LIQUID NAILS Construction Adhesives: Tips & Tricks

On Wooden Fences

Use LIQUID NAILS^® Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive at the joints in addition to standard fasteners to achieve:

• Increased Durability — Fasteners alone tend to loosen up over time and cause loose boards. A little LIQUID NAILS Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive can help keep the connection strong. Watch Fido try to push through that.
• Protection Against Corrosion — The LIQUID NAILS Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive can help keep water from seeping in at the fasteners and therefore help prevent unsightly and dangerous rust.

On Sheds

Improve the wind uplift resistance of the shed roof by running a bead of LIQUID NAILS Subfloor & Deck Construction (LN-602) or LIQUID NAILS Subfloor & Deck Construction for Extreme Temperatures (LN-902) along the junction of the sheathing and the rafters. Next time a bad storm comes, your customers might be the only ones around whose sheds still have roofs.

On Low Retaining Walls

Beautify your customers' landscapes and prevent erosion with a durable retaining wall up to three layers of substrate high.*

Use two beads of LIQUID NAILS Subfloor & Deck Construction for Extreme Temperatures (LN-902) between layers to achieve a long-lasting, impact-resistant structure. This product is well suited for retaining walls because it bridges gaps to create a flexible bond that will withstand seasonal movement and temperature extremes. It's also easy to work with, providing 10 minutes of open time to allow for position changes.

Once dry, the LIQUID NAILS Subfloor & Deck Construction for Extreme Temperatures (LN-902) will have locked the landscape materials into a single, unified wall that will add lasting appeal to the outdoor space to impress your customers and their guests long-term.

When you're building a deck with wood or composite lumber,* supplementing nails and screws with the right LIQUID NAILS^® construction adhesives is an easy solution that lets you:

• Achieve a sturdier, more durable finished deck.
• Use fewer and smaller nails and screws overall.
• Prevent and eliminate squeaking boards.
• Prevent ugly and dangerous nail pops by accommodating for the natural movement, contraction and expansion of the lumber.

Remember, the benefits of LIQUID NAILS construction adhesives apply to more than the floor of the deck. Here are three commonly overlooked deck components and how to make them better:

• Stairs
  Apply LIQUID NAILS Subfloor & Deck Construction (LN-602) or LIQUID NAILS Subfloor & Deck Construction for Extreme Temperatures (LN-902) to the framing/stringers of the steps before installing the steps with screws and nails.
• Composite Lumber Skirting/Fascia Boards
  Skirting naturally moves more than other parts of the deck and requires an especially strong, elastic bond. Secure each board with LIQUID NAILS Polyurethane Construction (LN-950) before using the nails and screws.
• Railing & Decorative Caps
  For railings, use LIQUID NAILS Subfloor & Deck Construction (LN-602) or LIQUID NAILS Subfloor & Deck Construction for Extreme Temperatures (LN-902) in addition to the normal number of nails and screws to provide better long-term durability. These LIQUID NAILS construction adhesives can also be used for decorative caps and other trim pieces to achieve a more professional finish without unsightly mechanical fasteners.

For construction adhesives and caulks, drying or curing time depends on a number of factors:

• Temperature (both of the air and of the bonding surfaces)
  Lower temperatures slow drying or curing of construction adhesives and caulks significantly. For example, it generally takes twice as long at 50°F (10°C) versus 70°F (21°C).
• Porosity (how well water or solvents get absorbed into the bonding surfaces)
  Non-porous surfaces — like plastics, metals and painted surfaces — can slow drying or curing time of construction adhesives and caulks from 24 hours to several days, or even weeks! It's recommended that at least one of the bonding surfaces be porous whenever possible.
• Moisture (both of the air and of the bonding surfaces)
  Humidity and moist surfaces make drying take longer, especially with latex construction adhesives. To bond permanently wet or damp surfaces, rubber/solvent-based construction adhesives and caulks dry more quickly. For other products, like polyurethanes, silicones or hybrid polymer-based products, moisture actually promotes curing.
• Amount of adhesive or caulk used
  Large deposits of construction adhesives or caulks will dry or cure more slowly than small amounts. To make sure you use the right amount of LIQUID NAILS^® construction adhesives and caulks, follow the recommended guidelines on the packaging.

Here are some tips for working with construction adhesives when the temperature drops:

• Remove as much ice, snow and moisture from the bonding surfaces as possible. Water – frozen or otherwise – will prevent your construction adhesives from contacting the bonding surface, resulting in a poor bond.
• Keep your construction adhesives as warm as possible until the time that it is to be used. Keeping the construction adhesives warm will lower the viscosity and will allow them to better wet (or coat) the surfaces to be bonded.
• LIQUID NAILS Subfloor Adhesives are formulated to provide excellent bonding at low temperatures (down to 22°F for our latex adhesive).
• Apply consruction adhesives so that surfaces can be joined quickly. Nailing or screwing should also be done as quickly as possible after panel installation. These tips help ensure that the consruction adhesives will form a good bond.
• Choose consruction adhesives that meet either the American Plywood Association AFG-01 specification or the American Society for Testing and Materials D3498 specification. Ideally, choose a product that has been tested and certified by an independent third-party testing laboratory (LIQUID NAILS Subfloor Adhesives are certified by PFS Laboratories to meet these standards).

To get the best performance out of your construction adhesives, use these guidelines for storage:

• Keep your construction adhesives from freezing. The time it takes to thaw them out can be substantial.
• Cold construction adhesives will not flow and coat a surface as well as warmer ones, which can result in a less-than-optimal adhesive bond.
• Warmer construction adhesives are easier to apply, which helps with your worker efficiency.
• Do not expose your construction adhesives to heat. Most construction adhesives can be stored in temperatures up to 100°F and still maintain their shelf life. However, continued exposure to heat during storage will result in a gradual drying out of the adhesive in the cartridge.
• Do not expose your construction adhesives to rain or other liquids during storage. As many construction adhesives are packaged in cardboard fiber cartridges, exposure to water will cause walls to weaken, resulting in failure of the package and a real mess, not to mention wasted product and lost time.

How To Remove LIQUID NAILS Construction Adhesives From Skin

First, check to see if the adhesive is solvent or latex-based.

For Solvent-Based Construction Adhesives:

• Gently rub petroleum jelly, vegetable or mineral oil onto the skin. Repeat applications may be needed.
• Remove any contaminated clothing and be sure to wash before wearing again.

For Latex-Based Construction Adhesives:

• Wash thoroughly with soap and water.

How To Remove LIQUID NAILS Construction Adhesives From Building Materials

What you'll need:

• Windshield Cut-Out Wire (also called music wire), available at most automotive parts stores
• Safety gloves and/or handles for the wire to keep hands from being cut
• Safety goggles or a face shield
• Two screwdrivers to prop parts into an open position
• Wire cutters

What you'll do:

• Cut a length of wire about two or three feet longer than the width of the part to be removed.
• Starting at one corner, work the middle of the wire under the edge of the part. Connect the handles to the wire, if you are using handles. If not, be sure to wear heavy safety gloves to protect your hands.
• Saw back and forth with the wire, using moderate pressure. This should start cutting the adhesive. After a few inches have been cut, use the screwdrivers to prop open the gap. This is done to prevent thermoplastic construction adhesives from re-adhering, which can happen as friction causes significant warming.
• Continue sawing, moving the screwdrivers as you go. Continue until the part is loose and can be removed.
• Scrape away residual adhesive. If the adhesive is too hard to scrape, apply a light layer of baby oil to the adhesive, wait an hour, then scrape. Repeat if necessary. NOTE: Do not use baby oil or any other softening material if painting of the surface is planned, as it will stain.

For New Construction:

1. Before installing drywall, add a 1/4" (6mm) bead of LIQUID NAILS Acoustical Sound Sealant (AS-825) along both the sill plate and the top plate.
2. Install the drywall, supplementing screws with LIQUID NAILS Drywall Adhesive. (This specialized wall adhesive helps prevent screw pops and provide additional sound dampening.)
3. Use LIQUID NAILS Acoustical Sound Sealant to seal around all seams and openings, including cutouts, electrical boxes, perimeter joints, windows and any other areas where air (and therefore sound) may pass through.
4. Apply a second 1/4" (6mm) bead of LIQUID NAILS Acoustical Sound Sealant (AS-825) where the drywall meets the floor and ceiling.

For Retrofitting:

1. Apply a 1/4" (6mm) bead of LIQUID NAILS Acoustical Sound Sealant (AS-825) where the existing drywall meets both the floor and the ceiling.
2. Seal around all seams and openings, including electrical outlets, perimeter joints, windows and any other areas where air (and therefore sound) may pass through.
3. Install a second layer of 1/4" drywall, supplementing screws with LIQUID NAILS Drywall Adhesive. (This specialized wall adhesive helps prevent screw pops and provide additional sound dampening.)
4. Apply a second 1/4" (6mm) bead of LIQUID NAILS Acoustical Sound Sealant (AS-825) where the top layer of drywall meets the floor and ceiling.