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Laid glue-down LVP in a 40 degree garage last week
Figured the adhesive instructions were just being careful, but it never fully cured and now a whole section is wavy. Any tricks for getting the adhesive to fully set in cold temps without waiting two weeks?
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casey_campbell6mo ago
You mentioned "the adhesive instructions were just being careful" but that's not really how it works. Those temperature ranges on the can aren't suggestions, they're based on the actual chemistry of the adhesive. When it's 40 degrees, the curing process slows way down because the chemical reaction needs a certain warmth to kick off properly. You might get it to tack up eventually, but it won't have the same bond strength as if it was installed in the right temps. A space heater aimed at that section for a few days could help speed things up, but you're probably looking at pulling that wavy part up and starting over once the garage is above 60 degrees. Just something to keep in mind for next time.
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paigewood6mo ago
Casey Campbell's point about the chemistry is dead on. I've seen guys try to shortcut it with a torch or space heater, but that's a bandaid fix. The bond just won't cure right underneath if the whole slab is cold, even if the surface feels warm. You end up with a strong skin on top and gummy glue underneath, which is exactly what causes those waves later. Pulling it up and doing it right when it's above 60 is the only way to avoid a call back in six months. Good advice @casey_campbell.
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joseph_lewis926mo ago
Wait people actually try torching the slab to warm it up? That's insane @paigewood. The skin on top gummy underneath thing makes total sense now though.
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