COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT CONVEX MIRRORS

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

How do I choose the right mirror for my needs?

Generally, you need to consider three issues: visibility, how far the mirror is from you, and the viewing angle or area you want to see. Round and "roundtangular" mirrors allow a 160-degree view. They also provide the clearest view. The 1/4 dome mirror provides a 90-degree view and works well in corners; while the 1/2 and full dome mirrors provide the widest viewing area of 180-degrees. If you do not need the wide-angle view, you should try using a round or "roundtangular" mirror because objects look smaller in the dome mirrors than in these. If you do need the wide angle and a detailed view, go to a larger sized dome. A good starting point is 20 feet for an 18 inch round mirror and 10 feet for the same size dome. The general rule-of-thumb to determine the size mirror you will need is: For mirrors with a 160º view like the round and roundtangular, 1 inch of mirror width equals 1 foot the mirror will be from where you will be looking at the mirror. For the DOME mirrors, the image appears much smaller so you should use the above rule as the maximum distance. For example: An 18" Dome will work well up to around 15 feet and can be used up to 18 feet. After that it is difficult to identify the image seen in the mirror. I should note that your vision will play a very important roll in the size mirror to choose, so the above recommendations should be used as a guide rather then as an absolute.      

What is a good mirror for the office?

For office or home hallways, a quarter-, half-, or full-dome mirror is a good choice. For example, a quarter-dome mirror can allow people walking toward a blind corner to see around the corner and avoid running into another person or object. For surveillance purposes, a full-dome can offer panoramic views of wide open areas. The smaller (12"x18") "roundtangular" can also be used in an office or store to watch areas where a 180º view is not needed. For example, aisles and entrance areas. The larger round mirrors (26" and 30") are commonly used in convenience stores where they can be placed across the room and still provide a good (detailed) view of persons in the store.

Which Mirror is good for outside?

For outside uses--such as, in driveways, alleys, parking garage, entrances, and exits--a round convex mirror works very well. The "roundtangular" mirror also works well and will allow you to avoid the sun more than the round mirror, and some customers feel it has a more attractive design. Both mirrors work equally well at viewing left to right angles. There is  more information on the Convex Safety Mirrors page.  

How do I decide what kind of backing I need for my mirror?

For inside use, any of the mirrors will work. The hardboard back can be used both inside or outside and will last a very long time. For the ultimate in durability and longevity we recommend using a steel backing for outside. The steel-backed mirror is strong and the lens is sealed allowing the mirror to stand up to all but the worst of weather conditions. The steel backed mirrors are being used in many outdoor applications including ocean-going vessels. The hardback mirror is also weather resistant and UV resistant. For mild weather conditions or where the mirror is somewhat protected from high winds, the hardback mirror hold up well. Hardboard backs are made to withstand rain and moderate wind conditions. On all of the mirrors with backing, the molded rubber seal is UV resistant and does not melt, sag or dry out from hot summer days. Where there is constant moisture and constant freezing and thawing (even without wind), you should consider the steel backed mirror for longevity. For inside or outside the office, home, garage, factory or any area somewhat protected form high winds, the hard backed mirror is a good choice and will last a very long time.

What are the mirrors themselves made of?

Glass or mirror-grade virgin acrylic with a silver or powdered aluminum coating on the back side. The mirror coating is covered with an environmentally safe water based silver-gray epoxy paint.

How do I decide whether to use an acrylic or glass mirror?

For rough conditions where the mirror could be broken, you will want to use an acrylic mirror, because they are very difficult to break and will not shatter. If there is little chance of the mirror being hit or subjected to rough treatment and you do NOT have a safety issue, then a glass mirror will more than meet your needs. The glass mirrors are more resistant to scratches and normal glass cleaner can be used. There is very little if any difference in the reflective qualities of glass compared to acrylic (you may get an argument out of someone if you quote me on that one but we have placed the two side-by-side and can not tell the difference!). The Acrylic mirrors are difficult to break and there is much less danger of being cut from broken acrylic than from broken glass. On the negative side, you should be careful to only clean the acrylic with mild soap and a clean cotton cloth (An old T-Shirt works great!). You can also use products on the market made specifically for cleaning acrylic. Lemon Pledge^© works well! Outside, the acrylic seems to resist water spots better than the glass so acrylic doesn't need to be cleaned as often. Most customers asked, have never needed to clean their mirror so cleaning does not seem to be an issue.   

How do I mount my mirror?

Most mirrors come with standard wall mounts, which includes a mounting bracket and a ball swivel. The bracket can be installed on a wall, tree, or most fixed objects with bolts or large screws. (See installation for a picture of the bracket) Note: Before the ball swivel can be repositioned you must loosen the three screws around the ball. After you have positioned the mirror, tighten the screws to lock the ball from moving.

For outside where there is no existing place to mount a mirror, I can suggest three methods.
The first is to use a metal fence post similar to the one stop signs are mounted on. The posts can be purchased at hardware stores for a few dollars but you should call first. Not all stores carry the posts. A post driver (around $15.00) or a large hammer can be used to drive the post into the ground. Because the post already has holes in it, you can easily bolt the bracket to the post. The drawback to the metal sign post is that the wind will tend to cause the mirror to wobble side-to-side mush like a stop sign on a windy day. 

The second method is to use a 4"x4" pressure treated wooden post, which can be found at any hardware store. You can dig a hole and mount it into the ground or place some cement around the post after placing it into the hole. I suggest digging no less than 18 inches deep where the ground is soft. The depth really depends on the soil you are placing it in. The nice thing about using the wood post is that wood screws can be used to mount the mirror and wood does not allow the mirror to swing side-to-side in the wind. 1 1/2 inch x 3/8 inch screws will work well.

The third method is to sink a 10 foot 1 1/4 inch to 1 1/2 inch galvanized pipe 1 to 2 1/2 feet into a post hole, then fill it with concrete. You should use three lines (string works well) to tie down the pipe while it is drying. Make sure the line is tied tight enough to the pipe to prevent it from slipping down while the concrete is drying. (Start about one foot from the end of the string and wrap the string around the pipe several times (about 5 feet high). Use the extra foot we left at the beginning to tie the string to the pole so the wrapped portion will not slip down the pipe. Next run the string down to a stake. Repeat this for each of the three strings. Position the stakes equally around the Pipe so that it will stand vertical. You can use a level to make it perfect.) After the concrete sets up-around one day-you can mount the mirror by drilling two holes through the pipe using the bracket as a guide. You can also use small muffler clamps to hold the bracket to the pipe. The clamps are easier to install but can be difficult to find. Finish the job with an end cap on the top of the pipe to prevent water from filling the pipe. (in looking back, I would suggest putting the end-cap on as the first step. You may also want to drill your holes before setting the pip into the ground.) The mirror will mount to the mounting bracket the same as any other installation.

The Dome (backed) mirrors and flat mirrors have brackets much like picture frames. You put screws on the wall then hang the mirror on the screws. I suggest using a level when putting in the second screw. The mirror will hang crooked if the screws are not level.

The Drop-in ceiling dome is made to replace a 2' X 2' ceiling tile.

The hardback Dome is mounted directly to the ceiling or can be suspended by a chain.

The non-backed dome mirrors have a 1.5 inch flange with screw holes in the flange.

The pendant (for a camera) is made to mount on a conduit pipe similar to a ceiling fan extension pipe. The conduit or pipe is not included but can be purchased at most home/hardware stores like Lowe's, Home Depot, Ace, etc.

Are there alternate ways of mounting mirrors?

Yes. For special locations you can consider mounting mirrors on a pole purchased separately--such as a fence post, etc. You can also use a galvanized pipe, which is available at Home and Hardware stores. Mount the post by digging a 2 ½ foot hole filled with concrete and topped with an end cap. Note: The 4"x4" wooden post is the method I recommend for most applications.

For mounting from a ceiling or straight out from a wall, we sell extension brackets. The RH100 is 14" long and will work for a mirror up to 26" in diameter. The RH200 is 25 1/2 inches long and is used for the 30 and 36 " mirrors. Note: You can use the RH200 on any of the mirrors having the swivel mount. The extension brackets also have an adjustment of up to 45 degrees. (Click here to see the extension bracket) 

How do I clean my mirror?

Acrylic mirrors should be cleaned with a soft cotton cloth and water. You can use mild soap and clean sponge to get off the tough stuff. An old T-Shirt works great as the cloth. (NEVER USE PAPER TOWELS) Suggestions for removing scratches are Lemon Pledge or TurtleWax WET'n Black Professional Tire Dressing (It is a clear liquid in a spray bottle purchased at most automotive supply stores).

Extra-large mirrors require larger boxes which can not be shipped via UPS or Fed Ex.. The items must be shipped via a trucking company and must be calculated on a case-by-case basis.

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