What kind of adhesive should I use?

frozenmama · 09-20-2010, 03:03 PM

My living room has laminate flooring all over, except for a patch by our back door, that is tiled. The area is maybe 3x5 feet of tile. The previous home ower laid the floor, and "trimmed" the seam between the tile/laminate. It looks nice, but after a slight bump, the trim lifted right up. It looks like perhaps the old owner used a glue gun to try to hold it down. I've done my best to remove the excess old glue, but I'm not sure what sort of product I could try to use. It is a long piece of trim, and it sees alot of traffic.

I did glue down a much smaller piece of trim that had also popped up with a small container of epoxy, but I'm nervous to use it on such a big piece of trim. The trim, while it looks like wood, it actually appears to be made up of something the looks like compressed paper/fiber.

Any help?

JCW355 · 09-20-2010, 04:49 PM

Did the trim lay on top or was it like a "t" moulding? I've used a t moulding between ceramic and wood before. I left enough of a gap for the t to set down in my gap between the flooring and glue it with a product made by chemrex. It is used to install tack strip down on metal or really hard floors. I weighted it down and left. Sets up in a couple of hours and is water activated. Came back the next day and all was good. Without knowing exactly what the trim looks like you are using it is hard to advise.

frozenmama · 09-20-2010, 05:53 PM

The trim is just flat - I know the "T" that you mention - I've seen it in some of that spare bits the former home owner left in the basement.

There is a very slight height difference between the two floors - the laminate is about 4-5mm higher than the tiles, and I don't think the gap in between the floors is wide enough for the "t" trim.

I attached a few photos of the area - one with the trim laying like it should, one with the trim moved, and then a close up of the backside of the trim.

JCW355 · 09-20-2010, 06:18 PM

By the looks of that first pic it looks like the edge on the tile didn't contact the glue very good and the back edge was only partially glued enough. In the first picture the glue on the laminate flooring appears to be lighter. Is that because some of the trim is stuck to it? I don't think it was glued good enough. That glue appears to be construction adhesive, do you know if it is? Your going to have to clean it up and re-glue it better. What you glue it with is up to you, maybe constrution adhesive, liquid nails. Have some mineral spirits and a rag for clean up and use some blue tape to hold it in place till it dries. Glue it better than it was or it will fail again. If someone has a better suggestion for the glue please suggest it.

frozenmama · 09-20-2010, 06:35 PM

Yes - the glue looks lighter on the laminate because some of the trim tore off and is still stuck on it.

I don't know what kind of adhesive it is, but it is proving to be difficult to remove cleanly. I'm trying to "slice" it off with a blade, but it is slow going.

I've never heard of the product Liquid Nails, I'll look into it.

Thanks.

rusty baker · 09-20-2010, 06:49 PM

Try PL 400. Mist it lightly and it will set up faster.