Choosing the Right Adhesives for Kitchen & Bathroom Installations By Louise Scott, Integra Adhesives
Adhesive being applied to steel undermount support brackets.
When it comes to countertops, selecting the right adhesive
quartz or natural stone, for example) and wood (plywood or
and sealant for each application is crucial to ensuring a durable,
MDF). The differences in materials bear consideration due to
long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing finish. Adhesives play a
different expansion and contraction rates, moisture absorption,
vital role in bonding materials where mechanical fasteners fall
flexion and impact resistance. In these situations, it is best
short. Each countertop application and substrate have unique
to choose an adhesive with high elongation for flexibility.
properties, necessitating a range of adhesives to achieve the best
Fabricators typically consider three options:
results. By understanding the different adhesives and sealants available, fabricators and installers can make informed choices on which products to use and when. Undermount Sink Installations For undermount sink installations, there are two primary options: a purely mechanical fastening system or a combined mechanical/adhesive fastening system. Mechanical fasteners use a physical attachment to hold the sink in place. Examples of this type of attachment method include drilling into the underside of the countertop to insert bolts/clips or attaching clips and straps to the wooden cabinetry. Using this method increases installation time and includes the risk of damage to the countertop. Alternatively, using an adhesive like Component Bonder from Integra Adhesives allows undermount clips to be installed
• Hot melt glue: Hot melt is quick and easy to remove, making it ideal for templating, but it relies on a mechanical bond, which isn’t suitable for smooth surfaces. • Silicone: Silicone offers excellent properties for substrate mounting but is slow to cure, with a typical fixture time of 24 hours. • A specialized product: Substrate Bonder is a specialized product by Integra Adhesives that was developed specifically for this application. It cures in as little as 15 minutes, balances elongation, and has high lap shear strength and speed, making it ideal for this application. Backsplash Bonding & Sealing Traditionally, silicone is used for attaching and sealing a backsplash, but unfortunately, it is slow to cure and lacks quick
in advance so that onsite, the installer can fasten the clip bolts
grab. An MS Polymer is a better alternative, offering quick
and fix the sink in place in just a few minutes. The position of
grab and sealant properties in one. Available in a wide range of
the sink can then be easily adjusted, making it easy to apply
colors, MS Polymers provide a waterproof and color-matched
silicone or MS Polymer to create a watertight seal before
seal, curing hard for easy cleaning and paintability. These
tightening it into place. Look for an adhesive with high impact
durable products are also excellent for attaching shower panels
resistance, as sinks are subject to dynamic loads.
and creating watertight seals in bathrooms.
Substrate Mounting
Reinforced Rodding
Fixing the surface to the cabinet involves bonding two
Countertop rodding is a technique used to reinforce natural
dissimilar materials: the countertop material (solid surface,
stone. Rodding involves cutting a channel in the stone, inserting
34 • Vol. 17 / Issue 3 • International Surface Fabricators Association