Bathroom Mirror Woes

[SB4U]

Do any of you have any experience installing large mirrors onto tiled walls? I installed one in the en-suite project I did last year but have a problem and need some advice. I appreciate it's not really a question for here but you guys gave me such good advice whilst I was working on the project that I thought I'd give you a try first. (Plus I've rather missed chatting with you.) Dan, please delete this if it's not appropriate for the tilers forum.

I installed a large (2000 x 1000 x 6) mirror with demister pads behind it. The demister pads are connected into the lighting circuit so that they only come on if the light is on. All was fine until I went out to work one day and forgot to turn the light off. When I arrived home I discovered that the mirror was cracked.

I need to get replacement mirror now of course but I'm nervous about it cracking again so wanted to get some advice beforehand. There's a couple of points where I think I may have gone wrong:

• Rather than buy a large demister that would cover the whole mirror, I bought 2 500 x 500 mirror demisters and fitted them where we'd be looking when standing at the sinks. I wonder if this caused the mirror to expand unevenly when hot. The crack seems to be mainly behind where the most central demister was. (These are the pads: Mirror Demister Pad - 519mm x 524mm 50w)

• I didn't tile behind the mirror. Instead I left a void which I filled with plasterboard to bring it to the same level as the tiles. I think it's pretty level though. Not sure if that could have caused a problem though.

What are your thoughts guys. Any advice would be gratefully received before I splash out on another mirror.

Steve

Before

After

 

[SB4U]

Thank you all for your suggestions. They're all very much appreciated. The boxed in mirror looks really tidy and I wish I'd done it like that in the first place. I'm not sure that I fancy re-cutting the tiles once they're on the wall though if I'm honest. Would you just use an angle grinder for that?

@JulianSidney you asked 'why do it yourself?' My answer is because I enjoy it. We all get our fun in different ways. This is one of the ways I get mine.

Steve