How to Remove a Glued Wall Mirror

Most mirrors are glued; while other have clips holding them in place. Glued ones are hard to remove but; there is a way.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Picture hanging wire
• An assistant
• Spackle and knife
• Duct tape if removal becomes a problem.

1. Most mirrors have glue spots at all corner and in the center. Take a length of frame hanging wire and place it behind the mirror.

2. Pull the wire back and forth in a sawing motion. This will take some time and effort and you will feel a looseness as you cut through the glue spots.

3. Get an assistant unless the mirror is sitting on a surface to give you support when you cut through the last glue spot. You don't want the mirror unexpectedly falling and breaking.

4. Once the mirror is removed use a spackle knife to remove the glue spots that remain. These spots will rip the sheetrock and the damage will need repair.

5. Spackle the damaged area and wait for it to dry.

6. Sand the spackle smooth, prime and paint.

Tips & Warnings

• You will damage either the wall or the mirror; this is inevitable. If the mirror can't be removed easily you can cover the surface of it with duct tape and break it. The tape will help keep most pieces from falling but you will still have glass pieces to clean up.
• Get help if the mirror has no bottom support. Or use mirror clips on the bottom the assist you by keeping the mirror supported.

[bkmatexcite]

on 11/24/2009 I'm glad these are going out of style for framed and hung mirrors. Now all we need is for drywall to go out. Maybe the Chinese will do that for us. We just need to convince everyone it's like BPA plastics -- there's nothing wrong with it of course, you just shouldn't buy it, just in case. Then we'll actually have a chance to live in something besides a latex-coated, gypsum-lined OSB box.

[Kidlutions]

on 8/31/2008 Thanks for the great tips! Just what we were looking for today with our home improvement project in full swing! I looked on one of the do-it-yourself sites, but did not find the help I did here!
Wendy
www.kidlutions.com