Using adhesive to install a mirror: things to keep in mind
What is the best adhesive to use for mirrors?
For aesthetic reasons, mirrors are typically fixed in place onto walls using adhesive. But mirrors are sensitive items, and not just any adhesive will do the job. A mirror typically consists of a sheet of glass with a reflective layer of silver or similar material on the back. The reflective layer has a protective coating applied to it to guard it against attack by chemical fumes, moisture, water, or other liquids.
The adhesive holding a mirror to a wall must be strong enough to support the mirror while also not damaging the protective coating on the back of the mirror. The adhesive must also be flexible enough to allow for differential movement between the mirror and the wall substrate.
The beauty of adhesives is that the chemical bond is all that is needed. This makes mirrors very easy to install. You don’t have to drill holes (and, therefore, there is no mess to clean up afterwards), and there’s no need for mechanical fixings or frames. Adhesives allow more options, and there is far more freedom in design.
Construction professionals need to look no further than Bostik's H785 High Tack, H980 High Tack Premium, and H960 Supergrip Mirror as the best adhesive products for fixing mirrors in place. Quick to apply, quick-acting, and strong, these products are effortlessly professional.
H785 High Tack
H785 High Tack was specifically developed as a universal high-grip and high-strength hybrid (modified silicone/polymer) adhesive with an extremely high initial tack. It is perfect for bonding many building materials such as stone, concrete, mirrors, glass, plasterboard, polyurethane, PVC, hard plastics, enamel, ceramic, copper, lead, zinc, tin, aluminium, metals, alloys, stainless steel, high-pressure laminate, cement-fibre panels, and wood.
H980 High Tack Premium
H980 High Tack Premium goes one step further. It has all of the benefits and features of H785 High Tack, plus it is non-staining. It is designed specifically for use on building materials that have a high risk of staining due to their porous structure, such as natural stone.
H960 Supergrip Mirror
The H960 Supergrip Mirror is the Rolls-Royce of Bostik’s mirror adhesives. This product was developed specifically for bonding mirrors. It is a high-grip, high-strength, hybrid mirror adhesive that has been formulated to be compatible with most common silver backing coatings used for mirrors.
These products are perfect for bonding mirrors. They are designed for the high-moisture conditions found in bathrooms. Their high initial tack means that, once the adhesive has grabbed, most mirrors will not need to be supported in place during the full curing period.
High Tack and High Tack Premium can be used for many other applications, too –indoors and outdoors, and on wet and dry surfaces.
Work with the best. A high-quality professional adhesive for a high-quality professional.
You're a professional, so we're not going to give you a detailed tutorial. Just a reminder.
You can probably bond a mirror to a wall with your eyes closed. In your sleep, even. So we don't need to give you a tutorial.
But even professionals need reminders sometimes.
To ensure you continue to maintain high standards, keep the following things in mind when using H785 High Tack, H980 High Tack Premium, or H960 Supergrip Mirror:
- Application temperature range: 5 degrees to 40 degrees Celsius
- Use the provided V-nozzle
- When applying the adhesives, hold the caulking gun at 90 degrees to the surface.
- Apply the adhesive in parallel vertical beads and, ideally, 20 to 40 centimeters apart. (Don't apply it in dots, of course.)
- Pre-treat porous substrates with Bostik T300 Universal Primer
And, importantly, it pays to remember the very few materials or circumstances for which these products won't work so well:
- Not suitable for polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, PMMA (acrylic glass), PTFE, soft plastics, neoprene, and bituminous substrates
- Not suitable for continuous exposure to water
- Not suitable for movement joints
And a reminder of why you should be using these products.
Sometimes it's worth reminding yourself why Bostik's adhesives are the best products for your jobs. When you use H785 High Tack, H980 High Tack Premium, or H960 Supergrip Mirror, you are ensuring a high-quality professional job for you and your clients.
Do yourself and your clients a favour. For peace of mind, insist on using H785 High Tack, H980 High Tack Premium, or H960 Supergrip Mirror for the bonding of mirrors.
Safer. More Sustainable.
H785 High Tack, H980 High Tack Premium, and H960 Supergrip Mirror all fulfil the BREEAM specifications mentioned in the chapter ‘Health and Wellbeing’, Hea 02 Indoor Air Quality, regarding volatile organic compound (VOC) emission levels. These three Bostik products have achieved GEV-Emicode E1 Plus.
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