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Alternative adhesives for laminate?

Tomrocks21212 | Posted in Construction Techniques on October 4, 2006 03:20am

Bidding a series of cat shelters for the local SPCA (yeah, Tom’s building cat houses, lol). They want laminate on the walls, which will be 5′ wide and 8′ tall, more or less. Since they want to minimize seams, they’re preferring I use 5′ wide Formica. No problem, but I don’t want to even think about trying to apply that big a sheet to a wall with contact cement. And the recent tip to use yellow glue scares me, for vertical applications.
I was thinking maybe wall tile mastic? I need something that’s forgiving, but grabs fast too.
Suggestions?

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Replies

  1. User avater
    Sphere | Oct 04, 2006 04:29am | #1

    suction

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    " If ya plan to face tomorrow, do it soon"

  2. temujin | Oct 04, 2006 05:08am | #2

    I think you can use yellow glue. if you let it dry till tacky and coat both surfaces, then you should have not problems.

    1. DougU | Oct 04, 2006 05:12am | #3

      If you use the yellow glue like you describe can you move it around or does it contact instantly like contact cement?

      Doug

  3. calvin | Oct 04, 2006 05:12am | #4

    Apply the contact adhesive to the wall and to the laminate.  When the wall is dry to the touch, staple (a couple times, enough to hold it) a pc. of visqueen to the wall.  If you decide to start at the top, hold the visqueen down a couple inches.  If starting at the bottom, hold it short of the floor.  After you start the laminate, pull the visqueen out from behind and press the lam as you go.

    You're using the visqueen as a slip sheet.  Works good with just a minimal amount of "practice".  This was how we did the mall shop fronts.

    A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

    Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

    Quittin' Time

     

    1. Tomrocks21212 | Oct 04, 2006 07:31am | #5

      The only difficulty I see with that is the walls will go from floor to ceiling, and will be on the inside of the small room (approx. 5'x5'). really no wiggle room. Can't pull it out to the side, either.
      Regarding the yellow glue, clamping would be difficult to accomplish, and without clamping, I'm worried about air pockets developing that couldn't be removed.
      I've troweled the PL adhesives to laminate the foil-covered polyiso sheets, but the stuff dries faster than I can finish spreading on large sheet goods.
      Wall tile mastic? Carpet adhesive? My gut feeling tells me there must be a roller or trowel applied glue that'll give me a few minutes positioning time and still hold the laminate tight to the substrate (either plywood or drywall).
      I don't want to turn this one down, but I'd hate to have a material failure because I used the wrong technique or product.

      1. mrfixitusa | Oct 04, 2006 11:33am | #6

        Some (most?) yellow wood glues are runny and watery.There are some brands that are very thick and won't run on a vertical surface.Good luck!^^^^^^

         

        S N A F U (Situation Normal: All Fouled Up)

      2. calvin | Oct 04, 2006 01:05pm | #10

        Call Franklin Adhesives in Columbus,Oh.  They should be able to advise you of one you can use. 

        Perhaps FRP trowell on.  A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

        Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

        Quittin' Time

         

    2. User avater
      McDesign | Oct 04, 2006 12:32pm | #8

      Cool tip!  Gotta' try that on the next time I do a vert bit.

      Forrest

      1. calvin | Oct 04, 2006 01:03pm | #9

        We did this in the days b/4 the acceptance of waterbased cement.  Ugh.

        We would roll the adhesive on the wall and sheet goods, then step away-have a coffee.  Look back down the mall and see the "heat-like" ripples in the air.  About 4' off the floor to maybe 8'.

        No wonder I have trouble with simple math.A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.

        Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

        Quittin' Time

         

  4. geilerzimmermann | Oct 04, 2006 11:41am | #7

    Tile mastic works great. If I need to hang backsplashes that I need to move and position, I'll forgoe the contacy cement and use tile mastic

    mark

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