home gym wall mirrors - what are my options?

[vmpolesov]

Having finally ditched the crummy chain gym membership, I'm equipping my home gym better. I have half of a ~140 sq. foot room (11x13) to work with (will have the whole room later after cleaning out some non-exercise related junk).

To start with I would probably want to mirror all or most of the 11foot x 8foot high back wall. What is the cheapest and easiest way to cover large square footage with mirrored surface? Small 1footx1foot adhesive squares may be easy or cheap but would look like crap. Large mirror panes may be a PITA to handle, etc. Would appreciate feedback from anyone who has done this.

[Brackneyc]

Having finally ditched the crummy chain gym membership, I'm equipping my home gym better. I have half of a ~140 sq. foot room (11x13) to work with (will have the whole room later after cleaning out some non-exercise related junk).

To start with I would probably want to mirror all or most of the 11foot x 8foot high back wall. What is the cheapest and easiest way to cover large square footage with mirrored surface? Small 1footx1foot adhesive squares may be easy or cheap but would look like crap. Large mirror panes may be a PITA to handle, etc. Would appreciate feedback from anyone who has done this.

I have the cheapest ones they offer at Target or Menards. They are about 12 inches by 48 inches. Bout 5.00 - 6.00 a piece. Don't have a whole wall done with them, but have enough to consistently remind myself why I do this.

[Getsum]

Having finally ditched the crummy chain gym membership, I'm equipping my home gym better. I have half of a ~140 sq. foot room (11x13) to work with (will have the whole room later after cleaning out some non-exercise related junk).

To start with I would probably want to mirror all or most of the 11foot x 8foot high back wall. What is the cheapest and easiest way to cover large square footage with mirrored surface? Small 1footx1foot adhesive squares may be easy or cheap but would look like crap. Large mirror panes may be a PITA to handle, etc. Would appreciate feedback from anyone who has done this.

The mirror I use from an old dresser I was getting rid of...nothing fancy.

[Corbi]

You can see a few of the mirrors I hung up in my avi. I think there were 6 or 7 total that came with the rest of the gear bought off a private party. Ended up breaking one during the move.

[vmpolesov]

well i tried one thing - happened to have the materials lying around:

mirror film mylar
3M spray 77 adhesive
poster board.


About all I can say is it reflects light, and if you hold it REALLY close the distortion is not too bad. But at any distance it's not really usable. I guess the trick to this material is you've got to have the mylar sheet and back substrate REALLY clean, cleaner than I can get them in a home workshop. Probably not practical for home-type setup, too bad though because it promised to be a cheap source of mirrored square footage.

[crupiea]

I have the cheapest ones they offer at Target or Menards. They are about 12 inches by 48 inches. Bout 5.00 - 6.00 a piece. Don't have a whole wall done with them, but have enough to consistently remind myself why I do this.

i use these too. I put them on one wall, about 6 of them side by side. Works just fine for the price.

[jdtemple]

I just don't use mirrors. That's pretty cheap.

[desslok]

I got my mirrors at Home Depot, seemed to be the best mirrors for the lowest price. The cheap fun house mirrors are pretty aweful, except for ego if they bend just right. I know some people in the equipment section found good deals on CL from gyms that were closing or people with home gyms moving, etc. I spent more for the smoke system.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

If all you want is regular old mirror. Call a glass company from the yellow pages. Tell them you want to buy scrap 1/8" mirror and see what they have laying around. If you call several shops you're likely to find somebody who has some odd ball pieces laying around that they'll sell cheap.

Heck you can buy a full sheet for not that much and they likely will even cut it into pieces for you to fit it in the car.

1/8" mirror isn't that heavy, 1/4" will give you a lot less distortion but obviously it's twice as heavy to deal with. I wouldn't think that the weight of the product would put off anyone in this forum however.

[buaidh]

I ended up buying 12" x 12" mirror tiles. The ones I got were from Ikea and came with double sided adhesive foam tape, but I'm pretty sure you could find them through a building supply store too. In the first week, I had a couple of them break free of their adhesive and jump to their deaths, but haven't had any problems since. I considered trying to go for a custom glass route too but, in the end, I went for the tile option because I saw them at Ikea and made an impulse buy.

[vmpolesov]

I went to homer's and looked around. They had mirrors but $$. I asked the guy if they had any damaged goods they want to unload cheap and he said no, they throw them out.

I went with 'mirror doors' (like closet doors on tracks) from Lowe's. I had more luck there, the guy sold me two 36"x80" mirrored door panels, 'damaged' because the roller track frame (which I would have thrown out anyway) was missing, for a special damaged price $25 for both. I lucked out there!

I also picked up some of the cheapo $6 rectangular mirrors which I will put in various spots.

One thing I have noticed with the new mirrors, is while lifting shirtless (advantage of home gym, right up there with no lady gaga), you can get a better idea of how your muscles are activating. For example the anterior delts are activated during bicep curls. It makes sense, but I was just never aware of it.

[bamazav]

I need to get some mirrors for home gym and gym at the church. You guys have given me some great ideas. Thanks.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

I need to get some mirrors for home gym and gym at the church. You guys have given me some great ideas. Thanks.

You have a gym in your church building?

Cool!!!









How did the sermon go btw?

[Whiskeyjack]

I just don't use mirrors. That's pretty cheap.

^^^
My view of the thing. Spend the money or effort on the gear.

[tnthudson]

If you're looking for inexpensive, there are some good ideas on this thread. What I did was go to Lowe's and purchase the 3' x 4' (I think, it was the largest in the rack), but that involved purchasing the spring clips since they're so darn heavy. Bright side of it (pun not originally intended) was that they look nice and provide all the coverage I need as far as seeing myself go through the reps. If you put one in front of where you lift and one on a side wall, you can check out your form very well and see muscle activation, etc.

[Rowyn]

I got my mirrors at Home Depot, seemed to be the best mirrors for the lowest price.

If you're looking for inexpensive, there are some good ideas on this thread. What I did was go to Lowe's and purchase the 3' x 4' (I think, it was the largest in the rack)

I got mine from a home improvement store too, each is perfectly big enough when hung in from of the squat rack that you can see your whole body. I brought them home myself, so they aren't that hard to deal with, and while it does take two people to put them up, it was pretty easy and quick. MUCH better than several smaller mirrors to cover the same space.

[ironwill2008]

I bought all these mirrors at Lowes, on sale. The 30x36 over the dumbbell rack were about $25 each, IIRC:









The mirrors behind the power rack, Smith, and Lat Pulldown machine are 36x48, and were about $40 each, again on sale:




These are thick (1/4") and heavy, and show a clear image with no distortion, of importance for gym use, IMO.



And remember, if there were no mirrors, there'd be no bodybuilders.

[Whiskeyjack]

I bought all these mirrors at Lowes, on sale. The 30x36 over the dumbbell rack were about $25 each, IIRC:

What a great gym you've got Bill! Like a regular commercial gym. Big big envy.

[desslok]

These are thick (1/4") and heavy, and show a clear image with no distortion, of importance for gym use, IMO.

I agree, if you try and save money by getting 1/8th inch, you end up with a funhouse. I had 2 cheap framed door mirrors next to each other. One made my arms look 22", the other next to it made me look 60 pounds.

[ironwill2008]

What a great gym you've got Bill! Like a regular commercial gym. Big big envy.

Thanks, WJ. Around here, it's pretty much a necessity rather than a luxury.

I agree, if you try and save money by getting 1/8th inch, you end up with a funhouse. I had 2 cheap framed door mirrors next to each other. One made my arms look 22", the other next to it made me look 60 pounds.

^^^^This. The up-front cash outlay for heavy mirrors is a bit more, but it's a one-time deal; they don't wear out. And looking in a distorted mirror drives me nuts.

[tnthudson]

Thanks, WJ. Around here, it's pretty much a necessity rather than a luxury.









^^^^This. The up-front cash outlay for heavy mirrors is a bit more, but it's a one-time deal; they don't wear out. And looking in a distorted mirror drives me nuts.

I'm with you on this Bill. Unfortunately I didn't get mine on sale (about $10 more than you paid) but I love them now that they're up and I'm glad I got the good quality. Makes my little room look bigger, too. I fit all my stuff into approx. the area that your dumbbells fit in.

[swimmer32]

I was able to purchase a couple large mirrors from a men's clothing store that was going out of business. I got them real cheap and they were in great shape. There was also a hotel doing remodeling in the area, and they were buying all new. If I needed more mirrors, I could have gotten some from them for cheap (ended up not needing them). Just a couple other ideas!

[ironwill2008]

I was able to purchase a couple large mirrors from a men's clothing store that was going out of business. I got them real cheap and they were in great shape. There was also a hotel doing remodeling in the area, and they were buying all new. If I needed more mirrors, I could have gotten some from them for cheap (ended up not needing them). Just a couple other ideas!

^^^^This.

If you live in a large-market area, remodels and building demolitions can provide some great bargains. Even after hiring a pro glass company to remove/transport/install commercial-size mirrors, you may still be way ahead, money-wise.

[Bronzebird]

We are replacing the bed room slider closet double mirrors. They are about 120 bucks for a new closet system. I will recycle the old mirrors for my workout room at home. One cool place to find free stuff for the El Cheap'o is Freecycle.com

I have placed free ads for "Wanted: Bench Press and weights" I got many responses using simple verbage. Most of the plates are for the one inch bars and I find good homes for noobs at work, family, friends. Serious free stuff!

[ygohome]

Bringing back an older thread, hope nobody minds...


Thanks IronWill for posting and nice looking gym you've got there.

Yep, these seem like the best deal on new 1/4" mirrors. I'm going to check them out at Lowes this weekend. I see they are still about $25-$30 on their website. Hopefully I can fit them inside our jeep grand cherokee or ontop of the roof rack. I certainly do not want to break them as I drive them home.


Ben

I bought all these mirrors at Lowes, on sale. The 30x36 over the dumbbell rack were about $25 each, IIRC:









The mirrors behind the power rack, Smith, and Lat Pulldown machine are 36x48, and were about $40 each, again on sale:




These are thick (1/4") and heavy, and show a clear image with no distortion, of importance for gym use, IMO.



And remember, if there were no mirrors, there'd be no bodybuilders.

[Towball12]

I bought 2 old sliding mirror wardrobe doors. Cost me $100 on ebay. All I had to do was take the frames off and silicone them to the wall.

[bigtallox]

Looks like a great gym, ironwill.

And remember, if there were no mirrors, there'd be no bodybuilders.

Yeah, we'd all be doing strongman. DOWN WITH THE MIRRORS!