PLEXIGLASS SHEETS IN MIRROR

Advantages of mirror acrylic

Mirror acrylic provides excellent UV stability and is available in 0.8~6mm thicknesses to suit different applications for all commercial and household requirements.
Acrylic is easy to machine and fabricate, as it can be cut and bent into shape easily, so it's a versatile material that can be used in a variety of ways.
Acrylic offers greater strength than glass, with up to ten times more impact resistance than equivalent glass sheets, so it's perfect for high-footfall areas such as commercial properties and public spaces.

Despite the strength, acrylic is incredibly lightweight so it's easy to handle and install even in larger sheets. The reflective surface of mirror acrylic is just as clear as with traditional glass mirrors, with a silver mirrored finish and a grey backing on the reverse that delivers a crisp reflective surface. Mirror acrylic is also much more affordable than glass mirrors, so it's an economical choice that is cost-effective. Acrylic is also highly resistant to weather, so it's a great solution for both indoor and outdoor applications.

    

Uses for mirror acrylic sheet

As acrylic can be used for both interior and exterior applications, it is suitable for a wide variety of projects. In addition to being used as a replacement for standard glass mirrors in the home, it can also be used to great effect in gyms and dance studios for wall-length mirrors, as well as for stable mirrors. Mirror acrylic can be used for retail displays and to create the feeling of space in display cases. It's a great material for use in gardens to create the feeling of more space, as well as for architectural designs and features in theatrical sets. This versatile material is also ideal for DIY projects in and around the home, such as for bedrooms, bathrooms and for child-safe mirrors in playrooms.  

     

Installation advice for plastic mirrors

Acrylic mirror is great, but as it is a flexible product, care needs to be taken when installing the acrylic to get the perfect reflection. 

To get an undistorted perfect reflection the plastic mirror needs to be fitted to a perfectly flat substraigt like 18mm MDF.  You can use an adhesive or double sided tape, both of which can be bought a most hardware stores. Adhesive should be spread thinly and evenly and should be non solvent and tested on a small area to make sure it will not cause any damage to the reflective surface. Adhesives we know to be suitable are CT1,  Neutral cure silicone. Evo Stick, "The Dogs B*ll*cks" is also suitable and can be found at Screwfix and other retailers. 

Once the mirror has been applied to the backing, a rubber roller can be used to smooth out the mirror and remove any unevenness in the adhesive. 

Plastic mirror can also be mechanically fixed using screws; when ordering add your fixing holes and select your mirror screws here. 

Don't forget to allow for expansion of the acrylic in warmer conditions, we recommend leaving a 2-4mm expansion gap around the edges and sealing them with silicon. 

If you are unsure about installing mirror or the suitability of plastic mirror for your application, please get in touch and we will do our best to advise you. 
 

Maintenance tips for acrylic mirror

Acrylic is easy to maintain and to keep looking great - it doesn't require specialist cleaners or chemicals and solvents/alcohol should be avoided to ensure that the material doesn't become damaged. To keep your mirrored acrylic clean, a soft cotton cloth and warm soapy water is all that is required to clean the surface. This makes it
 great option for public spaces and areas which are prone to dust and marks easily, as they can be cleaned quickly and effectively with minimal effort. For that extra shine and antistatic properties Vuplex polish should be used, repeated use will help build a protective coating on the mirror sheet.

What is mirrored acrylic? 

Mirrored acrylic is made from a clear sheet of acrylic which a silver reflective surface is applied to the rear of the sheet to provide a perfect reflection. 
 

Are acrylic mirrors any good? 

In short yes! They are lighter and more cost effective than glass mirrors and have a much higher impact resistance than glass mirrors.  The only slight drawback is that acrylic is a flexible product and needs to be installed well to provide an undistorted reflected image.
 

How do you cut acrylic mirror sheet? 

In the factory we use CNC lasers and routers to make millimetre accurate shapes. Cutting acrylic mirror at home is fairly straightforward, you can use the following tools 

• Circular saw 
• Track saw
• Jig saw 
• Router 
• Hand saw 

Our preferred method would be a track saw or a router. Learn more about cutting acrylic on our blog. When cutting or handling the mirror sheet, be careful not to scratch the grey backing as any scratches will show through. 
 

Can acrylic mirror be used outside? 

Yes plastic mirror is perfect for outside use, especially as it's 10 times more impact resistant than glass, as well as being weather resistant. 
 

What can I use mirrored acrylic for?

Acrylic is very versatile and has a range of uses in and around the home, as well as for businesses and commercial spaces. It's perfectly suited to gyms and fitness studios for walled mirrors, which can be expensive to install if using glass. It's more hardwearing than glass and lighter on the wall, so there's less risk of it falling down and breaking. Because it can be cut to any size or shape, it's ideal for using in bathrooms or on the backs of doors to open up the room and reflect the light. It can also be used in gardens - it will withstand impact and won't shatter.

Glass vs acrylic, which is best?

Glass is commonly used in homes and businesses for applications such as windows or mirrors, but acrylic is becoming an increasingly popular option for a number of reasons. It's perfect for using indoors and out, and having a higher Refraction Index than glass, it allows more light to pass through to brighten up spaces.

A common problem with using glass is that it can easily break and shatter, causing accidents and making it difficult to remove. Acrylic is far stronger than glass, so the risk of it damaging or breaking is lowered, but it's also shatterproof if it does get broken. Acrylic is lighter than glass so it's easy to fit and install yourself, and easy to handle. When it's correctly fitted to the wall, there's no distortion in the image and you'll get the same clear reflective surface that you would with glass but without the hassle and risk of it breaking.