can i use tile adhesive to fix a mirror?

[tricky360]

my mate has a rental property that 4 tiles have fell off above the bath, the tiles broke and he can't get any more.
he went out and bought a 5ft long mirror to go it to the gap left by the missing tiles.
on his first attempt he bought mirror silicon and after 5 days its come loose,i have sugested to put tile adhesive all over the back with a notched trowel and fit the mirror like a big tile, will this hold?

[m3jappa]

I seriousy doubt it, most mirrors are that sort of grey plasticy stuff on the back.

I would use some sort of no more nails/ sticks like type substance.

[Simpo Two]

Or use little chrome clips that physically hold the mirror and are screwed through the tiles into the wall behind.

[GilbertGutbucket]

Unless the mirror is 'Foil backed' any adhesive/glue/silicone will soon eat away the mirror's reflective backing.

Foil backing is a self adhesive thick aluminium foil layer stuck to the mirror to form a barrier against corrosive adhesives etc.

Edited by GilbertGutbucket on Friday 7th January 20:16

[blackcab]

pink grip - strong and moisture resistant

[Raverbaby]

You can buy mirror adhesive from B&Q etc, I presume its not as corrosive as other adhesives.

[Simpo Two]

Raverbaby said:

You can buy mirror adhesive from B&Q etc, I presume its not as corrosive as other adhesives.

That was my first idea but OP says he used it.

I'm not convinced and wonder if the tiles underneath were properly clean. As my clip idea seems to have fallen on stony ground, next time buy a mirror with four holes in it and use four mirror screws.

[tricky360]

The original tiles, about 4 of them fell off to leave exposed plaster,
I have re- plastered the exposed gap as the plaster was all uneven,
The mirror adhesive what was used the first time wasn't touching the wall in places.
It was also leaking water behind the mirror,
I think I will pva the new plaster and run silicon all over the back off the mirror

[Deva Link]

Especially considering it's a rental property, is there any sort of hazard that a tenant might break the mirror and cut themselves - is there a shower over the bath?

Friend of mine runs a small hotel and he was assured that the mirror glue stuff would be fine but several of the mirrors in bathrooms fell off. I would want a way of mounting them that made absolutely certain the couldn't drop off onto someone in the bath!

I've found mounting the drilled ones a nightmare as it's very hard to mark and drill 4 holes in exactly the right place - if one of them is a mm out you're distorting the mirror.

[andy43]

Simpo Two said:

Or use little chrome clips that physically hold the mirror and are screwed through the tiles into the wall behind.

That. Not worth the '19 stitches - broken mirror in bath horror' court case if it's a rental property!

[Engineer1]

Or because it is a rental go glue and screw, or even add some baton frame to hold it up.

[Simpo Two]

tricky360 said:

The mirror adhesive what was used the first time wasn't touching the wall in places.
It was also leaking water behind the mirror

QED.

I've used mirror adhesive successfully but in each case the mirror was standing on something, so the adhesive wasn't taking any weight, just stopping it from falling forwards.

Given the very valid points raised above, something with screws is definitely best. Or if you have to keep the same mirror, at least screw a horizontal batten firmly to wall so the weight is taken.

[nomisesor]

Get four mirror tiles and tile them into the hole?