Proper procedure To Repair Laminate Countertops With Water Damage
Laminate countertops are made up of thin layers of plastic and the laminate is bonded to particleboard for making the surface solid for the laminate countertop. Different types of textures, patterns, and colors in a wide range are available for the laminate counter. Laminate countertop is mostly placed in kitchens and gets damaged with sharp things like kitchen knife while cutting vegetables and fruits directly on the countertop and also get stains from tea, coffee, and juice, etc. Laminate countertops are one of the best addition to any kitchen, due to the reason that they are long-lasting, beautiful & attractive appearance. However, it is highly possible that your countertop can get affected by water damage, like anything else in your home. You can fix the water damage problem in the laminate countertop by using contact adhesive, else, you need to replace it entirely if the water damage issue can't be fixed.
Items Needed
- Putty knife
- Iron Or Heat Gun
- Contact Adhesive
- Books Or Flat Weights
- Laminate Roller Or Rolling Pin
Step By Step Procedure
- Remove Debris: First of all, you need to pick up the loose edge of the laminate. With the help of a putty knife, get rid of any debris that’s stuck betwixt the substrate and the laminate.
- Use Iron Or Heat Gun: Now, use an iron or heating gun in order to heat the surface of the laminate. For an iron gun, keep it on the “cotton” setting but make sure not to use any steam. This will help allow the glue to soften and can help in bonding betwixt the substrate and the laminate reform. Similarly, a hot pan can make the glue lift, it can also fix issues that are completely glue-based. For water damage, you will need an extra bit of work. Apply heat to the bottom as long as it retains a slightly sticky feel again.
- Heavy Books Or Flat Weights: After that, spread the laminate over the affected area and put some heavy books or you can use flat weights in order to weigh it down. Let the area cool down before proceeding towards the next step. After it is cool, examine to find out whether the laminate is loose or not. If yes, then apply a fresh coat of adhesive before repeating the process again.
- Contact Adhesive: Next, put or spread contact adhesive to the bottom of the laminate, as well as the uppermost part of the substrate. Then, with the help of a rolling device, you need to use pressure in order to press the laminate against the substrate.
- Keep Rolling: Continue rolling as long as it is evenly worked, as well as any trapped air bubbles are released. Again, put heavyweights, like heavy books on top of the surface for nearly 60 minutes. Go through the adhesive packaging in order to see the specific curing time before using the counter again.