Old is Gold! Well, that depends on what is old and to who it is. Not everything old is important to us but some of us like to keep things not for their face value but for the emotional value they hold in our hearts. So, here are some antique mirror restoration tips for people who want to hold up to old things, yet want them to look as good as new. Firstly you need to recognize the damage to the mirror and whether you really want the restoration?. Mirror restoration, especially mirror re-silvering is an expensive option. So if you are really an antique lover, leave the mirror as it is, and do justice. If you think leaving it in its original state is not so good looking, than re-silver it. Let's keep the replacing mirror option only if you really want to keep the frame. If the frame is worth it, than replacing a mirror is easier and cheaper than re-silvering an old one.
Re-silvering a mirror is an option you will take if you are an antique lover and wants to retain the old mirror, along with its furniture. All you need to do is to send the old mirror to a re-silvering company, who will remove the original silver backing of the mirror and put a new one, to give a new look. One major merit of re-silvering is it keeps the value of an antique intact, what more can antique lovers want?
You can also repaint the entire frame. This is a simple task. You just need to tape off the mirror so that it does not get paint of it. After an expert repaint, your antique will shine with all its value. Better keep the old mirror while repainting the frame. This option will let you enjoy the antique while giving it a new hard cover.
Lastly, if your mirror is not so bad looking, than a simple mirror wash accompanied by paint touch ups on the mirror frame will do. All you need is a pair of hands, wood primer and hot soapy water for the mirror wash. If I was an antique lover, I would do just that!
