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| Resilvering mirrors |
| You don't have to replace that old mirror - just resilver it! |
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Mirrors make a great feature in the home, but what do you do when they become streaky and black spots start to appear on the surface? The solution is simple, resilvering. This process is ideal for unusually shaped or antique mirrors and gives your dark and damaged mirror a new silver lining.
Resilvering mirrors is not a DIY job. Many people try to touch-up their mirrors with silver paint or small squares of aluminium foil, with poor results. For a mirror to be resilvered properly, the original backing needs to be removed and a whole new silver lining applied. And the lining is real silver, which makes it impractical and expensive for the home handyperson. Most glaziers will accept mirrors for resilvering, but don't usually do the work themselves. In Sydney, all mirrors that need resilvering are sent to Mirror Resilvering Service in Seven Hills.
Before sending your mirror to the professionals, there are several points to consider. Resilvering is expensive, so it may not be worthwhile having your mirror repaired. Most household mirrors are rectangular or square and it is much cheaper to replace them than to have them resilvered. In comparison, it may be cheaper to resilver uniquely shaped mirrors, or those with beveled edges, than it is to have new glass cut.
Resilvering is commonly used for antique mirrors. These are often made from glass that has imperfections, such as air bubbles, small ripples or uneven beveling. The glass itself is antique and can make the mirror valuable. Usually, an antique mirror is not devalued by the resilvering process, because the glass is not changed. In fact, resilvering can add to the value of an antique mirrors. However, it is worth checking first as some important antiques are more valuable if left untouched.
While resilvering usually has fantastic results, it will not always be effective. Sometimes deteriorating silver leaves a stain on the glass and this becomes obvious when the new silver is applied. This staining can usually be removed by a professional glazier. Scratches on the surface of the glass will also become apparent when the new silver is applied. Depending on the severity these can sometimes be polished out.
There are several steps in the resilvering process. First, the backing paint is removed with a commercial stripper. Next, nitric acid is used to remove the old silver lining. Before the new backing is applied, the glass is polished and cleaned using deionized water.
The next step is to apply the new silver backing. This is done by mixing several chemicals, including silver nitrate, and spraying it onto the mirror with a special spray gun. A chemical reaction causes the silver to adhere to the glass. The spray is clear when applied, but turns silver as it adheres. When the silver is dry, it is coated with a special copper paint. Next, grey backing paint is applied and the mirror is cleaned and polished.
Like most restorations, there is some risk involved when resilvering. The glass can chip or even break during the process, although this is rare. With proper care, your newly resilvered mirror should last for decades. |
More Info
For more information contact Mirror Resilvering Service.
Factory 1
28a Powers Road
Seven Hills
Ph: 02 9624 4848
Mirror Resilvering Service offers a Sydney wide pick up and delivery service.
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Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
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