How to replace mirrors in wardrobes yourself?

Wardrobe mirrors

Modern housing cannot be imagined without storage space and systems. Mirrored wardrobes are installed most often.

This is the most practical element of the interior, which at the same time brings elegance to the environment. Thanks to mirrored doors, the space becomes brighter and wider.

Such models of cabinets are acceptable even in children’s rooms, since the glass and mirror elements of such furniture are made from especially durable materials. A big plus is that there is no point in hanging an additional mirror on the wall. If you do not need a huge sparkling surface in the room, it is more convenient to purchase a three-door wardrobe with a mirror in the middle.

The doors of these storage systems can be attached in two ways:

• Directly on the cabinet itself. The guides are fixed at the bottom and top. The door leaf moves along the lower rail, and the upper one only supports it.

• Directly to the ceiling and floor. This is a built-in wardrobe. To make it convenient to use the furniture, the width of the doors is no more than one meter.

How to remove a mirror from a cabinet door?

In a modern interior, every detail has its own significance, because it complements the design or becomes its central figure. Every bedroom has a wardrobe, and most modern pieces of furniture are equipped with mirrors.

Sometimes situations arise when the design needs to be modified or the mirror has lost its attractive appearance. In this case, it needs to be removed, but here the question arises - how to do this correctly? If the mirror is attached with a special fastener system, then dismantling is simple, but if the mirror is held on by “liquid nails” or special glue, then the task is much more difficult. In this article we will talk about how to correctly and carefully remove a mirror from a cabinet door without harming it and, first of all, yourself.

If suddenly there is force majeure

It happens that the mirrored cabinet door is damaged. Then you need to disassemble the facade frame.

It is usually made of aluminum and secured with four screws at the ends of the doors, covered with a dust-proof brush. The steel frame is held in place by four roller devices located inside the door.

To independently replace mirrors in wardrobes, all you need is a screwdriver and a screwdriver. First of all, you have to remove the door.

The stopper is disconnected, and only then the canvas must be removed and positioned horizontally. Now you can start repairing the part.

How to glue a mirror to a cabinet door yourself

When you plan to do the work yourself, it is better to choose a method that requires the use of simple tools. Moreover, it must correspond to the parameters of the mirror: weight, dimensions. The best option is an adhesive sealant.

Materials for work

It is recommended to use silicone-based elastic material. It is distinguished by safety: it does not contain toxic substances, and no harmful compounds are released during application. In addition, silicone sealant will not disturb the amalgam of the mirror. The main advantage of the material is its high adhesion, and the glue even fixes structures with smooth surfaces.

Prepare a substance for degreasing the cabinet wall and the back of the mirror. To do this, use white spirit or another product with similar properties. If you skip this step, the quality of the coupling will decrease.

Tool

Prepare for work:

• a special gun for working with sealant, such a tool allows you to regulate the consumption of the adhesive and perform installation carefully;
• tape measure for marking;
• a simple pencil (this method is used for application, and it is better not to use a marker for this purpose, since its traces will be visible after installing the mirror);
• screwdriver (needed to remove the door).

Before starting work, prepare large items that are characterized by heavy weight. They will be used as a weighting agent.

Fastening process, step-by-step instructions

1. The cabinet door is removed. It is placed horizontally.
2. The surface of the door is cleaned of dust with a damp cloth.
3. Marking in progress.
4. Immediately before applying the glue, the door is degreased.
5. The mirror is prepared according to the same scheme.
6. An adhesive composition is applied along the perimeter, while performing zigzag movements.
7. The design with a reflective surface is installed on the cabinet door.

Cans of water or other heavy objects are placed on top of the structure. When the glue dries, the door is returned to its place.

Removing the mirror

To replace mirrors in wardrobes, you need a metal ruler yourself. A small rubber mallet will also come in handy.

Using sandpaper, sand the edge of the ruler, sharpening it. Very carefully place the instrument in the gap between the mirror and the frame.

Carefully deepen the ruler into the gap, tapping with a hammer. There should be smooth, soft movements.

Important! To avoid breaking the mirror during dismantling, do not press hard on the ruler when lifting the sharpened edge. Instead of a ruler, a sharp screwdriver is also used.

How to repair wardrobes and replace mirrors?

In order for replacing a mirror in a closet to be successful, you need to take care to remove the old object. Peeling off a mirror is not very easy, but if you follow the recommendations, you will be able to complete the job. First, remove the elements on which the mirror is fixed. Place the door horizontally to make it easier to replace mirrors in wardrobes. Take a metal plate and a rubber tipped hammer. Follow the instructions:

1. Sharpen the plate by sanding the edge.
2. Place the sharpened tool in the gap between the sash and the back of the mirror.
3. Make tapping movements to deepen the ruler. Proceed smoothly to avoid damaging the mirror that is attached to the furniture.
4. Gradually move towards the center and the opposite edge. When tearing off the mirror, try not to lift the tool high, otherwise it may burst. After removing the mirror, move it to other cabinets.

The same method is used when you need to repair a wardrobe and replace a mirror. There is also another technology: the front side needs to be sealed with tape, a tool is inserted under the edge, and then squeezed out. Don't forget to seal it with adhesive tape to prevent shards from scattering on the floor. Look at the photos and videos on our website, where the master shows how he cut and removed the mirror.

Safety regulations

Removing the old or damaged surface of a mirrored wardrobe is quite dangerous. To perform such work, it is better to contact a professional company.

If you had to change the mirror yourself, do not forget about your own safety:

• choose clothes that cover your body and arms;
• Protect your eyes with tight-fitting goggles;
• work outdoors;
• exclude the presence of children nearby;
• When dismantling indoors, do a thorough cleaning after work.

Attachment methods

To install a new mirror, you can use:

1. Double sided tape. If the room is damp or cold, this method is not suitable. At temperatures below ten degrees Celsius the mirror will fall off. The tape also does not tolerate high heat. This is not a very reliable way to attach mirrors to wardrobes.
2. Liquid Nails. It smells strong. Sometimes it can destroy the amalgam. The glue must be suitable for mirror surfaces.
3. Construction silicone. The most optimal option. Does not give side effects. Glue by placing the composition in intermittent strips along the contour of the mirror.
4. Profile crimping. The mirror is clamped along the edge, and it becomes part of the door leaf. Professionals recommend it as a reliable method.
5. Mechanical fastening. Fastening is carried out with thin screws, screwing in plastic stops and metal clamps.

Types of breakdowns and repairs of sliding wardrobes

Mirror replacement

Cabinets can be equipped with mirrors that are glued to the outer surface, or the doors themselves can be made of mirror sheets. A mirror is a fragile material and can crack or even break if hit. It is also easy to scratch. In such cases, the only repair option is to replace the mirror. To replace a coupe mirror, you first need to remove the door. To do this, you need to disconnect the stoppers.

There are several types of stoppers:

1. One view is opened by turning the locking flag along the vertical axis.
2. Another view can be opened using a screwdriver by bending the stopper down.
3. The third type is stoppers, which themselves pop out of the groove when the doors are lifted.
4. There may also be a design that does not have stoppers. In this version, the rollers are inserted into the groove using springs. If you have such a case, it is better to remove the door with two people. One person lifts and the other presses the spring and releases the rollers from the grooves.

After this, you can begin replacing the glass. Place the door leaf on a flat surface. If the glass is glued, then you need to carefully separate the broken mirror with a knife.

Next, we clean the surface of the door leaf, apply a special self-adhesive film and glue a new mirror.

After you have laid the mirror and until the tape has completely stuck, you can level it (it moves a little, by 1-2 mm). Then the mirror must be pressed down and left for several hours. After this, the door is put back in place in the reverse order.

Video: how to glue a mirror to a cabinet door (using chipboard as an example)

Roller repair

The most common breakdown in a wardrobe is the repair of rollers. If your closet doors are difficult to open, then it's time to pay attention to the rollers. It happens that it is enough to clean the rollers and the cabinet can continue to be used. But it may also be that the rollers need to be replaced.

To do this, you need to determine which rollers - upper or lower - have failed. Next we remove the door, as described earlier. Now, using a screwdriver, we can replace the damaged roller with a new one of the same type.

Features of mechanical fastenings

The mirror is installed on the door, previously removed from its hinges and laid horizontally. If metal feet are used, first check their height. They should ensure a tight fit of the mirror to the furniture. If necessary, use pads. All that remains is to screw the clamps along the markings, insert the mirror and secure with paws. Ready!

Replacing mirrors in wardrobes is a rather labor-intensive and rather dangerous process. If you follow safety rules and take your time, everything will definitely work out.

Mounting methods

If you decide to make changes to your usual environment, you can add some new detail to the interior, for example, gluing a mirror to the closet. To get the job done efficiently, you need to familiarize yourself with the mounting options. At the moment, several main methods are used, each of which has its own characteristics. This:

• double-sided tape for fastening. It is better to use only high-quality foam tape, whose thickness is about 2 mm. You can work with such material under certain temperature conditions, otherwise you will not achieve the desired adhesion to the surface;
• adhesive composition. What glue should I use? You should not glue the mirror to the cabinet using “liquid nails”, as this may lead to damage to the mirror. It is better to use specialized compounds designed for mirror surfaces;
• silicone A reliable method that allows you to achieve excellent results;
• mechanical method. Here it is supposed to use U-shaped legs or another fastening option - special screws.

Only you can decide which installation method to use. The main thing is to do the work slowly and consistently. Then the glued mirror will adhere firmly to the furniture.