Ideally, you should choose a mirror that is at least ¼-inch thick. The ¼-inch thickness will be sturdier and not cause the reflection to distort. Even if the wall it's positioned on isn't completely flat, a thicker mirror won't misshape images.
There is no difference in the reflective quality of the thicknesses, however 6mm is heavier, stronger and more expensive than 4mm. Our mirrors can be made to measure and as such can be made to your own sizes, providing you with a unique bespoke mirror.
The surface should be plain flat. Mirrors are available in 1/8-inch, 3/16-inch, and 1/4-inch thickness. Thicker mirrors will not distort reflections, while mirrors with less thickness will start distorting reflections over time. If you can afford it, opt for the ¼-inch mirror thickness.
Mirrors come in 3 thicknesses: 4mm mirror is ideal for furniture, ie. wardrobe doors etc and in frames, 6mm Mirror should be used for all other applications such as bathrooms, mirrored walls etc.
Standard mirror glass comes in 4mm & 6mm thickness. Elements that effect which gage you should use include; Size: As a general rule any mirror over 1sqm in size should be 6mm.
A simple rule of thumb is the thicker the glass the better the quality reflection. In cheaper mirrors you could find 2 or 3mm mirror glass and sometimes even plastic. This becomes a problem when it distorts your reflection.
Thicker mirrors generally offer a better reflection than thinner mirrors, as they are less likely to distort the image. This is because thicker mirrors have a more even surface, which allows for a clearer and more accurate reflection.
The most common vanity mirrors will have widths of 20-25 inches. Anything under 20 inches is fairly uncommon and typically used as shower or wall mirrors. While 20-25 inch mirrors are the most common, 25-35 inch vanity mirrors are a great choice as well.
As a general rule, a vanity mirror should measure several inches fewer than your vanity sink area. For example a 30 in. wide vanity should be paired with a 26-28 in. wide mirror.
The most common way to determine your mirror size is choose a mirror that is 1-2 inches shorter than the width of the countertop of your bathroom vanity. Many also prefer to keep the mirror flush with the vanity, which is a matter of preference.
A bathroom mirror should be made of tempered glass. The chemical treatment tempered glass undergoes makes it resistant to sharp changes in temperature, which is typical in a bathroom—such as when you run a bath or turn on the shower on a cold day.
Cheap mirrors can often develop spots, creases or bubbles as a result of poor manufacturing and can scratch easily. However, quality mirrors often have an anti-scratch coating and meet higher production standards.
The Basics of Shower Glass Thickness
Shower glass experts say there are typically two thickness options for frameless shower door glass: 3/8″ and 1/2″. The minimum thickness that is necessary for the stability and overall soundness of the glass door is 3/8″.
6mm float glass
Both 4.4 & 6.4mm safety laminate are considerably better for security and safety with the price point being very similar as well. In time gone by it was an upgrade from 4mm in terms of security and noise reduction.
The frame and backing need to be strong enough to support it. “If a mirror is thin, the reflection will become distorted because most mirrors will bend over time due to their own weight,” explains Paul Jarda, the co-founder of West Mirrors.
4mm toughened glass 2-4 times stronger than ordinary glass (float/annealed glass) of the same thickness. This safety glass is a minimum requirement where building regulations demand health and safety considerations, including the distance from floor and doors.
Pick a mirror to suit the size of your bathroom
A mirror too large for the room can have the opposite effect and can swamp your space. If your bathroom is a busy area of the home but you don't have a lot of bathroom storage, then a better use for your wall space might be a bathroom mirror cabinet.
Bathrooms, particularly those with a shower, will be humid and develop a considerable amount of steam which can damage a mirror over time if it is not moisture-resistant. When used in a bathroom, the frame of a regular mirror can deteriorate along with the mirror itself.
The mirror should be long enough vertically to allow everyone a decent reflection. Typically, the mirror should not be wider than the sink or vanity. How far above the sink the mirror hangs will also depend on how high the ceilings are.
You want a mirror that is large enough to comfortably gaze at, but not too big or obnoxious. Since most mirrors are above the vanity, you should consider vanity size while shopping. It's best to find a piece that can center on the wall, which means measuring for everything around it.
'We like to use full size mirrors that run from wall to wall, or from floor to ceiling,' says international interior designer Ina Rinderknecht of the bathroom above. 'Using large mirrors above the vanity can produce a lofty effect by filling the space and creating an optical illusion with its reflections.
Using Tempered Glass Mirrors
These guidelines state that bathroom mirrors must be made of tempered glass (also known as toughened glass). This type of glass undergoes a chemical strengthening process.
That's a convex mirror, because it makes you look bigger than everything else around you. It's also important to know the difference between concave and convex lenses, which are often used for eye glasses and contact lenses.
Thickness Different mirrors have different glass thicknesses, which can easily make you look different. If your proportions look out of whack in one mirror but not another, it's likely that the glass is just too thin. Glass is heavy, so a thin mirror will often buckle under its own weight and warp.
A tile mosaic can give your mirror a more colorful look and can make it look like an expensive art piece rather than a formerly builder-grade generic mirror.