I hope someone can help me out with this. Last summer I applied new plastic laminate over existing laminate on about a dozen library tables. I went to considerable lengths to make sure the tables were prepared properly. I degreased them and cleaned them thoroughly then sanded them three times. Through the school year the tables were fine. When June rolled around and the school was empty the laminate started lifting. More than half of the tables to date have started to de-laminate. The lifting starts at the center of the tables and only one has migrated to the edge. The edges are rock solid but the problem is starting in the center. I relaminated several countertops over the years and never had this problem. At first I was thinking glue failure, but I’m wondering if environmental conditions may have had an effect on the lifting. The library is supposed to remain at a constant temperature and humidity, but I know for a fact that is not always the case. I always figured relaminating was sort of a crap shoot since old laminate is not ideal substrate. Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.
bobsky
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do you know if it is separating between the surface layers or between the old and the substrate?
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piffin
the new laminate has lifted away from the old laminate.
Have you tried heat and pressure?Smaller bubbles sometimes can be done with an iron over a damp washclothe.I was thinking mayube the other way around. Seems logical that if th ewood under was swelling with summer humidity some mopvement could....?
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Bob, I had this happen once when I used non-flammable contact cement and the building AC was off for about a week and temperatures got too high, probably in the 90s. The tops had been OK prior to that for about a year. Never had a problem when I've used the flammable Hybond 80. Bill
bldrbill
That's interesting to hear. I always use the flammable contact cement. I've built quite a few counters and never had this problem. I don't want to redo the tables until I figure out what the problem is.
bob
bob, one more possibility I can think of. You mentioned you sanded them three times. The purpose of sanding the old laminate is to roughen it up or scarify it, not to get it smooth. I scratch it up with a 60 or 80 grit belt then get all the dust off before applying the contact glue. You probably already knew this, but I thought I'd mention it.