Mirror Demo

[Overbuilders]

OK, brain trust. Demoing a master bathroom. Removed narrow vertical and under soffit sections of mirror without much effort and mostly intact, all attached with globs of silicone resulting in very minimal drywall damage. The challenge will be removing the 11' x 4' section above the backsplash and three 4' x 7' vertical panels along the opposite wall. What's your best, safest process for this type of mirror removal?

[Happy Home]

Have you considered your local - a few trucks glass shop ? Why risk you know what.....? That's what I'd do. They have suction cups, kevlar gloves, garments.

I'd price it out $400 but I believe it could be done in a 2 - 3 hr service call $275. They'll take it away. Glass and glass service is relatively inexpensive compared to other trades.

[David Meiland]

I have suction cups, so I'd go after that starting at one edge, one guy pulling carefully on the cup, the other guys sliding a flat bar behind and gently prying. Scoring it with a glass cutter into small sections (a couple of feet each) will help, and you can usually run the cut by prying directly behind where the cut starts.

[Overbuilders]

Wild card - all mirrors have a 1/2" metal channel edge, also siliconed to the wall.

[tjbnwi]

When I have to remove mirrors like this I cover them with Vicor or duct tape. Prevents shards flying if something goes wrong. Leave an area clear for the cups. Most have come off better than anticipated.

There is the BB gun and broom method, if that's the mood you're in!

Tom

[rpuglisi]

i did a 20 by 8' wall last year and scored first then covered with contact paper , worked great and i didnt need to sub it out.

[Dancing Dan]

Yeah, I was thinking along R's lines - cover it with some kind of sticky sheet. Unless it would be easier to just run your rotozip along the outside edge and re-sheetrock.

[geokelsey]

If there is room at the top drop a piece of string behind the mirror, move it back and forth and cut the silicone. Works fine if you have the room.

George

[Ted S.]

Without a doubt I'd have solid tires on the Bobcat for that demo.

[Overbuilders]

Unless it would be easier to just run your rotozip along the outside edge and re-sheetrock.

Drywall is screwed.

[Overbuilders]

If there is room at the top drop a piece of string behind the mirror, move it back and forth and cut the silicone. Works fine if you have the room.

Definitely won't work on the vanity wall, and the other wall has 12 lf of mirror 7' high. No way to run a string behind individual panels. Even if I could, seems like this method would take forever. Maybe a very thin cable?

[Overbuilders]

Without a doubt I'd have solid tires on the Bobcat for that demo.

Bobcat is stuck in the hallway between bearing walls.

[Shawn Prentice]

Another vote for using some sticky tape. I always remove direct glaze glass from big windows I'm taking out (think arches and rounds) to lighten the load. If the glass starts to crack while cutting it free, then the sticky carpet protective tape (on both sides in the case of a thermal pane) is a trick to keep the glass from making a dangerous mess.

[Overbuilders]

...then the sticky carpet protective tape...

Great idea. I've got two rolls in my truck. Wouldn't it be better to score the mirror after applying carpet mask/tape/contact paper/whatever?

[MKnAs Dad]

piano wire behind it and cut the adhesive