Hello,
The laminate top on our kitchen island has raised after a hot pan was placed on it. The surface of the laminate looks okay but it has come unstuck from the substrate. The raised area goes right to the edge of the counter so I was thinking of injecting some contact cement under the laminate then using a my compressor with a blow gun to try and distribute it evenly. Once it has setup for an hour or so put some weight on it to press it down.
I have never done this before and have not had much experience with this. Is there any one out there with any suggestions? It is a small part of the island (about 12†square) and if possible I don’t want to have to replace the whole thing.<!—-> <!—->
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Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. <!—->
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Phil <!—->
Replies
phil, you can attempt getting glue in there, but it don't work so good nor last too long.
If you have it loose up to an edge, it's the perfect place to inject some (from a sqeeze bottle-dish detergent bottle) laquer thinner. Slowly work a taping knife along away from your loose spot. You're gonna want to peel up two connected sides away from where the pot sat..........three if you can do it. Let the thinner dry and then re apply contact adhesive to both sides, allow to set and then roll with a #### load of pressure from the pot location out to the edges. Do everything right and no one will know you've been there.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Calvin, Thanks for the response. That sounds like a good idea.
phil, I thought of mentioning the heat trick as david suggests, and have found that many times it will work. The heat re-activates the old glue. I had a recent repair that the "bubble" was in the center of a well adhered counter. The heat worked for a while. Located over the DW, it bubbled again. I am probably looking at it again, have adhered it twice.
I think with the position of yours, untrapped and with an outlet to the edge of the counter, you could try it and undo it later if it reappears. Still, with that edge loose, I think I would opt for the laquer thinner.
If you do try it, please be careful. You're working with a strong but brittle substance. A slip or forcing the lam will mean new top. Which, since it's an island isn't a total loss.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Calvin, I believe you are right, but I would use heat loosen the area around the delaminated spot with the tape knife to slowly lift it. Takes a lot of the stress off of the p-lam. Once the area is loose enough to get a 1/4 or 3/8" dowel rod in to hold it up, I let it set and cool off. A clean shim makes a good applicator to coat both seperated surfaces. I have used foam brushes to work the new contact cement back in there too, but sometimes they are a little short. After both surfaces are dry I slide out the dowel(s) and roll the #### out of it. If I have any reservations I might reheat the whole area and roll the #### out it agian as it cools.
I "ve not had much luck with the thinner method. Might be an operator problem though:)
Dave
Hello,
Just wanted to say thanks for all the responses and give an update on how it worked out.
I ended up using the heat to pry up the laminate then pushed some new contact cement to the area using the suggestion of a clean shingle and sponge brush, I was surprised how easily the laminate came up after applying some heat. Once I let the contact cement cure for a couple of hours I pressed it down then applied some weight. It looks like it did the trick, I was sure glad I didn't have to pull the whole thing off as there was a sink in the island.
Thanks again everyone who responded, it is sure great to benefit from the combined experience.
Phil
I would experiment with applying heat and seeing if the original contact adhesive will stick. Start with a heating pad or a blow dryer and get it warm. The trick will be to put heavy, even pressure on it while it cools. A couple of sacks of playground sand might be a good way to go.
As far as injecting adhesive... I'm not sure what you could use that would stick. Those surfaces have been coated with contact cement already.
That sounds like a good thing to try before I do anything more drastic.
The adhesive I was thinking of injecting was contact cement in a tube It is by Lepage and called Pres-Tite Green, it seems a lot runnier than others I seen in the can so I thought it might get up in there. Thanks for the suggestion.
Phil
I'll second David's suggestion.
A little heat can work miracles with contact adhesive.
and do be sure to use plenty of pressure.
if that doesn't work, you can always go to more drastic measures