I have made a laminate countertop for our kitchen, and I’m going to install it soon. Later this summer, after my wife and I pick out tile, my friend and I are going to create a tile backspash. But we need a temporary backsplash until then.
Question: If I put a people piece of wood back there, then waterproof the seam with caulk, will I be able to get that piece of wood off in a month or two without destroying the laminate top? What kind of caulk should I use? And how would I remove it cleanly?
Scott
Replies
There is a temporary "weatherstripping" caulk, that is designed to seal up leaky windows during winter and then be pealed back out in spring. I haven't tried it, but it sounds like it might be what you want (though it is a seasonal item in most stores and will be hard to find until July 4th--when they put the Christmas stuff out <g>).
scott. I would caulk the top to the wall with a good grade of sealant to keep water from getting to your substrate. Take your prefinished wood mould and bed that in a siliconized latex caulk which you will be able to remove later by scraping off with a laminate sample chip. This will not scratch your lam countertop.
When you go to set the tile splash, rip a pc of 1/4" luan (3/16''s) and place that on your top before you tile. Set the first row of tile on that shim, remove the next day b/4 you grout. This will keep the tile off the counter and enable you to remove the countertop at a later date without damaging the tile splash (when you damage or get sick of the laminate). I caulk that space with a grout matched colorcaulk first, then grout. When you clean off the grout, remove most of what lodges against that caulked joint.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time