How do we get this mirror safely standing?
September 22, 2013 2:43 PM Subscribe
We need to put a large (perhaps 5' tall by 3' wide) rectangular mirror up against a wall of our apartment ... but we're not allowed to mess with the wall in any way. How do we get it to stay there?
It's fine if the base of the mirror simply rests on or near the floor; it doesn't need to be raised. But we don't want to simply lean it against the wall, as that seems like asking for disaster. Is there such a thing as a mirror stand? Is there something else that could be adapted to the purpose? Will I have to design and build a mirror stand myself (and if so do you have any suggestions as to how to do so)? Or is there some better way of doing this which simply hasn't occurred to me?
It's fine if the base of the mirror simply rests on or near the floor; it doesn't need to be raised. But we don't want to simply lean it against the wall, as that seems like asking for disaster. Is there such a thing as a mirror stand? Is there something else that could be adapted to the purpose? Will I have to design and build a mirror stand myself (and if so do you have any suggestions as to how to do so)? Or is there some better way of doing this which simply hasn't occurred to me?
Earthquake putty. (On my phone otherwise would link to some, but look it up on amazon.) Retail stores use it to secure display items. Works great and won't damage paint or other finishes. Would not work on fabric or carpet, though.
posted by E3 at 3:15 PM on September 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by E3 at 3:15 PM on September 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh, and yes there's such a thing as mirror stands.
posted by Houstonian at 3:20 PM on September 22, 2013
posted by Houstonian at 3:20 PM on September 22, 2013
(I've got news for you... if you are renting, you have some substantial rights. You can paint that place orange and decorate it with sparkles. It may affect lease renewal and/or deposit return, when that time comes, but it could take them two years to evict you if you want to be a creep about it. And if you haven't done any significant damage, even the deposit should not be an issue. At least one you can't plan for a few months in advance of vacating, if you know what I mean.)
That said, a mirror is a common thing. YOU may feel uncomfortable hanging it up, but why not ask the landlord to do it if he/she feels more comfortable? Everyone needs mirrors. It's not unreasonable to ask. (Are they OK with your furniture choices? Your breakfast foods? )
If they are uncomfortable with a 5 x 3 mirror hanging on an appropriate fastener, supporting it from below will transfer the load from the wall to the floor, and you will only need a very weak fastener to hold the top to the wall. A stand is a good idea, but a tiny little support would be easy to make, too. (Basically, you add legs to the bottom.) A little work could make it attractive, but if you are mostly interested in functional aspects, it's pretty simple. In this case, the larger the better.
posted by FauxScot at 3:46 PM on September 22, 2013
That said, a mirror is a common thing. YOU may feel uncomfortable hanging it up, but why not ask the landlord to do it if he/she feels more comfortable? Everyone needs mirrors. It's not unreasonable to ask. (Are they OK with your furniture choices? Your breakfast foods? )
If they are uncomfortable with a 5 x 3 mirror hanging on an appropriate fastener, supporting it from below will transfer the load from the wall to the floor, and you will only need a very weak fastener to hold the top to the wall. A stand is a good idea, but a tiny little support would be easy to make, too. (Basically, you add legs to the bottom.) A little work could make it attractive, but if you are mostly interested in functional aspects, it's pretty simple. In this case, the larger the better.
posted by FauxScot at 3:46 PM on September 22, 2013
You could try a whole bunch of command strips. Looks like they have ones that can hold up to 8 lbs. So, if you got a bunch of those, it would totally work.
posted by reddot at 4:50 PM on September 22, 2013
posted by reddot at 4:50 PM on September 22, 2013
In my experience, it is not a sure thing that quake putty, poster tack, or Command strips will remove from your wall without damaging the finish, even if they say they will. I've had Command strips rip off paint after a day -- it is very specific to the environment and not predictable.
Framing the mirror and leaning it against the wall or using an easel with a very wide base is my vote.
posted by blnkfrnk at 4:56 PM on September 22, 2013
Framing the mirror and leaning it against the wall or using an easel with a very wide base is my vote.
posted by blnkfrnk at 4:56 PM on September 22, 2013
The thing with command strips is that you have to use them exactly according to instructions. We put up a bunch of pictures in a just refurbed apartment and discovered that you need the paint to have cured. Several pictures fell off the wall before we read the instructions properly and took the rest down to wait.
In our previous apartment they worked really well but I didn't read the instructions for removing them so the first command strip I tried to take off the wall took off a giant paint flake. Then I read the instructions ( you need to pull the tab down which streches out the adhesive like an elastic until it gives) and the next twenty came off without leaving a mark.
But I would hesitate to use them for something as heavy as a really large mirror.
Me I'd mess with the wall. Drill and anchor properly and then spackle it up when I moved out. The amount a landlord can ding you for a paint touch up isn't anywhere as costly as the mirror probably was if it is good quality.
posted by srboisvert at 5:56 PM on September 22, 2013
In our previous apartment they worked really well but I didn't read the instructions for removing them so the first command strip I tried to take off the wall took off a giant paint flake. Then I read the instructions ( you need to pull the tab down which streches out the adhesive like an elastic until it gives) and the next twenty came off without leaving a mark.
But I would hesitate to use them for something as heavy as a really large mirror.
Me I'd mess with the wall. Drill and anchor properly and then spackle it up when I moved out. The amount a landlord can ding you for a paint touch up isn't anywhere as costly as the mirror probably was if it is good quality.
posted by srboisvert at 5:56 PM on September 22, 2013
Assuming there is no frame, I would also drill and put plastic anchors in the wall, then use "invisible" mirror clips that we call "Vancouver clips" here. The idea is that you screw the bottom two clips into the wall through the round holes to keep the mirror bottom in place, screw the two top clips through the long holes, leaving some room to insert the top of the mirror and then slide the top clips down snugly over the mirror. Make sure you buy the correct size clips for the mirror thickness.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:40 PM on September 22, 2013
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:40 PM on September 22, 2013
It's a safety issue in my opinion--worth a tiny repair job when you move out to avoid a broken mirror and perhaps a cut child.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:52 PM on September 22, 2013
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 6:52 PM on September 22, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Houstonian at 3:09 PM on September 22, 2013