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A woman called me a couple weeks ago and asked if I could install a mirror and do some other odds and ends around the house. I said of course. When I inquired as to the size of the mirror she said "it's really big. It could even be 100 pounds". Not that I didn't trust her, but typically when a customer says something is heavy, it's about half the weight they described it as being.
Not this time. This mirror was every bit of 200 pounds. Probably more. Worse, it was being stored in the garage of an early 1900's mansion, which meant we had to move it 50 yards, around a corner, up some stairs, through doorways, under chandeliers, etc to even get it into position.
To make things more interesting the entire mirror was covered in plaster-over-wire filigree which was already chipping and flaking off, which made turning it over onto a set of horses an impossibility. It also made clamping to it impossible. It also made moving it in any capacity impossible except for a straight up dead lift from the bottom.
To add an extra touch of insanity/liability, they wanted it put over their father's bed. Great.
I was thiiiiiiis close from walking away from it, as I didn't want that drama on me, but we regrouped, did some math, and worked out a cleat solution that I was comfortable with. At 72" wide I was able to get a full 5 studs worth of grab on the wall, which made me very happy.
Here's my cousin/helper standing next to the heaviest mirror I've ever installed.
Not this time. This mirror was every bit of 200 pounds. Probably more. Worse, it was being stored in the garage of an early 1900's mansion, which meant we had to move it 50 yards, around a corner, up some stairs, through doorways, under chandeliers, etc to even get it into position.
To make things more interesting the entire mirror was covered in plaster-over-wire filigree which was already chipping and flaking off, which made turning it over onto a set of horses an impossibility. It also made clamping to it impossible. It also made moving it in any capacity impossible except for a straight up dead lift from the bottom.
To add an extra touch of insanity/liability, they wanted it put over their father's bed. Great.
I was thiiiiiiis close from walking away from it, as I didn't want that drama on me, but we regrouped, did some math, and worked out a cleat solution that I was comfortable with. At 72" wide I was able to get a full 5 studs worth of grab on the wall, which made me very happy.
Here's my cousin/helper standing next to the heaviest mirror I've ever installed.
