Glass and Mirrors - Need advice for bathroom wall mirror

I hired a glass & mirror company that I respect and have given work to before to measure, make, and install a clear polished glass mirror on the wall behind a dual sink vanity. The mirror was to be wall-to-wall and backsplash-to-ceiling, approximately 100 inches long by 55 inches high. The countertop is Italian marble, the sinks and faucets are Kohler. It is a high-end residence.

Last week they came out to install the mirror. They put globs of black mirror adhesive on the wall and then proceeded to lift the mirror into place. I was in the other room when I heard it break.

The conclusion was that the side walls leading to the back surface where the mirror was to be installed were not totally even causing the mirror to get stuck on the right side wall about a foot in front of the back wall.

No one was hurt (they had 3 guys). They cleaned up the broken glass and I told them we would regroup the first of this week.

Now I need some advice. The black goo gives off a "burned metal" smell and I am concerned that it may be bad for our lungs. We have been breathing this for 5 days now. Do I have reason to be concerned, or does it just stink? It feels like my lungs are burning a bit, but I am sensitive to smoke-filled rooms so it may just be me. (They were not wearing masks when they were here.) I have tried burning scented candles in there and that helps some but I can't burn them 24/7.

Can the black goo be removed from the wall? If so, with what?

We are now considering changing our approach to a custom framed mirror done by a local frame shop. I have seen this done in luxury hotels and it is beautiful. If we go this route, how much wall border should be left around the mirror frame for a professional look? Should the framed mirror be hung with anchored nails or adhered with the black goo? The framing would be very expensive (around $45/foot just for the framing), but we are going for an expensive look for resale purposes.


Thank you so much for any feedback you can give me!

I can answer the first part of your question. First of all the people hired to install the mirror should have removed the mirror mastic from the wall. What you smell is the mineral spirits in the mastic which is not harmful in such a small quantity. You can remove the mastic by scraping it off the the wall using a putty knife or even a thin piece of wood.

We do not have a high-end home but are working on making it look like one (on a budget!) The very coolest thing about our second bath is the mirror, to the point that we are re-decorating based on it. It's a large-ish framed mirror and the frame is an Arabic style that lends itself to creating a "Colonial Safari" look in the bathroom and when we are done, the bath will actually look like traditional high-end East African hotel bathrooms, much like those we've seen in Zanzibar and the Serengeti. But back to my point, the mirror makes the room, and it's framed. Because you have Italian marble, I would think framed mirrors would give the room more of a classic European look, much like a fancy Roman hotel or something.

As for the mastic, I'd call that mirror company and come tell them to take the stinky black goo off your wall ASAP! I am sensitive to chemicals and would have a fit if someone left yucky smelly gunk in my house.

Thanks so much to those who posted replies!

When I called them back, the company I hired to install the mirror said the mastic would not come off the wall. They said the drywall would have to be removed and replaced. Instead, I ended up hiring someone else to remove it. I think he used mineral spirits. Of course the wall is messed up where the blobs were, but I don't mind that because the framed mirror will cover all that. At least the smell is gone.

I'm probably being too nice about this because I want the company to come back. Even though they were the ones who measured, and they were the ones who should have known it would be a problem, I feel badly because the mirror broke and I know they are eating that cost.

I'd like to give them the order for the mirror inserts that go inside the frame, have them deliver the mirror piece to the frame shop, and then pick it up and install it when its done. The framer does beautiful work but they do not provide installation/hanging services. By the way, I have two more bathrooms that need this same framed mirror work as well.

This company provided and installed my glass shower and tub doors as well as mirrored bi-fold closet doors. I have had issues with all these items (screws came loose and fell out causing the doors to come off the track) and I still need them to resolve these items so I don't have to pay someone else to come behind them and do it.

Thoughts?

They lied about removing the mastic, they did a lousy job on the other items and you're going to trust them again? I would look for someone else who would be happy to do the work and at the same time correct the other problems at no charge since it doesn't sound like a big deal..

I did G&M work for @ 10 years. The mastic would have come off (most of it) if they had scraped it off before it dried. I have to say, I've worked in a LOT of homes and have yet to see a bath, or any other wall, alcove that was perfectly plumb and square and level. The top to bottom, wall-to-wall fit would be tough but can be done. Fitting a mirror in that tight of a spot isn't a good idea either, especially on new homes. As the house settles, one day you walk in the bath and notice the mirror is cracked. I wholeheartedly support the frame idea.
Call the boss of the glass shop and tell them to come back out and fix the other issues. Any reputable businessman will with no problem.

Chris