Payment Terms

We accept cash or bank transfers, details of which will be provided at the time of issuing an invoice.
We require a 50% deposit upfront for which a VAT invoice will be issued.
This deposit is non-refundable as an order is considered to be confirmed upon receipt of the deposit payment. We do not order materials or begin production until this point.

For additional work which cannot be ascertained until the survey is carried out (or if measurements are different to that of those quoted for), the extra costs will be added to the remainder invoice.

The remainder invoice must be settled prior to the order leaving our premises.

NB: Mirror order values (excluding survey, install or delivery) under £1000 nett are payable in advance.

Carrying out Survey & Installation

In order to quote and carry out the survey and any subsequent installation, we require details of the site involved, including full address with postcode, contact name and number for the person responsible of the installation site, notification of parking restrictions and charges.

For the survey, it is of utmost importance that the relevant area is fully prepared in advance of our arrival, including details such as skirting boards, coving and socket backboxes to be in place, etc. and that no further changes to the area after the survey take place. Light fittings or similar, must be on site to assess the best cut-outs in the glass. Failure to do so may mean that we have to make a second visit, which will be charged accordingly.

NB: Lights should not be tightened directly to the glass and timber washers should be used so that they are tightened to these and not to the mirror. In effect, the light will be ‘floating’ off the glass by 1mm

For both survey and installation, the site should be clear from hazards and the area prepared as discussed with Dominic Schuster Ltd. If Personal Protection Equipment, Risk Assessments or Method Statements are required for the site involved, please request as necessary. We hold a valid Public Liability Insurance policy, proof of which can be provided, upon request.

Measurements supplied by client are at own risk. We will do our best to guide you but we do not take responsibility if mirrors do not fit, which is why we recommend one of our specialists to survey & install. Mirrors cannot be altered after antiquing without damage to the finish.

Tolerances

We work to the industry standard of +/-2mm but we do our utmost to work within 1mm. It is imperative that you, the client, inform us before the deposit is paid if your tolerance is less than 2mm.

For gridwork and multiple panel configurations, we will ensure that all pieces line up. You must inform us by way of drawings in order for this to happen.

Please note that where measurements are provided in inches, these will be converted to millimetres for the purposes of production. It is the responsibility of the designer or client to review and confirm in writing that all converted measurements are correct prior to the order being placed. Dominic Schuster Ltd cannot be held responsible for any discrepancies arising from measurements that have not been signed off by the designer or client

Lead times

Our lead-times can vary between 4 – 10 weeks depending on the type of glass ordered, the size of the order and stock levels.

Deliveries and Collections

We occasionally use third party courier companies for collections and deliveries.
In some instances, for the sake of keeping carriage charges to a minimum, these companies may not be insured for goods whilst in transit and may not offer a tracking service. If these are of vital importance, we must be notified at the time of acquiring delivery quotations so as to ensure we offer the correct level of service that suits you.

Upon delivery, please ensure that goods are checked for quality as soon as is reasonably possible preferably when the courier is still present. If this is not possible, then please let us know in writing within 48 hours of any issues or damage.

Antiqued Mirrors

All antiqued mirrors are created using a hand-finished process, so variations will occur from piece to piece.
Differences in temperature, humidity and silvering techniques affect the antiquing. We believe this adds to the authenticity and originality of our products, but as a result this means we cannot guarantee a uniform level of patination.

This can also occur when batches of mirror are ordered at different times – this should be taken into account when mirrors are intended for the same room.
The antiquing can increase or darken over time. Again, we believe this adds to the authenticity of our product.

Hand-drawn glass options feature distorted surfaces and due to the manufacturing process of these styles we cannot guarantee how regular this effect will be.

Verre Églomisé and Gilded Glass

All Verre Églomisé designs and gilded glass and done by hand and variations may occur in the leaf, such as beating marks, creases and other anomalies. Differences in temperature and humidity can also affect variations in the leaf.

We believe this adds to the authenticity and originality of our products, but as a result this means we cannot guarantee a uniform finish.

This can also occur when batches of gilded mirrors are ordered at different times – this should be taken into account when mirrors are intended for the same room.
Again, we believe this adds to the authenticity of our product.  

Toughened Glass

Toughened glass is widely regarded within the industry as not being of silvering quality, due to imperfections that are an inherent result of the toughening process. These anomalies can often be disguised through heavy antiquing, but they are not always apparent until the hand-silvering and antiquing process is complete.

Where a finished mirror is not accepted by the client and it can be demonstrated that the anomaly originates within the glass itself — and is therefore not attributable to Dominic Schuster Ltd — we reserve the right to charge for remaking the piece. Given that imperfections of this nature typically only become visible after manufacture, this charge is likely to be at full cost.

We recommend discussing glass specification with us at the earliest opportunity to understand the implications of using toughened glass prior to committing to an order.

Antiqued Mirrors in Bathrooms and Outside

The use of mirrors in proximity to water — including bathrooms, wet rooms and external applications — requires careful consideration, regardless of whether the mirror is plain or antiqued.

Mirrors can be sealed at the edges using good quality silicone or polymer adhesives; however, over time the risk of condensation cannot be entirely eliminated. Rapid changes in temperature, poor ventilation, or a gradual breakdown in the edge sealant through lack of maintenance can allow moisture to penetrate between the glass and the silver backing. This typically presents as a darkening or creeping effect at the edges of the mirror, which can progress inward over time.

In heavily antiqued mirrors, this effect can be difficult to distinguish from the intentional patination of the finish — examples of which can be seen in our Fossil range on our website. In plain or lightly antiqued mirrors, however, the same effect is far more conspicuous.

For this reason, we recommend specifying a heavier antiqued finish for any mirror installed in a wet or humid environment. We are happy to advise on the most appropriate finish at the design stage.