Mirror basics: No longer relegated to the bathroom medicine cabinet or the inside door of a clothes closet, mirrors now stand alone, to be valued like other decorative art works. Heirloom or antique frames may be given new life with the addition of a custom mirror, and conversely, a good-quality mirror may be fitted with a new frame. Custom, cut-to-order mirrors can be used to cover surfaces such as walls or doors. Some polished mirrors are embellished with techniques such as stone-ground beveling (cutting at an angle) and these beveled edges result in beautiful decorative pieces.

Mounting: There are two time-proven techniques for mounting a mirror: brackets and adhesion.

With brackets, you have four or more metal units that clip onto the mirror and screw into the wall. (If you are going into drywall, try to find a stud or use drywall anchors.) The bracket method is popular because it's fast, easy to clean, and reversible if you change your mind.

Adhesion: Adhesion requires a liquid glue you apply to the back of the mirror. When you place the mirror against the wall, it sticks. Adhesion works best in small places. However, it's permanent and can be messy.

Cutouts: The more cutouts that your glass or mirror has to go around, the more difficult and costly it will be to replace if it happens to break.

Scratched mirrors: If your mirror is scratched, try this do-it-yourself tip before calling a service professional: Rub a little toothpaste into the scratch. (Normally gel-type pastes are not as effective as regular pastes.) Polish with a soft cloth. Or try mixing one part dry mustard and one part white vinegar into a paste. Apply paste to the scratch. Polish with a soft cloth. Avoid eye contact; dry mustard can damage your cornea.

Mounting: Knowing how your mirror is mounted and the type of mirror it is will help your service professional give you a more accurate estimate. For instance, there are two time-proven techniques for mounting a mirror: brackets and adhesion. With brackets, you have four or more metal units that clip onto the mirror and screw into the wall. The bracket method is popular because it's fast, easy to clean and reversible if you change your mind.

Adhesion: Adhesion requires a liquid glue you apply to the back of the mirror. When you place the mirror against the wall, it sticks. Adhesion works best in small places; however, it's more or less permanent and requires professional expertise to remove with minimum damage to the wall. Small repairs to the wall may also be necessary if a glued mirror is removed.

-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com