Avoiding Air Bubbles When Applying Self-Adhesive Cupboard Covering?

November 8, 2004 2:43 PM

How do you apply self-adhesive covering to cupboards without getting air bubbles? Using the squeegee method doesn't seem to work for me.
posted by degnarra to home & garden (6 comments total)

I've always just poked the bubbles with a straight pin and flattened 'em out. But sometimes that results in wrinkles, so your mileage may vary.
posted by spilon at 2:56 PM on November 8, 2004

Start in one corner and work outwards from there at an angle. If you get a bubble, peel back up to the bubble and lay it down again. You've got to make sure that the surface you're applying to is perfectly clean, because dust will cause bubbles.
posted by SpecialK at 2:56 PM on November 8, 2004

Applying Isopropyl Alcohol (70% USP) as a cleaner prep prior to installation helps.

Also, I might suggest you pick up one of those vinyl sign flattening tool thingies that you'll get at most any sign store. It'll help too.

Try to make your pin-pricks tiny... big holes look nasty! :-)
posted by shepd at 4:08 PM on November 8, 2004

Or a hand-held roller, pressing down firmly in all directions as you go.
posted by tracicle at 5:30 PM on November 8, 2004

I gave up on the sticky stuff a few years ago. I prefer a liner that is removable/washable, such as this
this, this, or this. or this.
Also, this stuff looks kind of neat.
Bonus: no air bubbles!
posted by sixdifferentways at 11:32 PM on November 8, 2004

I like using a rubber roller and starting from the centre roll out towards the edges.
posted by Mitheral at 11:20 AM on November 9, 2004