All home renovation projects need superior bonding power. Whether you’re gluing together wood paneling, flooring, or landscaping materials, you want a durable adhesive that sustains stress and the test of time. Build lasting bonds using Loctite’s construction adhesives.
Today, we’re looking at the role of construction adhesives for a major retrofit project in Cornwall, New York. The Jon Beer Contracting team is working toward bringing a 1950s home into the 21st century by adding a structure to it.
A construction project like this will most certainly require construction adhesive that guarantees durability and performance for many years. Construction adhesive needs to be durable, reliable, and effective on a variety of materials. It needs to withstand strain, stress, and the elements.
This powerful bonding agent can be used for everything from woodworking to flooring, paneling, and more.
So, on a complex retrofit project like this one, the Jon Beer team is counting on the Loctite PL Premium Max as part of their arsenal.
For some heavy-duty projects, nails and screws are not enough. In some cases, nails and screws are not an option due to aesthetic concerns, such as cabinet fixtures. Not only does construction adhesive add considerable tensile strength to any project, but it can also substitute nails and screws when they are not an option or when their use should be minimized.
So, how do you choose the right adhesive?
Below is a quick overview of what you might run into when you go to your local hardware store:
- Acrylic-based adhesives: Typically, best suited for wood, metal, and plastic.
- Polyurethane adhesives: Suitable for indoor and outdoor applications because of its moisture resistance.
- Latex-based: These are water-based adhesives, suitable for lightweight to moderate projects.
- Epoxy-based: Often used for bonding different kinds of metals or concrete.
- Silicone-based: Used frequently for areas with exposure to moisture and other elements, like bathrooms, kitchens, or outdoor areas.
- Solvent-based: Adhesives that contain solvents that evaporate upon installation. It is often used for wood, ceramics, and more.
Loctite PL Premium Max adhesive is polyurethane-based. A chemical reaction forms a permanent bond between two surfaces. The chemical formula used in Loctite construction adhesive forms a strong and durable bond equipped to withstand high levels of stress. PL Premium Max is free of air pockets and has better flexibility for heavy-duty projects.
For the Cornwall retrofit, the Jon Beer Contracting team used the construction adhesive in the finishing stages. Head builder, Jon Beer, testified that "Using Loctite PL Premium Max gives us the opportunity to have a long-lasting bond between materials so that our finishes hold off in the long term."
The best construction adhesive depends on your project. Below are a few characteristics to look for in your construction adhesive:
- Low VOC content for a fast-acting initial bond
- Chemical versatility that bonds a variety of materials (wood, ceramic, cement, etc.)
- An adhesive that doubles as a sealant and can help fill gaps and irregularities
- It can be applied under harsh weather or a wide range of temperatures
- How long it takes the construction adhesive to dry
- Water-resistant and element-resistant
A construction adhesive like Loctite PL Premium Max is a unique formulation that provides long-term strength and achieves a lasting bond on anything from wood and ceramics to laminates, drywall, and fiberglass.
Because of the versatility and high strength of construction adhesives, they are used on many different materials and projects. For example, the Jon Beer Contracting team used the Loctite PL Premium Max for molding, interior trim, architectural features, and connecting smaller components in the finishing stages of their project.
One of the places they used Loctite’s incredible bonding power was installing the two brand-new staircases. To create a long-lasting and squeak-free installation, they used Loctite’s PL Premium Max to glue the risers and the treads to the stringer, as well as connect the trim to the walls.
In addition, the reconstruction team used the powerful bonds of the Loctite Premium PL Max to adhere to the thresholds of the exterior doors.
A retrofit or renovation, however, might require construction adhesive in any number of different capacities. People commonly use construction adhesive when working with:
- Flooring
- Subflooring
- Molding
- Tile
- Wall/ceiling fixtures
- Steel
- Exterior sheds
- Retaining walls
- Birdhouses
- Decks
- Landscaping projects
Putting in a new floor? Just like with the staircase the Jon Beer team installed above, maximizing the use of construction adhesive can help you avoid unwanted squeaks and instability. When installing a new floor, it’s not enough to lay down the subflooring on the joists and call it a day. Add a generous amount of adhesive along the floor joists to achieve a tight bond upon contact with the subfloor. In the case of some subflooring, you can add increased stability by installing screws every few inches.
Everyone loves a clean finish in their cabinets. In these instances, a strong construction glue can provide the needed bonding strength with easy installation and minimize the need for screws and nails. A strong adhesive can help you in installing hardware, whether it be rails, knobs, or handles.
Nobody likes chipped or old crown molding. Sometimes fixing the molding in your house can transform a room and give it new life. It doesn’t have to be a difficult undertaking if you have the right adhesive. Whether you are working with PVC molding or wood molding, the strong bonding action of the glue ensures a reliable hold.
Below are a few tips that can make the installation go smoothly:
- Prepare the surface: Preparation involves removing any debris, standing water, frost, or dust from the surfaces.
- Sand one of the surfaces: Depending on the project, you can lightly sand one of the surfaces to create a rough texture. This helps the adhesive bond better to the material.
- Apply glue with a caulking gun: Application using a caulking gun will provide better stability and movement upon application.
- Use clamps: Utilizing clamps is a great way to help the materials bond together and ensure the glue fully cures.
- Allow for plenty of drying time: Let the glue cure for about 24 hours before removing the clamps.
- Apply in a zigzag pattern: Use the caulking gun to press a clean zigzag pattern onto the surface. It covers more surface area and creates a longer-lasting bond.
For the Jon Beer team, it’s all about giving an older building a chance at a new life. "The most exciting part of this project," Jon Beer said, "is that we’re creating something new with something old."
So, whether you are working on a major construction project or simply replacing your interior molding, the right adhesive makes all the difference.