That job in Phoenix where the glue set up in 10 minutes flat

Had a 1200 square foot vinyl plank job last month where the adhesive started curing way faster than normal. The warehouse had no AC and it was 110 degrees outside, so the stuff was basically hardening as we spread it. We had to work in tiny 4x4 sections and still almost lost a few planks. Anyone else run into glue that just gives up in extreme heat?

3 comments

3 Comments

carter.reese16d ago

Yeah, that Phoenix heat will turn any adhesive into instant concrete. We had a roll of seam tape melt into a solid brick just sitting in the truck bed last July. At that point you're not installing flooring, you're in a race against a chemical timer.

marywells10d ago

Forget the cooler, what do you actually do when the stuff starts setting up too fast on the floor itself? @carter.reese, you must have some last-ditch move when you feel that chemical timer ticking down in the middle of a seam. I've tried thinning it out a little but that can get messy. There has to be a better trick than just working faster until your arms fall off.

jessesingh16d ago

That "race against a chemical timer" is too real. I started keeping all the adhesive and tape in a cooler with some ice packs during the summer months. It buys you just enough extra time to not panic.