A Guide to Acrylic Mirror Sheets

Does your latest project require acrylic mirror sheets? Then you couldn’t be in a better place!

Acrylic mirror sheets are a great addition to any room. If you are trying to decide between acrylic and glass, then this post will definitely help. We have compiled everything there is to know about the material, answering important questions such as “What Is An Acrylic Mirror Sheet” and “How To Fit Acrylic Mirror Sheets”, so that you can make your purchase with confidence.

Sheet Plastics is the UK’s biggest online sheet plastic stockist. We pride ourselves on our expansive and ever increasing knowledge of all things plastic, and are committed to providing our customers with a next-level purchasing experience.

Ready to learn all there is to know about acrylic mirror sheets? Let's dive right in.

What Is An Acrylic Mirror Sheet?

An acrylic mirror sheet is a thermoplastic sheet with a highly reflective surface.

Thermoplastic sheets are made from a plastic polymer, which means that it hardens when cooled and melts to liquid when heated; this is how sheets are moulded into the desired shape and size. It is also known by other names, such as plexiglass, which you may be more familiar with.

The mirror aspect of the acrylic mirror sheet is achieved through vacuum metalizing. This is a finishing process which covers the desired material in a metal coat that is shiny and reflective.

It is a hugely popular alternative to glass, because it is both lightweight and shatter resistant. These qualities are hugely important for certain applications, because it means that they offer a higher degree of safety as they can’t be accidentally smashed.

Common Uses Of Acrylic Mirror Sheets

As acrylic mirror sheets are a safer, and often cheaper, alternative to glass, they have a wealth of possible applications. It is most often used in a commercial or industrial setting, as these are the kinds of places that most benefit from the properties of acrylic mirror sheets - which we’ll get into shortly.

Some of the most common uses of acrylic mirror sheets include:

Gym mirrors
Studio mirrors
Equestrian mirrors
Display stands
Decorative windows

These sheets are used across a range of sectors, from education centres to the entertainment sector. They are also in-demand for craft and home improvement projects, as they are a great addition to homes.

What Are The Advantages Of Acrylic Mirror Sheets?

Lightweight

Acrylic mirror sheets are incredibly lightweight. This is hugely beneficial when it comes to transportation and fitting, as it makes both jobs significantly easier.

Impact Resistant

An acrylic mirror sheet has an impact resistance that is 17 times greater than a glass mirror of equal strength and half of the weight.

Weather Resistant

We are often asked whether acrylic mirror sheets are waterproof - and the answer is yes! Since this material is so durable, it can actually be used outdoors, and so is perfectly capable of withstanding all weather conditions, including rain. To achieve this, the sheets must be sealed around the edges so that no water can enter the backing of the sheet, which would cause extensive damage. Pre-backing can protect the sheets from water ingress, and is highly recommended for garden mirrors.

Stronger Than Glass

Many of the advantages of acrylic mirror sheets are direct comparisons to the performance and qualities of glass sheets. This is because it is a hugely popular alternative. In this same vein, the material is as much as 20 times tougher than glass.

Thermal Insulation

Thermoplastic sheets have great thermal insulation properties, as the name would suggest. This means that they are a really effective means of preventing heat loss, which is invaluable if being used as an accent window.

Easy To Clean

This material is incredibly easy to clean - all you need is liquid detergent and a cloth. It isn’t prone to smears or stains, and has a protective film to prevent scratches, which means that it is a quick and simple job.

UV Resistant

One of the biggest advantages of acrylic mirror sheets is that they are UV resistant. This means that, even if they are in direct sunlight, they are not prone to discolouration.

Cost Effective

Finally, purchasing acrylic mirror sheets, especially in bulk, is highly cost-effective. This is because it is cheaper to manufacture, transport and deliver than other sheet materials.

How Durable Are Acrylic Mirror Sheets?

Since acrylic mirror sheets are stronger than glass and impact resistant, they are highly durable. Its resilience is what makes it the first choice for a diverse range of applications. Once they have been purchased and installed, it is highly unlikely that you will have to replace them - which means that they are a smart purchase that will stand the test of time.

We are often asked, “can I cut an acrylic mirror sheet?”. The simple answer is yes, as this material can be easily cut using an electric jigsaw. However, the beauty of ordering from a plastic specialist, such as ourselves, is that you can order made to measure acrylic mirror sheets, so that no additional work is required on your behalf; simply select the length, width and measurement that you require, and then wait for your order to arrive.

What Colour Options Are Available When Choosing Acrylic Mirror Sheets?

Looking for coloured acrylic mirror sheets? Then you’re in the right place. At Sheet Plastics, we have 22 colour options available. From red to blue to gold, our mirror sheets are available in all of the colours of the rainbow - and that’s not even counting our special offer colours. So whether you are interested in creating a decorative window, a feature wall, or something else entirely, we have every colour that you could possibly need or want.

Choosing Your Acrylic Mirror Sheets From Sheet Plastics

When choosing an acrylic mirror sheet, you need to consider several factors:

Colour
Measurements
Budget
Time Frame

Thinking about each of these things will help you to select the perfect sheet for your project.

We would recommend selecting a 5mm thickness for any mirrors greater than 1000mm in width or length. This is to reduce the risk of distortion, which can be more visible on larger pieces.

It’s also important to remember that the distortion of an acrylic mirror is characteristic of this product, and is not a flaw or manufacturing error.

How To Fit Acrylic Mirror Sheets

Acrylic is more flexible than glass and so to achieve a perfect mirror reflection, it needs to be fitted completely flat to reduce the chances of any distortion. We would suggest applying the mirror to a hard board, such as plywood or MDF, to make the fitting process as easy and streamlined as possible.

The material can be fitted using an adhesive called mirror mate, which must be applied to the mirror evenly. This is the only adhesive we would recommend fitting the acrylic mirror sheets with..

If the mirror is fitted evenly to a completely flat surface, distortion should not be an issue and a true reflection should be seen.