For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Here again, the raised area could have been prevented by not using particle-board underneath the laminate when the top was manufactured. A glass of water spilled and water laid on it over night and now a spot about 6" long has started to swell. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Get shopping advice from experts, friends and the community! Between cleaning the surface and keeping it sanitary, to chipping the surface paint layer, and swelling in the wood, Laminate Countertops require more work than they wanted to deal with. google_ad_width = 234; If a small amount of water has leaked toward the edges of the flooring, pull up any quarter-round (shoe molding) or baseboards around the perimeter. 480 x 360 jpeg 16kB. The angled edging is actually a piece of molding made out of medium density fiberboard; that’s susceptible to the possibility of being damaged from liquid absorption. Edge Profiles for Laminate Countertops | VT Industries. / Repair Water Damaged Laminate Countertop. I would NEVER do a laminate seam in the middle of a sink. Water Under Laminate Flooring . Laminate Countertop Bubble Repair Whether or not the bubble was caused by heat, you'll need to apply heat to soften the laminate material so you can press it back into place. The top front edge of the counter has a thin strip of laminate at a 45 degree angle, with a seam on the top and front. I'll need to sand that down to make it flush again, but then want to protect it from the steam so that particle board won't continue to absorb it. How to Repair a Lifted Laminate Countertop. All laminate counters are not manufactured the same way; so there are various solutions to this problem. Basically any plastic laminate countertop which has a special type edge is going to need to be completely replaced if water has damaged the seam area. www.houzz.com. MDF also has a mild reaction to moisture, meaning it is less prone to warping or swelling in high-humidity applications like a kitchen or bathroom environment. It is possible that your kitchen tops can be repaired without having to replace them entirely. JavaScript is disabled. The laminate seam can’t withstand the rising pressure the moisture creates as it combines with the pressed wood. Builders and fabricators use MDF in many capacities, such as laminate countertops, furniture, shelving, laminate flooring, decorative molding, and … A little care can make a big difference and make laminate countertops last longer. This countertop appears to be laminated particle board. Ouch! Never seen DW's steam make Formica swell, unless like someone said they would constantly crack the door open at the end of the cycle and steam deteriorated particle board itself making it swell. My suggestions are not to be taken as rules. A glass of water spilled and water laid on it over night and now a spot about 6" long has started to swell. 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. Some fabricators use aluminum foil to seal the particle board with, in the seam areas, prior to contact gluing the Formica into place. Re: Formica Countertop Edge Swelling From DW Steam Something they did to make that happen, or the laminate seam under there was already problematic. 3. /* 234x60, created 12/31/08pfyblueborder */ Laminate Countertops A very cost-effective option, thanks to modern technology, laminate countertops can give the look of natural stone without the high price tag. There are two types of laminate countertops: Self Edge and Post Form. The top front edge of the counter has a thin strip of laminate at a 45 degree angle, with a seam on the top and front. The top laminate is shrinking and the flexible bond of the contact cement is letting it. Laminate countertops exceed most housing and food industry standards for impact, wear, sanitary requirements, stain resistance, and scratch resistance. ... Then, laminate over the area with the strip of Formica which is 1 1/8” wide. 610 x 726 jpeg 105kB . Heat and moisture are the two most common causes of laminate separation. Using an undermount sink may not be advisable as the laminate can get spoilt due to regular exposure to water from the side. If you have a countertop with seams, moisture and wear can cause the seams to lift over time. First was that it was boring and second was that at every corner you would end up with a clearly visible black line that ran all the way down the worktop. The Pros. bstcountertops.metrocenternews.com. Laminate is a less expensive countertop alternative to natural stone or tile products. Our (fairly new) dishwasher does not have a steam guard. In order to remove heat stains from laminate countertops: Apply a layer of toothpaste to the freshly cleaned surface using a rubber spatula. I just noticed a slight swelling at a fairly new postform countertop miter joint. If you are concerned about water damage….choose another product – even self-edge laminate is a much better choice. The steam vent is near the top, and the moisture is beginning to warp our laminate countertop. Among the well known brands are Formica and Wilsonart. google_ad_client = "pub-0773501472177423"; Rough Cut Laminate. 665 x 326 jpeg 35kB. Upon inspection I quickly determined that it was the result of water intrusion. While laminate countertops are best known for being inexpensive and durable, over time, the laminate can become damaged or start peeling away from the surface. You will pretty much have to replace your plastic laminate countertops if the water damaged area of the countertop is where the beveled edge meets the flat portion of the top. Here is the difference between the two, along with some pro’s and con’s of both. Remove an adjacent dowel, pushing down as you move along the surface. Said they were too likely to stain, too rustic and too trendy. 3020 x 2104 jpeg 1070kB. It should not be difficult for you to find the type of laminate you desire, within your budget. The seams are visible but glued together. A glass of water spilled and water laid on it over night and now a spot about 6" long has started to swell. Custom fabricators just purchase the beveled laminated edges and apply them to the counters as they are building them. Laminate countertops are regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly countertop surfaces, offering a broad selection in design and budget flexibility. LAMINATE (Formica®) COUNTERTOPS. If well cared for, they provide a simple, clean look for your kitchen. I plan to trim the profile of the countertop underside back to its original thickness with a Fein MM, but I would also like to coat the surface underneath to prevent further swelling … Week 119 - Countertop edges - … Helping You to Do It Yourself! The laminate is rolled over to create a single, unbroken laminate face. Repair Water Damaged Laminate Countertop. I'd like to avoid the corner as the sink will be 2-4 inches from that corner and I'm thinking of the integrity of the seams. This created a few problems. It appears that only the support under the rounded front edge of the countertop is swelling and extending below the front edge of the laminate. In addition to having a wide range of colors available, we have several finishes available that include stone, brushed metals, and more. I once had a customer that complained of swelling in a post form countertop joint. Discussion Starter • #1 • Mar 2, 2009. Laminate is made of a pressed wood base over which a plastic layer is glued. This rings true for wood edges, beveled laminate, Corian or solid surface type edges. They’re also durable, and when cared for properly, can last a long time. need to repair swollen particle board laminate countertop. Here is a how-to guide from the specialists in countertop edge profiles. Mop up spills as they happen and avoid washing or wet-mopping your laminate floor using soap, water, oil-soaps, or any type of liquid cleaner to prevent swelling, warping or delamination. Tell us about the problem. If the water is not pervasive, you may be able to extract it with a wet-dry vacuum. Thanks Remove Advertisements. Is there any way to recompress the particle board using heat and pressure...or some other method? Plastic laminate is made using resins and paper. The design of your kitchen and the extent of the damage will determine the way that the repair will have to be done. Freak thunderstorm squall that dropped 6″of rain in 2 hours.