Resilvering A Mirror

I received this Facebook question from a reader recently and would like to take the time to answer it.

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

Let me start by saying, on a job like this, especially if the mirror is very important to you, I would seek a professional who has training and experience in re-silvering a mirror. You can look online but sometimes these types of craftsmen are few and far between. You may have to look in the yellow pages under “mirrors” or “glass” and if you can’t find someone that specializes in re-silvering, I would ask the local mirror and glass companies you find for any recommendations they might have. I’m sure they come across this question a lot and may know someone that can help.


There are a few options as well, if you want to sacrifice the look of a professional quality job (although sometimes even the professionals get it wrong- so really it’s a risk either way) and want to save some money.

1. You want to remove the mirror from the frame (if present).
   
   

2. Strip down the back paint, using a paint striper (For tough jobs, look for a commercial grade paint thinner/striper) and plastic scraper (be very careful not to break or scratch the glass)
   
   

3. Strip the mirror down to plain glass using a mirror remover.
   
   

4. Try to polish out any scratches in the glass (the scratches will be more noticeable with the new silver).You can use glass polish or scratch remover that you find at your local hardware store, or to save a little money try using toothpaste.
   
   

5. Clean the glass using glass cleaner and a towel or clean t-shirt. Don’t spray directly onto the glass but rather onto the towel.
   
   

6. At this point you have two options:
   
   
   A. Silvering is a chemical process. You can try looking up the formulas and mixing the solution yourself. This can be time consuming, dangerous and costly. There are also kits available with instructions and materials included. They can be a little expensive as well. Here is a kit I found, but have never used: Silvering Kit
   
   
   B. The second option is to measure your glass, find a mirror the same size (or have one cut to the same shape and size), and place behind the glass, framing it back together. I’ve done this option before and it turned out nicely.

It can turn out to be quite a process, so I would evaluate the pros and cons of this project. How important is the mirror to you? Does the aging of the mirror add character to it (many people seek out aging mirrors to decorate with)? Is it the glass that’s important to you (is it a valuable antique worth holding on to) or can you just replace with a new mirror? Do you have the time, patience, and money to carry out the project? What happens if the glass breaks? Are the materials or professionals readily available to you? There are many things to think about.


Good luck and please send us pictures if you decide to re-silver the mirror! Thanks for your question!

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