How to Glue Frameless Mirrors on Drywall

Frameless bathroom mirrors are often attached to the wall with glue.

The interior walls of most homes are made of drywall. Wooden beams, or studs, are behind the drywall. When hanging a mirror the traditional way, you must first locate a stud. Drywall itself cannot support heavy objects, and there is a chance that your mirror would come crashing to the floor. By gluing the mirror to the wall, you don’t need to search for a stud or risk breaking your mirror.
Gluing a mirror has other benefits as well. Gluing a mirror prevents shards of glass ending up on the floor if the mirror ever breaks. In addition, you don’t have to consider the mirror’s frame before changing your décor because a frameless mirror meshes well with any decorating scheme.

Things You'll Need

• Mirror
• Pencil
• 40 to 60 grit sandpaper
• 2 clean, dry cloths
• Mirror glue
• Painter’s tape

Instructions

1. Examine the room carefully. Determine where your new mirror would look best. Talk to your family members and ask for their opinions. Once you glue the mirror to the wall, you can’t remove it without damaging both the mirror and the wall. Thus, choosing the right spot is crucial.

2. Ask a family member to hold the mirror against the wall in the spot you selected. Trace the mirror’s outline on the wall with a pencil.

3. Sand the area inside the lines with 40- to 60-grit sandpaper. This roughens the wall and helps the mirror adhere properly.

4. Wipe away the dust left behind after sanding with a clean, dry cloth. Wipe the back of the mirror with a separate cloth. Both surfaces must be completely free of dust to ensure that the mirror sticks to the wall properly.

5. Spread the mirror glue on the back of the mirror following the manufacturer’s directions.

6. Press the mirror firmly against the wall. Ask a friend or family member to tape the mirror in place with painter’s tape while you hold it.

7. Remove the painter’s tape after 48 hours.

Tips & Warnings

• If your walls are unpainted, seal them with primer before attaching the mirror. You do not need to sand unpainted walls when completing this task.

• While you could complete this project on your own, asking a friend or family member to help you reduces the risk that the mirror will break or end up positioned improperly.

• Painter’s tape is designed for walls and will stick to a painted surface without removing the paint. Do not use duct tape, electric tape or masking tape to hold the mirror in place. Those varieties of tape can remove paint around the mirror.

References

• The Washington Post; Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Now I’m Stuck, Whom Shall I Call?; April 2006
• Liquid Nails Adhesive; Mirror Adhesive; 2011
• WoodZone.com; Sandpaper 101; 2008

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Sunset; Fun Ways to Decorate With Mirrors; Elizabeth Regalia