My Cart
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Gym Mirror Installation Guide For Your Home and Fitness Centers
By Anna Walter
Whether you are a fitness freak, an optimist or a lazy procrastinator, there is something everyone needs in their gym – the gym mirrors.
Some may call it the most narcissistic gym equipment ever, but the truth still stands. No gym is complete without these large, glossy gym mirrors, covering the walls. Ever since the concept of the gym was first introduced, gym mirrors have been considered an absolute necessity in these areas. What’s more is that these shiny, reflective surfaces have withstood the test of time and evolution of the fitness industry, and are still being widely used to this day.
No matter if your gym is vast with several rooms or a small, tiny room in your home, your workout space and large wall mirrors go hand in hand. They allow you to have a reflection of yourself when struggling to hold the planks or doing push-ups.
But what are gym mirrors? And what is the real purpose of putting them up in workout space? Let’s discuss this.
How Gym Mirrors Are Different than Regular Wall Mirrors?
Like the name tells you, a gym mirror is a large, reflective mirror that can be installed against the wall, can line the floor, or be otherwise installed in the workout space. But if you are a frequent visitor to the local gym, you may have noticed that these mirrors are not exactly like the mirror you may have atop your vanity, or inside your dressing room.
If you think workout mirrors make you look fitter and more defined than the mirrors at your home, you are not alone. A significant majority of fitness enthusiasts feel the same. This is why we are here to solve the mystery.
Workout mirrors are altered to make you look more stocked up than you actually are.
How is this possible, you ask?
Well, that’s easy.
Gym mirrors do not work the same way as a normal mirror would. As a general rule, you will find that a fitness center gym mirror is leaning a little bit forward at the top. Following the laws of physics, this manipulation gives you the illusion of being more muscular than you are in real life.
Of course, there are other factors that play a role in making your building impressive such as fluorescent lighting and room’s texture. But if there is one thing that has stayed constant throughout the colorful and supremely interesting history of physical fitness, it is the use of mirrors in a workout space.
Benefits of Using Gym Mirrors During the Workout
But what purpose do these manipulated mirrors serve – to you as well as to the gym owners?
Read on to find the answers.
It adds to the aesthetic appeal and draws in new customers/members
One of the most popular reasons for using large wall mirrors anywhere is to make a compact, gloomy space look bigger and brighter. A gym mirror also benefits your fitness center in the same way. Reflecting natural light into the dark nooks and crannies of the space, they can make any place look more spacious than it actually is.
Using gym wall mirrors cleverly to make your fitness center appear more extensive adds to the aesthetic appeal of the place. This attracts new customers to a gym and retains the old ones. With so many people signing up to train and workout at your gym, you sure are going to be a happy gym owner.
It motivates you to work out more and retains previous customers/members
The second important reason for using exercise mirrors in areas where people train, workout, or dance is motivation to the athlete, dancer, or just another fitness enthusiast. We already discussed how a fitness center gym mirror is manipulated to make you look more stocked up than the reality.
This makes you believe that you are already on your way to achieving your fitness goal. Hence, it does not only retain customers but also motivates them to continue with their workout. Thus, using a workout mirror is not vain. In fact, it is one of the smartest things that you could do to keep your morale up – especially when you are about to quit exercising because you have been working out alone in the comfort of your home gym. A home gym mirror makes a huge difference in these case.
It lets you correct faults in your dance/workout routine
For dance studios, an exercise mirror that spans the entire walls of the place is necessary so that the artist can view himself or herself from all angles. It helps the artist gauge the aesthetic appeal of his or her routine and allows them to notice any movement that looks ungraceful, forced or unnatural.
Similarly, it helps point out the problems in your form when lifting weights and holding a plank – making sure the bar on your shoulders is straight, your knees are not bending under the weight, and so on and so forth.
Difference of Gym Mirrors Available on the Market?
Now that we have discussed the advantages of using an exercise mirror in gyms and dance studios, let us see what are some different kinds of workout mirrors available in the market today.
1. Normal Mirror
The run of the mill, normal mirrors are also usually made of glass, but the quality of the glass may not be as high as that of the glass used to make high definition mirrors. It has a much higher iron content when compared to HD mirrors and hence, the reflections are not as fine or detailed. Moreover, the high iron content might also lead to the reflections of these mirrors having a green tint to them.
2. HD Mirror
One of the most common gym walls mirrors you will find businesses trying to sell you will be an HD exercise mirror. These high definition mirrors are made from the most excellent base glass available, promising you a superior reflective surface that does not miss a single mole.
HD mirrors have an iron content that is way lower than a normal mirror. This low iron glass is referred to in the mirror industry as “mirror quality glass”. As the name suggests, this high-definition glass is the perfect pick for mirrors that are free of any blemishes and provides the clearest reflections.
Where to Install Gym Mirrors?
Providing exceptional results, the workout mirrors are more important element than anything else you probably have at the gym. Hence, they are great when you want to use them in a big gym that will quickly cover the cost of the higher revenue that is generated because of their usage.
Gym mirror a main element in the gym, hence, these mirrors are ideal to be put up in recreational spaces such as a gym or a dance studio.
Here are some examples where gym mirror can be installed:
Home Gym
Commercial Gym and Fitness Studio
Dance and Yoga Studio
Martial Arts Studio
Spas and Saunas
Garage Gym
Things To Consider While Choosing A Gym Mirror
Here are a few points and mirror specifications that you should keep in mind when shopping for an exercise mirrors.
1. The Mirror Type
Of course, the first thing that you should concern yourself with when buying a new workout mirror is the type of the mirror. The type of mirror that is best suited for you depends mostly on the purpose of the gym mirror. Where are you going to install it? Are you buying it for a home gym, or do you own a commercial gym that generates enough profits to cover the extensive costs of fancy gym mirrors? This is what you need to ask yourself to determine which type of exercise mirror you would want to buy.
We have already discussed the three main different types of fitness center gym mirrors in detail above, so we will focus more on the other aspects of a gym mirror here.
2. Mirror Size
The second thing to consider about your exercise mirror is the size. Do you want a wall to wall workout mirror, or are you happy with multiple small ones lining the walls? How big is your gym or workout space at home.
3. Cost of the Mirror
Cost of the mirror you want to buy and the budget you have set aside for the project is another critical factor that will determine the exercise mirror that you end up buying. Do you have the budget for buying a fancy HD fitness center gym mirror, or should you instead be buying a regular glass mirror?
4. Low Iron and Clarity
A proper functioning gym mirror must have low iron content, so be sure to ask about the iron in the mirror when you go exercise mirror shopping. A low iron content mirror is much more precise than one that has loads of iron in the making. Low iron mirrors ensure a crystal clear image and an exceptional reflection. Unlike a poor quality mirror, mirrors with exceptionally low iron will not warp or distort an image.
To ensure a supreme quality reflection that is unmatched by any average mirror, make sure that your workout mirror does not contain a lot of iron. Nobody wants a cheap, green tint on their fitness center gym mirrors, compromising on the aesthetic appeal of their workout space.
5. Mirror Thickness
So far, we have discussed mirror specifications that you should ask about, even when you are buying a normal mirror. In this paragraph, that is going to change. When you are shopping for a mirror to put up in a recreational space such as a gym – whether commercial or personal – or a dance studio, you need to take special considerations into account.
The most obvious of these considerations is the fact that your recreational space is probably going to produce a lot of vibrations and reverberations due to the high level of physical activity being conducted there.
If you are running a commercial gym or a dance studio, then we recommend a gym wall mirror that is at least 6 mm in thickness. For a home gym mirror that is not subject to that degree of vibrations and accidental forceful impacts, a 4 mm thick exercise mirror will suffice. In any case, we would discourage the usage of anything under 4 mm for any sort of gym or dance studio – no matter how careful you are with your workout.
6. Safety Features
Other than the thickness of the mirror, you must also consider the different ways you can make putting up an exercise mirror in a room full of active people safer. As we have already seen, glassless mirrors are the mirrors of choice when you want to decorate or enhance the functionality of a recreational gym or dance studio due to their super safe and shatterproof features.
In addition to this, take into consideration the type of installation that your exercise mirror requires, the equipment that you are going to put around it, and the thickness of the mirror (as discussed above). These are the factors that will determine how safe your use of gym wall mirrors is.
Installing A Wall Gym Mirror in Your Home – Installation Tips
When you have identified the type of gym wall mirror that will work best for you and made the purchase, the next step is to set it up. This is where many people start to feel overwhelmed and inundated by the task that they consider to be huge. But do not worry, with our little guide on correct mirror installation, the gigantic task will become a breeze for you!
When installing a new gym wall mirror, there are two ways you can go – either seek the help of a professional for the process or choose to DIY it.
In the following paragraphs, we will focus on what you are going to need and how you should proceed if you have the decision to take the do it yourself route.
Tools You Will Need
There are quite a few special tools that you will need to mount a mirror securely other than what is already in your toolbox. Since we are going to be talking about three different ways of installing a gym mirror here (see mounting techniques), there are various necessary tools that we will need for each method.
As a general rule, make sure you have the following tools before you start out.
- A large number of differently sized screws
- Nuts and bolts
- A hammer and nails
- A mirror adhesive (if you are going to glue it up)
- J channels (if using this particular mounting technique)
- And of course, a couple of screwdrivers
- Measurements
When laced with the proper tools, measure the size of your mirror against the size of the wall where you want to put it up. Using a pencil or chalk, make clear markings on the wall where the mirror will go.
- Drilling (if needed)
Now, this part only comes into play for specific mounting techniques, so be sure to know you need to do it before you start. Drill holes into the walls where the screws are meant to go. Be careful during this process. It is better to seek help from an experienced person if you have never had the chance to drill before, or if it is your first interior decorating project. Be sure to wear suitable eye protection during this part of the job.
When you are done drilling (if needed), lift up the mirror carefully against the wall and secure it in place with any of the three mounting techniques discussed below.
Mounting Technique
1. Using adhesive to glue it up
This is one of the easiest ways to mount up a mirror DIY style. Clean up the drywall where you need the mirror to be of any dust, dirt, or grease. Then using a unique adhesive called mirror mastic, simply glue the mirror into place and wait for it to set.
2. Screwing your gym wall mirror into place
Another way you can install a mirror into a wall is by using screws. This is one of the trickier installations, and we would not recommend you to do it yourself if you are not extremely handy with tools and projects like these already.
After cleaning the wall where you need your gym mirror and marking the sweet spots, drill holes into it as directed above. Then lift the mirror up against it and secure it in place with sturdy screws. This method allows you to unscrew the mirror and move it into a new place in the future
3. J-channels can also be used to mount up a mirror
If the wall where you want your gym mirror is too rough and irregular to consider screwing or gluing it into place, then you can make use of J channels. Again, this is a method that is best left to professionals if you are not very savvy with projects such as this one.
Clean the walls and demarcate where you want the mirror to be. Then drill holes as directed and screw the J channels into place. Next, lift up the mirror and slide it into the slots provided by the J channels.
This method also affords you the luxury to move or replace the mirror easily in the future without much hassle.
Installation Process
How to Clean Gym Mirror
Using mirrors commercially – especially in such a large place like a gym or training center – does come with a few considerations that the owner must take. The most common of these considerations is its maintenance.
If your mirror is not free of dirt and grime that may accumulate over time, it cannot give you the most that it has to offer. On the contrary, a dirty gym mirror can drive off new customers, instead of making them sign up.
To solve this problem, we will discuss the ways you can use to keep your gym mirror shiny and sparkling all through its lifetime.
1. Home Remedies
Before we move on to stubborn stains that will only go away with heavy-duty cleaning products from the market. We will first learn how you should be cleaning your gym mirror of regular stains with the best home remedies.
Here are some natural home remedies to clean your mirrors effectively
White Vinegar: Mix one cup of vinegar in four cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on a mirror and wipe down.
- Borax: Mix 2 tablespoons of borax in three cups of water. Dip a sponge in the solution and apply it to a mirror to remove stains. Wipe down and dry completely.
- Dish washing soap and rubbing alcohol: Mix 1 cup of dishwashing soap, 1 cup of rubbing alcohol and 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Spritz the mixture on a mirror and wipe down using a microfiber cloth.
2. Market Products
If your gym mirror is too dirty to be swept clean with a little home remedy, you may need something stronger.
For these dirty situations, pick up any of the hundreds and thousands of window cleaning products displayed in the cleaning product aisle of your favorite supermarket.
Spray a little on the surface of the mirror and wipe it down with a soft cotton cloth. Use a microfiber towel to dry whatever is left.
Guide to Buying a Gym Mirror
Though gym mirrors are the most narcissistic exercise equipment ever, they are likely to produce a lot of vibrations and reverberations. Thus, they are at a greater risk of shattering and cracking. So, always go for a thicker glass for mirrors. The thicker the glass, the more robust the mirror.
However, when buying a mirror online, make sure your provider has these features added.
1. Safety Measures
How safe a mirror is should be your prime concern when you are shopping for gym mirrors. If you choose a mirror that is below the standard safety for commercial use, you are only putting yourself at risk.
On top of this, you may even be subjected to an ugly lawsuit in case of an unfortunate accident in the gym that can be caused by the negligence.
2. Transport and Packaging
You should be extremely careful when transporting a mirror from one place to the other. Mirrors are costly and their damage during transportation can make your money go to waste.
So, always make sure you take proper care when shipping your mirror to avoid damages. If you are ordering a mirror online, make sure your provider has added the safety features.
Below are some tips to keep your mirror from damages during transportation.
- Wrap up your mirror in sheets of newspapers and then cover the entire thing with bubble wrap.
- Never try to lift a large mirror on your own, and do not shy away from asking people for help.
- Make sure the vehicle you are transporting the mirror in is big enough.
- Lay the mirror flat on its face on the floor of the vehicle during the drive.
- Drive carefully and slowly, making sure you meet as few bumps along the road as possible.
- Transport the mirror during a time when there is the least amount of cars on the road.
Where to Buy Gym Mirrors?
So have you decided that you are going to invest in a gym mirror to make your fitness center more aesthetic as well as productive? But with so many options in the market, which one would you choose? Consider the above options and make the right decision!
While there are many options available to buy gym mirrors, Fab Glass and Mirror is my best recommendation. The company is known for its premium quality products all over the world. The company holds the largest collection of home and gym mirrors that you have ever seen.
While there are many options available to buy gym mirrors, Fab Glass and Mirror is my best recommendation. The company is known for its premium quality products all over the world. The company holds the largest collection of home and gym mirrors that you have ever seen.
We try hard to make sure that we have something for everyone. No matter what your budget is and what specifications you are looking for, rest assured that we have got you covered.
The glass mirrors at Fab Glass and Mirror are manufactured with the finest quality of glass available around the globe, with no blemishes, cuts, scratches, or other minor faults. The iron content of glass that we use is unbeatably low, ensuring that you always get the best of the best.
If glass mirrors are not your cup of tea, we also stock premium quality glassless mirrors. These are available at extremely affordable rates, and big orders come with free shipping and mounting service.
