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INSTALLATION
TIPS
NOTE: Visioneer® Countertops are considerably heavier than laminate countertops. Two people are required to move the countertops and to lift them onto the cabinets.
Visioneer® Solid Surface Countertops can be installed by contractors, carpenters, and even do-it-yourselfers because they are designed to be installed like a laminate countertop. However, there are a few points you need to be cautioned on before installation is started: transporting and storing the countertops.
Transporting: Storing: |
Never carry the tops flat. Tip them on edge before lifting, and always carry them on edge. The tops can sag in the center if they are carried flat. This can cause stress cracks (damage) to the surface. Damage is not covered under the Limited Warranty however, most the surface cracks are repairable at a modest cost. Unlike surface scratches which can be repaired by the homeowner, damaged or cracked tops must be returned to our manufacturing facility for the repair. Visioneer® countertops must be stored at room temperature for a minimum of 24 hours before installation is started. This allows the materials in the countertop to stabilize with temperature and humidity conditions in the home. If inside conditions vary greatly from the outside environment, your Visioneer® tops might cup or warp slightly when first introduced into the home. This is normal. Lay countertops flat during storage - not on edge. The tops will straighten out once they have been exposed to the conditions in the home. This "stabilizing period" can take up to 2 full days. Installation should be scheduled within three to five days of delivery to assure a good, tight fit on mitres and butt joints. Tops with mitres or butt joints should not be stored for long periods of time before installing. |
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GETTING
STARTED
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Clean off all countertops, carefully check for size, fit, cut out location, color match, and damage before starting installation. Do not install a countertop that will have to be sent back to the factory for repair or replacement. Labor costs are not covered under the warranty.
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ASSEMBLING
MITRES AND BUTT JOINTS
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Check fit of mitre or joint before starting. Clean the edges of the Visioneer® at the mitre or joint with a solvent such as lacquer thinner, acetone, or denatured alcohol, removing any grease or dirt that occurred through handling. Apply a liberal amount of PC7800 mitre glue (included in the optional installation kit), or a water resistant white glue liberally to both sides of the mitre or joint, covering both the particleboard and Visioneer® edges. Assemble as you would a laminate countertop using lug fasteners and spline, making sure surface is smooth and flat as you tighten. Wipe off excess glue with a damp cloth. Set aside to dry for the recommended amount of time as directed by the glue manufacturer. Do not use any type of caulk in the assembly of the joint.
NOTE: If for some reason the two sides of the joint are uneven after the glue has dried (i.e. the two joined pieces were bumped or moved during the drying process), the mistake can be easily corrected. Simply sand the joint smooth using 320 grit sand paper and a palm sander. Use a circular motion with the sander feathering out away from the joint. Finish up by repeating the process using a gray Scotch Brite® pad in place of the sand paper.
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SETTING
THE TOPS
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Position the countertops on the cabinets setting them tight against the back wall. Scribing (sanding the back of the countertop to fit an uneven wall) should not necessary because the backsplashes will cover up to a ˝" gap between the wall and back of the countertop. (If there are gaps greater than that, scribe the back of the top as you would a laminate top.) When satisfied with their position, fasten the countertops to the cabinets with wood screws going up through the cabinet corner braces into the bottom of the countertop (into the particle board). Caution: Double check the length of the wood screws making sure that they will not penetrate the surface of the countertop.
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ATTACHING
BACKSPLASHES
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Check the fit of the backsplashes. If necessary, splashes may be cut down with a fine tooth circular saw. At the rear of the countertop where the backsplash will set, apply a thick bead of color match caulk (included in the optional installation kit). The caulk should run the entire length of the backsplash.
Apply panel adhesive (included in the optional installation kit) to the back of the splashes in a zig-zag pattern going from top to bottom for the length of the splash. Apply half-dollar size "puddles" of hot-melt adhesive (included in the optional installation kit) every 18" or so to the back of the splash - between the lines of panel adhesive. Working quickly, push the splash down on the caulk bead and press to wall. Maintain pressure against the splash for approximately one minute giving the hot-melt glue enough time to set. The hot-melt will "tack" or hold the splash to the wall until the panel adhesive dries.
Following the instructions included with the Poly-Sil™ Tooling Kit, caulk the base of each splash where it meets the countertop deck with Poly-Sil™ Silicone Caulk. (Poly-Sil™ and the Poly-Sil™ Tooling Kit are included with your new Visioneer® Countertop.)
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FINISHING
UP
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Remove labels by soaking for a few minutes with solvent. Clean the countertops with soap and warm water. Stubborn stains or grease marks from shipping and handling during installation can easily be cleaned with an abrasive cleanser such as Comet® or Ajax®. Finish by wiping the tops down using a clean wet cloth, then dry completely with a soft cotton towel to prevent water spotting and streaking.
If a deeper, more luxurious shine is desired, Visioneer® can be treated with polishes such as Countertop Magic® or Lemon Lite (included in the optional installation kit). However, it should be noted that these polishes may build-up on the surface requiring stripping, which would cause more maintenance for the homeowner. Polished countertops will more readily show water spots, also causing more maintenance for the homeowner. (Click on "Care & Maintenance" for more in depth information regarding polishes.)