Hang a garden mirror on an exterior brick wall

Fix a weatherproof mirror securely to an exterior brick wall, checking for cables and hidden pipes before drilling.

GM-01Gather your tools and check the mirrorCheck the mirror is rated for outdoor use — ordinary bathroom or hallway mirrors will fog and corrode outside. Check how it hangs: D-rings and wire, or a fixed metal plate on the back. Lay out your tools and fixings before you start so you're not searching mid-job.

1 each · Weatherproof garden mirror

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1 each · Spirit level

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1 each · Tape measure

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1 each · Pencil

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GM-02Choose the spot and mark your fixing pointsPick a spot away from meter boxes, outdoor sockets, alarm boxes and downpipes — cables and pipes often run to these. Hold the mirror up, get a helper or prop it level, and mark the fixing points through the plate or measure from the D-rings. Use a spirit level to draw a level line before marking.

GM-03Check for cables and pipes before you drillExterior walls can carry cables to outdoor lights, sockets or alarm boxes, and pipes are sometimes chased in near ground level. Run a detector over your marked spots, but still assume something could be there — detectors miss deep cables and anything in metal conduit. Before drilling, find your stopcock (usually under the kitchen sink) and check it turns freely. If you have any doubt, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit first.

GM-04Drill the fixing holesUse an 8mm masonry bit in a hammer or SDS drill for standard red wall plugs. Drill straight, to a depth of about 45-50mm, and stop drilling if you feel the bit suddenly move freely or hit something unexpected — pull back and check before continuing. Blow or brush out the dust, then push a plug fully into each hole so it sits flush.

1 each · Masonry drill bit, 8mm

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4 each · Red wall plugs, 8mm

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1 each · Safety goggles

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GM-05Fix the screws and hang the mirrorDrive a 60mm stainless steel screw into each plug, leaving about 5mm standing out if the mirror hangs on D-rings, or driving fully home if fixing through a plate. Lift the mirror onto the screws or through the plate holes, then check it's level and give it a firm push to settle it.

4 each · Stainless steel screws, 60mm

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GM-06Weatherproof the fixingsRun a thin bead of exterior-grade silicone sealant around any exposed screw heads, the top edge of a fixing plate, or gaps where water could get behind the mirror. This stops rain getting in and rusting the fixings or lifting the mirror's backing over time.

1 tube · Exterior silicone sealant

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GM-07Tidy up and do a final checkSweep up brick dust and offcuts, and wipe the mirror clean of fingerprints and dust. Gently test the mirror is firmly fixed by pushing at each corner — it shouldn't move or rock. Step back and check it's level and sits where you want it before you finish.

1 each · Dust sheet

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