Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 27, 2000 06:36am | #1

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   Now I've heard everything. Jeez, some people, huh? I can't begin to imagine where your customer is coming from, but why can't it be done?

   My chief concern would be how well the mirror is secured in place. Next, I'd be concerned about the tile bond to the mirror. If the mirror is secure and has very little flexion , I'd say why not. For bonding the tile, I'd use an epoxy out of a cartridge. Lick and stick 'em. Better, yet, use the epoxy to stick sheet material--like Hardiebacker--to the mirror and tile over that.

   Maybe your man is trying to save money, but I'd expect the additional cost in labor and materials to eat up whatever savings he thought he'd realize. Then, what happens if the mirror should ever break?

   Tradition is the result of consistent satisfaction. Can you tell us why your customer wants to do this; what motivates him?

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 27, 2000 09:45am | #2

   *I'm far from a "tile expert", probably not even qualified to mix thinset for Rich , but I'd be wary of tiling over the mirror.Most mirrors are only have spot adhesive securing them to the wall behind. My biggest worry would be that a year or so down the road, someone would come along and want to hang something from the wall, a picture, towel bar, whatever.Out comes the carbide-tipped drill bit, through the grout and disaster when they hit the mirror. Guess who's gonna get the call?As Rich wrote, it probably can be done, but I wouldn't want to be the one responsible for doing it. If you do proceed, be careful bearing down on the grout float...

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 27, 2000 10:36am | #3

   *Mongo, I was thinking about the drilling & hanging part too. I can see it now, some handyperson is hired to hang a towel bar, whips out the carbide bit and BLAMO the "tile wall" is blown to smithereens and laying at their feet.BTW: You can mix my thinset any day. Different subject: e- me re: flying.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 27, 2000 06:42pm | #4

   *I dont know Rich...with a name like Mongo, and maybe Ive watched Blazing Saddles one too many times, you'd think a guy like that would be one hell of a mud mixer!!BTW...I wouldnt install on the mirror. Last time I checked mirrored glass wasnt listed as an approved substrate. YOu guys hit all the high points already, no need to go over it again.Can you see the look on the guys face when that bit finally hits the glass and...BAM...tile and glass everywhere. Hopefully he's whereing some safety glasses.Dave

2. 
   Harry | Jan 27, 2000 10:36pm | #5

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   Thanks Rich, Mongo and Creature. The customer enjoys change, so the drill bit blast scenario you prophecized would be a sure thing. The reason for the suggestion had been cost (as always) and avoidance of a dangerous mess -- glass shards all over the floor. That would be better, though, than glass shards AND tile shards all over the floor. I'll talk 'em out of it. "The experts say..."

1. 
   tomm_ | Jan 28, 2000 03:11am | #6

   *Harry, how do you plan to remove such a large, glued-on(?) mirror? I'd be interested if you know an easy way to do this. Breaking up such a large piece of glass would scare me. (As does removing large, broken window glass - but that's another story.)Tom

3. 
   Harry_Denkers | Jan 28, 2000 06:01am | #7

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   My customer wants bathroom tile installed over an existing full-wall mirror behind the bathtub -- gluing the tile to the mirror. Is this possible? Has anyone tried it?
   ~H.T.

4. 
   Guest_ | Jan 28, 2000 06:01am | #8

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   Tom, once I had to remove a full length wall mirror. That sucker was something like 12 x 8'. I didn't like the idea of shattering the mirror and none of the glass companies I contacted were interested, so... after thinking about what to do I decided this: I scored two parallel lines down the height of the mirror, smashed this center section and carefully pried up and out the two halves. Took about 3 hours.

   I happened to have a panel router table on the job. I leaned the mirrors against this until the owner could come and cart them away.

   Creature, in a post a long time ago I had commented on Mongo's moniker. Sounds scary, doesn't it? But, ahem, with a name like yours, shouldn't you be the last to comment? Can help it, but I always visualize black lagoons and such.