Mirror for Swimming Pool Training

[Toman]

Hi,

We are looking to set a large mirror (about 2x4m or 7x13ft?) in a swimming pool to help training.

We are wondering the following questions:
- What material would give a good visibility and a good durability while keeping the cost relatively low?
- One piece or several pieces put together?
- The best way to fix it on the wall?

Any recommendation would be welcome

Thanks
Thomas

 

[SparticleBrane]

Hi,

We are looking to set a large mirror (about 2x4m or 7x13ft?) in a swimming pool to help training.

We are wondering the following questions:
- What material would give a good visibility and a good durability while keeping the cost relatively low?
- One piece or several pieces put together?
- The best way to fix it on the wall?

Any recommendation would be welcome

Thanks
Thomas

1: I'm not entirely sure, but would be willing to find out.
2 & 3: Our school uses several pieces, screwed to the wall. I can get you more specifics if you'd like.

We have two panels of mirrors with a small break in the middle. Pictures:

Taken during a springboard diving class; you can see the mirrors on the right-hand side of the pool. Out of the picture is the other row of pictures on the other half of that side of the pool.

Yours truly. Mirrors are one of the single-biggest improvements you can make to your pool training sessions -- they allow you to see yourself and make adjustments in realtime to your trim and gear if necessary.

 

[Toman]

Wow! That's a beautiful setup!

I found some information but it is on another forum that has been down the whole day. I'll post a link when it's back up.

Cheers
Thomas

 

[Blazinator]

Go to your local plastics supplier (not big box store) and they can get acrylic mirror that reflects pretty much the same as glass mirror. They can get 4 x 8 sheets. Go with 1/4" thick as opposed to 1/8" thick, as it will show less defection when mounted to pool wall. Real glass mirror would work as well if you are willing to be more careful.

Glass will require edge mounting clips or full length Z channel and CANNOT be fastened firmly, as any defection will crack the glass, whereas plastic can be drilled and screw mounted.

I make glass for a living, and you wouldn't want to find out the hard way that glass is way more delicate than you think. If it touches concrete on its edge with the slightest pressure, it cracks. Pre-make a frame, and it would be safe to submerge, then fasten through frame. But I'd go with plastic mirror.

 

[Blazinator]

I suppose taking a drill underwater might not be a good idea, so I thought about some adhesives that might work to mount your mirror.

You can make a frame with vertical extensions that extend above the waterline, and then use tapcons to screw through these extensions to the pool wall just above the waterline.

Otherwise, here is some underwater adhesive ideas:

I've bought from this guy when I built my boat, and was impressed by his underwater epoxy, even though I didn't use this product: Splash Zone ® type Underwater Epoxies - For Construction and Repairs by Contractors and Homeowners

Another possibility is to use PL premium Polyurethane construction adhesive from any building store. It will bond to wet substrates, and is 100% solids, no solvents at all, and requires moisture for curing, so it might work. Test it out first with scrap pcs. If it cures and bonds UW, it is the best bond you can get - been using it for years.

Then the trick of clamping the mirror in place:

Without seeing your pool, I can't see any ledges or areas to get leverage off of for wedging the mirror agianst the wall, but 2 x 4's wedged against the mirror (with cleats on the mirror) from the opposite side of the pool would work to hold the mirror til the glue sets up.

 

[Toman]

Thanks a lot for your replies

Here is the thread I was talking about:

thedecostop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32585&highlight=mirror

But an acrylic mirror sounds really good. The guy who initially told me about this is using velcros, on the mirror and on the pool to be able to remove the mirror.

Thanks again
Cheers

Thomas

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

Thanks. This is something we need too.

 

[Lone Frogman]

I suppose taking a drill underwater might not be a good idea,

Electric no, air drill yes I use them daily. A glass mirror in a swimming pool? Sounds crazy to me, I wander what the health department would say when you apply for permit.