How do you remove a wall mirror that has been glued to the wall with construction adhesive?

Answer 1

I'm answering my own question. In other words, "How do you get a mirror off the wall that has been put on with mirror glue or double sided tape?" If the mirrors are 12" x 12" kiss them off, wear eye & body protection, put a tarp on the floor and start popping them off with a screw driver. If the mirrors are more valuable and need to be saved, try this: NOTE: NEVER try to pry the mirror off the wall, pull it, or bend it since it will break and could potentially hurt you as the pieces pop loose!!! Also, if you get a mirror "half loose" and have to leave it for even a second, have some Duct Tape handy to secure it to the wall. It may decide to suddenly let loose while you are getting that other tool. 1. Put on eye protection and heavy gloves. 2. If you have enough room to work around the mirror with tools, try working a long, thin, flexible saw blade behind the mirror and saw through the glue or tape. (A knife is probably not flexible enough) Have someone (also with safety glasses) hold the mirror from the bottom, because it will suddenly let loose. If you do not have room to use a tool, then this is the only thing that will work: 2. Get a long piece of stranded picture hanger wire. 3. Wind the wire around your gloved hands, then work the wire down from a loose corner using a sawing action. Tape will usually saw through easily. Glue will be very frustrating. Don't give up, just keep sawing. 4. If you get a top corner sawn through go to the bottom corner below it and try to saw through that. 5. Once youfeel a little "play" in the mirror, start rotating and wiggling it gently side to side. The idea is to break the remaining glue contacts. NEVER pull or pry on the mirror. This technique worked for me. Also, I did not scratch the silver on the back of the mirror because the tape or glue gave me enough "space" to work the saw. The lesson I learned is, "Never put up a mirror without thinking about how you are going to be able to take it down. Never use mirror glue or double sided tape to stick a mirror directly to sheet rock!!!

Answer 2

Break mirror, call dry waller, prepare for 7 years of bad luck

Answer 2

This is a difficult job. If the mirror was well attached, there will be the very strong tendency for the mirror to shatter into many pieces during the removal process.

Regardless of the method or process of removal, it is critical that you wear safety glasses, or better yet, a full face shield. Also, be sure to use heavy leather gloves [NOT the lightweight cotton gardening gloves] to protect your hands. Be sure to keep children far away [out of the room is best] until the job is finished [including sweeping up of the entire room, and a final wet mopping to get all the fine splinters of glass picked up]. Beware tracking glass splinters out of the work area. Use shoe covers, or an old worn out pair of shoes which can be thrown away when the job is done.

IF you do NOT want to save the mirror, then the quickest and easiest way to remove it will be to first totally seal the surface with duct tape in order to reduce the shattering somewhat, AND to capture most of the glass slivers and reduce their "flying" all over everywhere. Although some will escape, taping will mean less loose slivers.

The using the widest, but thin prying device [like a Pizza paddle, pingpong paddles, large spatulas, etc., very gently pry the mirror off the wall. It will almost surely break, and if a sharp box cutter or razor blade is used to cut the duct tape, then the disengaged sections may be removed as they come off the wall. On the other hand, it could be worked as one large sheet, but will be heavy to handle.

IF the mirror is mounted onto a gypsum board wall surface ["Sheetrock," or "drywall"], and you want to save the mirror, then still duct tape the face just in case of accidental breakage to control the fragments, and flying splinters.

I can tell you up front that this process is very delicate, and the risk of breaking the mirror is very great.

Once the mirror is taped to stabilize it, then use a drywall handsaw to cut through the gyp board around the mirror. Depending on the size of the mirror, there will be a few, to many fasteners [nails or drywall screws] holding the assembly to the wall studs.

Using a flat prybar [some brand names "Handy Bar," "Wonder Bar," etc.], reach behind the mirror/gypsonboard assembly to the first stud, and begin to gently pry the assembly away from the stud, working each fastener a little at a time, and going back over each little by little, until the assembly is separated from the stud. Then repeat the process for each stud until the assembly is loose.

This process creates a large, dusty mess, and a large hole in the drywall, which will have to be replaced and refinished. Good luck!

Alternatively, if the glue sticking the mirror to the wall is soft enough, slide a piece of fishing line behind the mirror and use it as a cheese-cutter. This has worked for me with virtually no damage to the wall. Worth a try!

Answer 3

You could use a structural adhesive like PL200, PL300, or 100% silicone. -Using any of these would also entail holding the mirror somehow for at least an hour.

Personally, I would NOT use glue at all. I much prefer 'mirror brackets' which are small plastic knobs screwed into the wall. Made for this purpose and sold in most hardware stores.

Answer 4

there's always a change that it will break, so make sure you have safety goggles on. you have to start breaking the seal with a putty knife. after you break the edge seal, you have to apply pressure by pulling the mirror away from the wall, very slowly.it takes time, be patient. hopefully it won't break.

Answer 5

Spray a little WD-40 on a cloth or directly on the adhesive and it will come off easily. Fingernail polish, gasoline, laquer thinner or a razor blade will do the same but WD-40 smells better.

ANS 2 - Lift-Off or Goo Gone is much better, -doesn't make the mirror greasy as WD 40 does.

Answer 6

In pieces. Wear eye protection and use a wide putty knife to pry it off. Don't know if it would be worth it to you or not. There is a very thin abrasive wire available at auto parts stores used for cutting windshields out. 20 foot roll for like $6-7. Slip a piece behind the top or bottom edge and saw it back and forth and cut the mirror off the wall. Just a thought.

Better yet, use a set of glazier's suction cups to PULL the mirror off. That is the way professionals do it.

Answer 7

I've done this 3-4 times (and broken it once) - start on a long edge and gradually force wood shims (or sections of cedar shakes) under it. Starting at same end each time gradually push the shims in deeper each sweep down the long edge. It takes 2 people. on e to hold and one to drive the shims in - be patient and it will come. Some construction adhesives are softened with hot air - try a hairdryer.

Answer 8

Use a small pry bar or a large flat screwdriver and slide it underneath very slowly while a friend heats underneath with a hair dryer. Don't rush, be patient.

Answer 9

Wipe it over with warm water, leave for 10 minutes, then scrape it off with a metal spatula.