Mirror, also known in the trade as "Silver", starts off with a superior production run of Float Glass being manufactured and set aside for the purpose of making mirrors. This Float Glass undergoes a much greater quality check than Float Glass used for everyday purposes.

The production of mirror commences with Float Glass being thoroughly washed with de-ionised water and cerium oxide. A thin layer of tin is then sprayed onto the surface of the Float Glass to promote the adhesion of the silver. The almost pure silver (99.9%) coating is then applied, followed by a coating of copper which protects the silver from tarnishing.

The final step in manufacturing mirrors comes in the form of backing paints. Depending upon the manufacturer of thr mirror, generally one or two coats of protective backing paints are applied. The first (basecoat) protects against chemical attack and corrosion. The second (topcoat) resists mechanical abrasion for handling and transporting. Any further coatings, if applied, will be further protection for the topcoat.