How Can You Tell if a Mirror is High-Quality?
Hiring a professional team to install custom mirrors and windows in your home can both improve lighting and make your space appear larger. Allied Glass & Mirror offers a range of glass and mirror services to home and business owners in the Cincinnati area. Here are some of the features of our high-quality mirrors:
Quality Glass
The quality of a mirror is first determined by the quality of the original glass sheet. When creating custom mirrors, our team uses only smooth, clear sheets. Before adding the reflective coating, we clean and polish the glass to remove any blemishes. Tempered glass can be stronger than standard glass, as the tempering chemical process makes it more resistant to impacts and temperature changes. This makes tempered glass a good material for glass and mirror services in bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas of the home that experience temperature and humidity fluctuations. Legally, a form of safety glass is required to be used in a door or closely-surrounding window. Tempered glass is a great option here. These are some of the specific factors that affect the quality of glass:
Chemical Composition
The durability of a mirror is dependent on the glass’s chemical composition. Most glass includes a careful mixture of sand, limestone, and soda that is melted down into a liquid state. If these materials are pure, using the correct proportions, the finished glass should be durable and resistant to heat. Glass manufacturers may also add other materials or chemical components to create various visual effects or colors in the final product.
Mechanical Strength
Whether we're working with custom mirrors or other glass types, we confirm the products' mechanical strength before installing it. This feature refers to the pane’s ability to withstand impact and stress, meaning it won’t break after a minor impact. Allied Glass & Mirror uses glass with high mechanical strength to make sure your mirrors have long lifespans and are safe to use in high-traffic areas.
Thermal Behavior
The thermal behavior of glass is its reaction to temperature changes. Heat-resistant glass is helpful for mirrors and windows that receive direct sunlight or are placed near heating or cooling vents. If you want a mirrored wall or backsplash in your home, we will use high-quality, heat-treated glass to prevent cracks caused by temperature changes in your home.
Appearance
High-quality glass panes have a smooth appearance with no bends or waves. This helps create a clear, accurate reflection once the mirror is complete. Distortions may be used intentionally in mirrors with magnification properties. Other impurities in the glass may be a stylistic choice made by the manufacturer to match client preferences.
Custom Sizing
At Allied Glass & Mirror, we create custom mirrors of all shapes and sizes to match the dimensions of your interior spaces. We design mirrors for an enormous range of applications, from smaller cosmetic home improvements, like a back splash or mirrored table top, to floor-to-ceiling projects, like a fitness room. While larger mirrors create a more luxurious and aesthetic feel, small mirrors can also be high-quality and add depth and character to a space. Keep in mind that large mirrors should typically have a sturdy backing material applied to prevent the glass from bending or breaking. Thicker mirrors are of higher quality than thin ones, resulting in fewer reflection distortions. Thick mirrors also need strong backing materials, like metal, plastic, or paper, to help protect them from warping over time.
Framing Options
A high-quality mirror can have a custom frame or be frameless. We use frameless mirrors for mirrored walls, backsplashes, and other applications that call for a seamless transition between materials. Beveled edges are one way to give the appearance of having a high-quality yet simple frame, without one. At Allied Glass, we offer a range of bevel options to enhance your mirror project.
Sealed Silvering
The process of silvering involves silver nitrate, which helps to create the reflective surfaces of a mirror during this process. A coating is applied to one side of a glass panel. High-quality mirrors have thick, even silvering that is sealed at the edges. The sealant keeps the silvering compounds from breaking down over time. Mirrors that aren’t properly sealed may show rusting or dark discoloration spots as the silvering begins to tarnish. At Allied Glass & Mirror, we confirm the edges of our custom mirrors are completely sealed to create long-lasting, high-quality finished products.
Specialty Etching
Our team offers etching services for custom mirrors of all sizes. The etching process involves applying a laser or acid to the mirror’s surface to create a specific design. Homeowners can use etching for a full mirror border, smaller images, or text. Etching is a precise craft that enhances the appearance of mirrors and helps them match the rest of your home’s decor.
Explore Our Glass and Mirror Services
Allied Glass & Mirror has been serving home and business owners in the Cincinnati area since 1947. Our team is trained to design and replace glass and mirrors safely and efficiently. If you're looking to upgrade your home with custom mirrors, we will assess your goals and provide you with a unique design plan and a free quote. Contact us today to learn more about our glass design and installation services.