Installation Suggestions

Forbo Bulletin Board Tackable Cork Pinboard Linoleum & Desktop Linoleum

You can also reference the Forbo Installation Video or their Installation Document

Preparation

Preparation is key for a perfect bulletin board or desktop installation. Use Forbo’s high quality adhesives and professional quality tools while paying close attention to the details makes all the difference. If you have questions about ordering, installation, lead times, quantity estimating or pricing, please call us at 844-356-6784.

Jobsite Conditions

First, the area being prepared for lamination should be stable material. Drywall or composite substrates are ideal. Surfaces should be clean and not disrupted by dirt, oily patches, moisture or other factors that may disturb a goog bond for the product. A room temp of 68º F (20º C) should also be observed for at least 1 week before, during and after the install to allow adhesives to cure. Plenty of light is also necessary to inspect the substrate as well as aid in installation, seaming and inspection. Shops establish their own climates and typically have their own tested methods for pressing or lamination and are always advised to test for best results. Balancing of laminations is dependent on final job specifications.

Material Storage & Handling

Forbo materials have natural fiber components and should be stored in stable, conditioned environments as described in the above Jobsite Conditions paragraph. Adhesives as well as all other materials being used should acclimate to these conditions for 48 hours or more before installation begins. Be sure that material is delivered in unopened packaging with all labels intact. Store rolls standing upright with labels up to ensure roll, color and batch numbers can be read easily.

Adhesive Application for a secure bond require suitable choice of methods, materials and adhesive.

1. When using Forbo L910W Wall and Surface Adhesive roll or trowel on the adhesive to the backing while still wet enough to achieve 90%-100% wet transfer to the cork or linoleum backing. Do not allow the adhesive to dry preventing wet transfer. It bears repeating to always install the product, whether it is bulletin board or desktop linoleum into tacky wet adhesive, breaking the end curl and rolling to eliminate gapping up or bubbles.
2. Shops may also have good results that they confirm with their own testing by using double coated PVA or contact cement and may choose to press with vacuum bag, caul or hydraulic press.
3. Always conduct a bond test before every installation. This will provide insight into open and working time for varying site conditions; as well as any bonding issues from choice of adhesive or methods. Vertical applications may require multiple pairs of hands to place material carefully.

Cutting Forbo Tackable Cork and Desktop Linoleum to Size.

Pieces can be cut to size using any high quality carbide saw or router bit not unlike many low pressure laminates. Pieces can also be rough cut with a razor knife, effectively being scored and snapped like drywall. Additionally, in the case of Bulletin Board, pieces can be carefully cut exactly to size with a straight edge and knife and the edges can be buffed carefully with a sanding block leaving an edge that may be acceptable. The edges of bulletin board will also hold a profiled router edge if done carefully and professionally. Mock samples are always recommended.

Seaming Forbo Colorful Cork and Desktop Linoleum:

Seams are accomplished two ways. The first, but not the best method is to mirror cut the products like any laminate or solid surface. This method may leave minor gapping depending on skill, job conditions and allowances.

The second is to use a manual underscribe cutter for bulletin board or a router style underscribe cutter for desktop linoleum. Typically the first piece is given a true edge and then glued in place and overlapped by the second, to be cut with a properly adjusted underscribe setting.

Adhering the Tackable Wall Surface to a Substrate:

There are two excellent methods to adhere the product. The first being a cold press application with a PVA adhesive, double coated and bagged, pressed or cauled like most any other shop laminating method. The second method which is also used exclusively for vertical applications is to apply Forbo L910W wall adhesive at 1/16″ x 1/16″ square trowel notch, to leave a very short tack period and to bed the material into that wet setting bed, crushing fully all furrows of adhesive and verifying full coverage. Larger projects find that the wet adhesive trowel will not become gummy if placed in a shallow pan of water.

Handling the Cork Bulletin Board Material:

Both materials must be carefully handled by two people if necessary as they are extremely flexible and failing to keep the material in a tube shape and allowing it to flop into a parabolic shape may crack the material. Once handled a few times, an experienced person who understands the way it curls and flops can manage about 25 or 30 square foot pieces alone with horizontal applications being far easier than vertical direct wet-set applications which can often use a second or third pair of hands for a few minutes. Vertical applications of bulletin board may choose to set a few brads or use a ledger strip to support the pieces in place while adhesives dry. Once dry, the adhesives are permanent.

Unloading and Moving Full Cork Rolls:

Full rolls typically arrive strapped to a pallet laying flat. Often times a 3, 4 or 5 foot piece of iron pipe can make the job of lifting or tipping the product manageable by one person. The rolls of desktop linoleum are about 125 lbs but the bulletin board products are very heavy weighing between 300 and 450 pounds and standard safety practices need to be used. Because the rolls are packed finish side out with a thick paper wrapper, rolling the rolls on anything but the cleanest floor may result in damage to the outside layer.

Maintenance Cleaning of Forbo Bulletin Board and Desktop Linoleum:

Though seldom if ever required, maintenance cleaning is generally acomplished with neutral ph cleaner and a gentle broad pressure scrubbing with a smooth grout sponge, with appropriate rinsing and drying.

Construction Cleanup with Solvents:

Although not recommended, orange solvents may be used if a satisfactory cleaning method is tried and found to be successful. Degreasers will soften the materials.

Repairing Gouges:

To repair Bulletin board requires some skill and artisans have used different methods. In our experience it may be accomplished by scraping the colored surface from some scrap material and making a paste with some clear elastomeric caulking or wood glue. Masking off the repair area may be helpful. After placing the material, placing no more than necessary and being allowed to dry, then using a very smooth sponge sanding pad or some micron sandpaper in a very gentle manner should level the repair and it should be relatively inconspicuous. Sometimes using touch up paints or thinning down that same repair material and blotting around the damage with a sea sponge and creating a gradient, or effectively feathering out the slight mismatched color around the damage and should effectively repair the problem, however this is an expert level repair.

Repairing Mars & Scratches:

Using a mild solvent (to be determined) and a micron pad (grit to be determined) in a circular motion may disguise or feather out mars and scratches but often filling and / or using a thinned touch up paint with a blotted application may be necessary. This is also an expert level repair.

Durable & Natural

Not only is Bulletin Board and Desktop Linoleum natural materials, they are renewable as well. Rosin, finely ground cork and oxidized linseed oil are the combination of materials that make them lexible, durable, resilient and sustainable. Quite the super hero of green building and design products!

Self Healing Properties for Bulletin Board

Because it is strong and resilient, Bulletin Board is ideal for pinning or tacking notices, ideas, pictures etc to. Any where ideas are exchanged, inspiration is desired or information is necessary, Bulletin Board is a great choice. The pinholes close after pins are removed; so it retains it’s grip and won’t crumble like some traditional soft boards.

Practical & Hygienic

Facilities such as schools and hospitals enjoy Bulletin Board too for it’s low maintenance since it does not attract dust and has bacteriostatic properties — adding hygienic and practical to it’s list of great qualities.

For a more comprehensive guide to installation, click here for “Installing Bulletin Board” by Forbo.