How to Frame a Mirror with Damaged Edges

By Mary M. Alward

Do you have a bathroom mirror that has lost the silvering around the edges? The silvering on a mirror is the material adhered to the back that causes it to reflect an image. The silvering on mirror edges becomes damaged when constantly exposed to moisture. This causes the mirror’s edges to turn black.

Are you thinking of throwing that mirror out? Wait! Framing it with wood to cover those unsightly edges can save the mirror while saving you the cost of a new one.

Measuring

Measure the mirror from the outer edges and determine the width that the frame will have to be in order to cover the damage. Once you know how much wood you’ll need to complete the project, head to the home improvement store.

Wood Types

Wood moldings come in a wide variety of wood types and each will give your bathroom a different look. If your bathroom is dark, consider using oak or pine to lighten the mood. If your bathroom has sufficient light, you may want to use darker wood, such as cherry, mahogany or redwood. Be sure to take your bathroom décor into consideration when choosing the wood molding for your frame.

If in doubt, ask the staff at the home improvement store if they have any scraps of different types of wood. Take them home and see which of them looks best in your bathroom. The type of wood is really a personal choice and whatever you choose will certainly be a vast improvement over a mirror with black edges.

Glue

When you go to the home improvement store for the wood molding, purchase a tube of marine glue, which stands up well in moist environments. There are certain types of marine glue that bond brick, concrete, glass, fabric, leather and wood and these are the best because they can be used for a variety of tasks.

How to Prepare the Molding

Once your arrive home, cut the molding the proper lengths to fit the mirror. Use a pencil to mark where the mirror’s brackets will fit into the molding. Cut these with a jigsaw and chip out the middle portion by gently tapping a chisel with a hammer or mallet. Then, sand the area until smooth.

Finishing the Molding

Before you glue the molding to the mirror, sand it and apply the marine varnish. Allow the first coat to dry thoroughly as specified by the manufacturer. If the molding needs more than one coat of varnish, sand lightly, remove all dust and apply a second coat.

If you wish the frame to have a high gloss finish, give it several coats of varnish. If you would like to color the frame with wood stain so it will match your décor, apply the wood stain before the varnish and allow it to dry per the manufacturer’s specifications.

Installation of the Molding

Apply the marine glue to the back of the wood molding in an squiggly line and position it on the edges of the mirror. Always apply the molding on the bottom of the mirror first. This allows the sidepieces to rest on it. After the sidepieces have dried thoroughly, add the top piece of the frame to the mirror. Remember to use a small clamp to hold the molding in place while the glue is drying. This prevents the frame from moving.

Once all pieces of the frame are tightly adhered to the mirror, hang it as desired and enjoy your old mirror with a brand new look.

© Doityourself.com 2006