Keep in mind this is sealed with a high performance sealer. So no water can get into the crack.
Asked on Mar 03, 2018
Contact paper counter top seam issue...
+13
A year ago I did a post on covering my bathroom countertop with contact paper then coating and sealing it with a heavy waterproof polyurethane gloss. Generally, the seams always show when you do this, depending on your contact paper, so you try and place them where they will show least.
I had 1 long seam in two pieces at the back. The problem is my seam has slightly pulled apart in places over the year and raised a little in others. Almost like it "shrunk".
Any idea why this might be or how to prevent it? I added a 1 year update to my post which you can VIEW HERE. Compare the seams from the update to the photos up higher on the post and you'll see the problem.
Thanks for any advice!
Nancy Ü
You can see how it's separated small amount. Which means water can NOW get in.
I just with I knew how to prevent it. I can paint in the seam and gloss over that line... but it's the lifted part that Is the issue as far as doing that goes. Not sure how to get it flat again.
Contact paper will shrink over time. Even sealed. Overlap an eight of an inch to allow for shrinkage
Whatever the substrate is probably expanded and some point. When it did the contact paper either didn’t, or didn’t expand, or it expanded less than the substrate This is true even if the substrate is is a plastic laminate (think Formica). Either way, the damage is done. You’re unfortunately stuck with making a repair that will most likely show. If you apply new contact paper this is likely to happen again, especially seeing that this is a bathroom.
Keep in mind that all contact paper is not created equally. Depending on price and brand name, there can be noticeable differences in thickness, durability, and quality of the backing glue.
I would say though, that as contact paper is meant to be only a temporary decorating change, to get one year's wear out of a bathroom counter is beyond reasonable expectations.
Hi there,
Cut a piece of contrast contact and cover the gap with it , making sure you cover the old raw edges. Contact does shrink with time, and I have found the best way to hide the gap is to make a feature of it! If you don't like that idea, you could try to loosen or rather soften the glue using heat (May be an Iron over Brown paper or a hair drier etc. and a paint scraper.
Hello, it is not too bad, but what if you took a sponge and just dabbed a bit along the seam, not in a solid line but randomly. It would look less noticable.