Apply a little acetone on a sponge for washing dishes and wipe the places that will be restored in the future with this composition.
5. Apply special glue to the damaged area.
6. Cut a piece of foil larger than the damaged area.
7. Lay the foil with the shiny side away from you towards the mirror. Use a rag to iron the foil to remove excess glue.

Within a few hours, the glue will dry completely, and the mirror can be hung in place. For greater hold, the foil is sometimes coated with wood varnish or clear nail polish.

Decorating the mirror frame

Restoration is not only about updating the amalgam, you also need to periodically update the frame. There are several options for updating: complete replacement of the old element,partial replacement of bad elements, alteration of the frame based on the old body.

The necessary tools and materials are determined by the type of frame. Restoration of the mirror frame is carried out in accordance with the following points:

1. Determine whether the restoration will be complete or partial.
2. Remove broken elements or parts of the old frame.
3. Smooth restoration areas with sandpaper or a coarse-bristled brush.
4. Replace items with new ones.

This is the easiest way to restore a mirror frame from any material.

Interesting upgrade options

Do-it-yourself mirror restoration is done simply and quickly, if you think over the sketch and the update method in advance. The new design of the mirror should match the interior of the room.

Mirror restoration options:

• You can stick a mirror on a wooden base. The new platform should be larger than the mirror itself. Pieces of old CDs, pebbles, beads can be attached to the free edges.
• You can remove the old frame and stick seashells, polymer clay figurines, artificial flowers, thick twine on the surface of the mirror itself. The frame can be formed not around the entire perimeter of the mirror, but in separate parts of the product.
• The edges of the mirror can be decorated with acrylic paint. If a person does not know how to draw, then you can use ready-made templates. You can also draw on a mirrorregular nail polish.
• From wood scraps you can fold a new frame, which can resemble puzzles in structure. To do this, you can use ordinary branches or round cut branches.
• You can make a new frame from pieces of tiles or mosaics. It is advisable to first stick the mirror on some kind of base, and then lay the glass or tile mosaic.

There can be a lot of ways to restore a frame, the main thing is to show imagination and the ability to work with decorative materials.