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Knew this old timer who swore by wetting the backing before cutting
I always thought it was a waste of time until I had to do a tricky L-shaped hallway in a humid basement last week. The glue tacked up way better and the seams barely showed. Has anyone else tried this trick or am I buying into old myths?
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rosek442d agoTop Commenter
Wetting the backing before cutting" - that's a new one on me, but I bet it works great for that specific situation. The thing nobody talks about is how much humidity changes the way vinyl acts. I've had jobs in dry basements where the glue dried too fast and the seams curled up. Wetting the backing probably slows the cure just enough to get a better bond. Plus if you're working in a basement that already has moisture issues, you're basically fighting the environment anyway so might as well use it to your advantage.
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john_singh2d ago
I read an article from the Journal of Light Construction that mentioned wetting the backing can reduce the risk of air bubbles too, not just curling seams. They said it forces the vinyl to relax and lay flat against the subfloor before the adhesive fully sets. That makes sense if you think about it, since dry vinyl wants to spring back to its rolled shape.
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uma_nguyen242d ago
...and yeah the humidity thing is the real kicker. I tried wetting the backing on a job where the slab was cold and damp, glue was skinning over before I even got the vinyl down. Mist the backing, let it sit for a minute, and the vinyl laid flat like butter. Also helps with those stupid tight cuts around door jambs where you gotta fold the vinyl over itself. Without wetting it fights you the whole time.
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