Help removing original mirror

Hello,
I am in the process of renovating our brownstone. In the entrance hall, right before the stairs, we have an original mirror with its wooden frame. We have had the wood stripped for the mirror and now noticed that there’s a very small water leak with water sipping through the base of the mirror (photos attached).
When it rains, there is no water falling down the walls, so it seems like it’s coming into our house from behind the mirror.
Our GC has recommended removing the mirror to investigate but they don’t want to do it because they think it will break if they try. It is true that the wood is a bit cracked in a couple spots.
What kind of specialist would we need to remove the mirror making sure it doesn’t break? The wood seems to be glued to the plaster wall somehow.
Any recommendations and contacts would be very welcome.

Thanks!
[IMG-20200313-WA0006](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s3/:brownstoner:S4nP:img20200313wa0006.jpg.jpg)

Guest User | 5 years and 3 months ago

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24 replies

yudashasom | 5 years and 3 months ago

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With the additional info, I agree with resident2 .

resident2 | 5 years and 3 months ago

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It seems obvious to me if it is not from the roof, it is from your neighbor.
DO NOT move the mirror if you want to keep it.
Go and investigate from your neighbors side.
Does it leak just during the heating season or all year round? What kind of heating system do your neighbors have?
I once had a neighbors old steam system leaking into one of my houses from both the riser & return line, one had corroded out the other and all the condensation & water was seeping through into my property in a very similar location, a little closer to the front door.

Guest User | 5 years and 3 months ago

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There is no dampness anywhere from the roof to the mirror. And we just finished demolition down to the joists, so we would see water somewhere if if was coming from the roof. My GC theory is that our neighbor may have their plumbing raiser behind the mirror, because it is in the same location where their chimney flue is. He says either they have a leak in the raiser or the hot water is creating condensation. Because we also see the leak when it doesn’t rain.
My GC has been doing this for over 35 years and he says it’s always the roof. But this time he just can’t explain it from the roof, he says he hasn’t seen anything like this in 35 years.

yudashasom | 5 years and 3 months ago

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There is no way the leak is coming from behind, so don’t remove it.

Is the wall damp in the room above? Probably a roof issue.