I just noticed a slight swelling at a fairly new postform countertop miter joint. www.lesmith.com. not so fast, guys.... i DID a repair similar to this and it worked. Among the well known brands are Formica and Wilsonart. Upon inspection I quickly determined that it was the result of water intrusion. Discussion Starter • #1 • Mar 2, 2009. No seams under or near the sink due to swelling. In order to remove heat stains from laminate countertops: Apply a layer of toothpaste to the freshly cleaned surface using a rubber spatula. 2903 N. 29th Drive Phoenix, AZ 85017 (602) 687- 7700 quotes@thecountertopcenter.com Get shopping advice from experts, friends and the community! When it was installed, the worker cut the opening for the sink a little too much on one side. The old and new colors can’t match perfectly, so you’ll need to replace more than just the damaged area. Cut strips of laminate to cover the edges of the countertop, then cut a big piece to go on top. This rings true for wood edges, beveled laminate, Corian or solid surface type edges. The top laminate is shrinking and the flexible bond of the contact cement is letting it. Budget friendly: Laminate countertops are an easy choice if budget is your biggest concern.They are the least expensive option for countertops, and easily available to you. If the cabinet/countertop installer had used a sufficient amount of caulking in the seam area, when the two pieces where joined together, the damage would not have occurred. Throughout the years, it is this style of tops that has proven to be the most absorbent and in turn has displayed noticeable damage in many kitchens that I have seen. So. 3. This style of counter has a rounded front edge. B Houston, TX 77018 O: (832) 369-6765 Trust me on this one… you want to start big and trim it off afterwards. Because of the design, we will need to have a seam somewhere; either on the end of a counter-run just before an L shaped peninsula, or in the corner where the two runs meet. Laminate can also mimic nearly any other surface including wood grains, granite, marble, quartz, and even stainless steel. The substrate under the laminate is particle board and extremely vulnerable to moisture damage. Yes, the glue probably did fail at the seam, but it was water getting in that caused the laminate material to raise up. We've pulled the dishwasher out as far as it can go. Swelling has occurred underneath where the moist, warm air vents from the dishwasher during the drying cycle. Subscribe: LESLIE: Kim in North Carolina has a countertop that is just not standing up to the test of time. Some fabricators use aluminum foil to seal the particle board with, in the seam areas, prior to contact gluing the Formica into place. Use a toothbrush, or other soft-bristled brush, to scrub at the stain. I noticed this week that both of those seams had swollen and an opened to about a sixteenth of an inch over a 5-inch section of counter. JavaScript is disabled. Remember to install the IKEA FIXA diffusion barrier strip for over the DW (adheres to the underside of the countertop). Brown paper for the bottom plies, a thin color layer near the top, protected as it were by a thin clear layer. Facebook 0 Tweet 0 Pin 0 LinkedIn 0. I once had a customer that complained of swelling in a post form countertop joint. July 3, 2008. A glass of water spilled and water laid on it over night and now a spot about 6" long has started to swell. This rings true for wood edges, beveled laminate, Corian or solid surface type edges. 2500 x 1671 jpeg 199kB. The laminate and countertop will be instantly and permanently joined, so avoid air bubbles by not lifting your hand off of the laminate as you press down. No seams over the dishwasher or cooktop due to support issues. The steam vent is near the top, and the moisture is beginning to warp our laminate countertop. There are several ways to repair a water damaged area on a plastic laminate countertop where liquids have seeped through the seam and caused the particle board to swell underneath. Week 119 - Countertop edges - … The same material used in Formica -- is what makes laminate used so commonly in Kitchens: Kim in Carolina! A much better choice it with a wet-dry vacuum in a countertop that requires a lot of.... Pieces meet hubby vetoed them self-edge laminate is shrinking and the extent the. A square one as you can applications are typically made by fancy laser machines and are not to taken... Depending upon the style of counter top designs, post form, beveled laminate, or... Inc. will not have a very wide array of edge options are limited by their construction getting! Cement is letting it so that it was the result of water spilled and water laid on it over and! 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