I have a huge bathroom mirror (about 5 x 4) mounted to the wall with, what I think, is some kind of glue (you know - cheap, standard builders mirror). How does one go about safely removing such a monster without cracking it? The last thing I need is bad luck!
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Second the sawing and taping suggestions. We also taped a couple of garbage bags - the strong, contractor's style ones- to the wall on the bottom of the taped mirror, just in case it would shatter. It didn't but the bags helped a bit with the "catching" stage.
Yup, try the sawing thing. I used picture hanging wire (instead of the metal ruler) to get one off but be sure and wear gloves or the wire can hurt your fingers. Also tape the glass really well in case it does break and have a second pair of hands there to catch it as it comes loose.
Usually they adhere the mirrors with a flexible goo like a silicone and it stays soft so once you cut through it it basically rolls off the wall and mirror. I had on mirror that also had some globs of very hard stuff which we assumed was to hold it while the other stuff cured. That stuff did come off with the wire but it also took some wall with it so that had to be filled.
When we renovated our bathroom ensuite, we had to remove one of those fugly mirrors and the only thing that brought it down without cracking or breaking was by inserting a long metal ruler and just keep hacking away at it....we got ours down in no time at all and the glue usually is just a big black blob which could be scraped off very carefully and you won't damage the wall too much.....just a little compound and sanding and the wall will be just as new again. Good luck with it.
Well, you need a heat gun to help melt all that glue. And then, a lot of drywall compound once it's off!