Mirror acrylic in garden design: the rules of attachment and wrong insertion
The ability of mirrors to create additional space and unusual accents with game highlights is not only used in interior styles. In areas mirror design is also applied, with the aim of visual deception, to expand the boundaries of the territory, and for decorating of small architectural forms and paths. But the mirror – the material is not cheap, and to strengthen it quite difficult. And if the family has children, so the decor can be, and is not safe. That’s why some owners prefer the mirror acrylic – a form of plastic which is much lighter and safer than conventional mirrors. Take a look at how convenient this landscape design, and how to use it properly on the site.
The contents
The advantages and disadvantages of mirrored plastic
Polymeric materials, which include acrylic, annually expand the range of applications. If the original mirror plastic was produced only for use in premises today created types that are not afraid of changes of outdoor temperatures, inclement weather and the scorching sun. At first they were used for outdoor advertising, but landscape designers quickly appreciated all the benefits of innovations in comparison with the usual mirrors.
The main advantage of acrylic is its lightness and impact resistance. Such mirrors can be hung in any place of the site without creating a solid support and not be afraid that the child accidentally thrown the stone shall break them to pieces. Even if the acrylic surface will crack, it will crumble into fragments, creating a traumatic situation, and will remain in place.
The image quality mirrored acrylic a little inferior to conventional mirror, and the degree of security and ease of installation, this material wins
The aesthetic characteristics of the polymeric material differs little from a conventional mirror, as it has a high reflectivity (over 92%). However, there is a slight degree of image distortion, but for design this factor is not important.
Pleased with the colors. So, it is possible to find acrylic sheets standard silver and gold tones, but all colors of the rainbow. This allows you to use plastic in a monochrome landscape, where the hosts stand the entire design in one or more close colors.
But you have to say about «the skeleton in the closet» mirror acrylic is very easily scratched, why is lost a spectacular view of the coating. Therefore, during cutting and installation have to be very careful. One more thing – take care of themselves. Dust, raindrops and so reduce the reflective properties. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the mirror surface, clean it with special liquid, non-abrasive means.
How to use acrylic in design phase?
The most common place that decorated with mirror acrylic, is the fence. You can completely cover the inner surface of the old fence plastic and thus hide the boundaries of the area, making space infinite. Some owners cover plastic panels joint with the neighbors fence, the style of which is not consistent with the design of the site (and at the same time hiding themselves from prying eyes, because the coating is solid!).
Solid sheets of acrylic can warp, but it’s thin strips glued on a flat base, maintain the aesthetic appearance for many years
But most often the fence decorate partially, creating a mirrored openings that mimic the path on the other side of the site. Arches beckoning in the distance, the false Windows, which reflect the greenery and the sky — all this creates the illusion of infinite space that is highly valued in narrow and restricted in area territories.
You can sheathe acrylic pavilions, terraces, doing the edging for beds and borders, but as a floor covering, this material is totally unsuitable. From pieces of mirrors to create a mosaic on the walkways and pati, but with acrylic, this will not work. Too quickly he will scratch and lose the gloss. In short, plastic mirror should be placed vertically or on the ceiling of the gazebo, but not underfoot.
Examples of decorating the area you can take a closer look in the article about mirrors, and we will dwell on the rules of fixing of acrylic and will explain the most common mistakes of placing it.
Old ugly fence that separates your land from a neighbor, you can decorate the Windows of mirrored plastic, selecting them in-tone color scheme of your garden
Ways of fastening of Plexiglas
As acrylic is shatterproof and lightweight material options for mounting there are several. The easiest liquid nails. Plate or cut a piece of dot smeared across the back surface and is fixed to a solid basis. One thing! The substrate must be perfectly smooth, otherwise there will be noticeable waves and drops. However, this problem can be avoided if you buy a thicker sheet: 2 mm and 3 mm. It is dense, badly bent, and therefore will not adjust the basis.
The acrylic mirrored sheets are 2 mm thin. They are easy to decorate convex shape, but the fence is better to buy thicker plastic
If you draw a plot of glass Windows, it is possible to take them on the U-brackets supplied with rubber gaskets. To the concrete fence mounting fix the plugs, and the wood and screws, closed top caps. However, acrylic is better to frame the perimeter frame, as thin sheets when the temperature drops a bit «play», expanding and tapering, and in original form may not return. And the frame will serve as a framework from which the mirror does not jump out.
With u-shaped anchorages convenient to fix mirrored acrylic, carved in the shape of squares and rectangles and framed along the perimeter with a decorative frame
It is possible to fix small leaves (1200 to 2500) a hidden fastener in the form of plates. Usually this attachment is used if you create a monolithic smooth surface of the multiple sheets placed butt to each other.
Error host mirror decor
If you are not a designer, and a regular summer visitor, accustomed to decorate your site without the help of professionals, pay attention to the following problems that can occur because of incorrect placement of mirror fragments.
Mistake #1 — placing mirrors on the West side of the fence
From morning to noon they will beat the bright sun. With such a high reflectivity of the acrylic all the rays will become enemies of plants, located next to the mirror. They will burn, after all, mirror plastic accumulates and intensifies the action of the rays, like a magnifying glass. The same thing will happen with wooden surfaces: chair, Desk, etc., which will fall into the range of reflection of acrylic sheets.
The tree will turn black, and even thin plastic in the heat may melt (for example, toys). And if it is covered with a spunbond flowerbed or garden, then consider your shelter and the season will not live as instantly prodiraetsya.
Mistake #2 — not to consider the places where birds
Mirror for birds – only passages outside of the site. And they often get hurt to death, trying to penetrate the chest by an invisible barrier. If you do not want to collect every morning, corpses of sparrows and other birds, do not install mirrored decor is too open space, so it can be seen from afar.
It is better to put in places where a meter and a half up to a mirror there’s a tree, Bush or some kind of sculpture, fountain, etc. If the idea of open space you like, then you can cover acrylic translucent bars, and even better – to hang next to an effigy or figurine of a bird of prey like crows. Small birds are scared of predators and will gradually cease to fly to the other side of the plot.
If you create a mirror from plastic false-window, it is possible to cover them for a natural decorative grilles that will save many birds life
Mistake #3 — placing without taking into account foreshortening
The mirror surface only in the case will have the desired effect if it is placed under a certain angle, for example, slightly bent or turning sideways. Need to put things in perspective on the greenery growing in front of a mirrored window, path or other objects in the landscape. When looking at the acrylic it would seem that the plot continues, and on the other side opens a new landscape. You can put the angle on the sky. Then the mirror element is to reflect the heavenly landscapes, clouds, sunsets, etc.
If you attach the frame vertically, there is a risk of losing the effect of the continuation of the landscape, as in front of the mirror may not grow, and it will have nothing to reflect. From a distance acrylic will seem empty frame.
Even a small tilt of the mirror window can dramatically change the picture inside, so before installation, look for the most successful perspective that creates the illusion of the continuation of the landscape
The only exception is a fence that completely upholster a polymer coating. In this case, the mirror surface is so extensive that you will be able to capture and reflect most of the decor and spaces of your site.
If you are interested in mirrored pieces, start with acrylic. It is easier to manage, and if something fails, and disassemble easier. Regular mirrors are too heavy and require work experience in their cutting and design.