When paper-backed flexible wood veneer was first introduced, most installers treated it like a plastic laminate and applied it to the substrate or surface with contact cement. That was the tried and true method, so that’s what they did. Unfortunately, when treated like a plastic laminate, paper-backed wood often bubbles or cracks. It is not a desirable result.
For years, experts tried to explain the problem. One theory was that the stain interacted with the glue or adhesive. That made sense. Another theory was that the wood veneer laminate had not acclimated to the installation environment, meaning it was too cold, too dry, or possibly too wet, causing the problem.
Over time, new flexible sheet siding, wood-on-wood backing, two- and three-ply backing, laminate backing, and the unique “bubble-free” backing, appeared on the market. While most flexible veneers at the time were either 5 mil or 10 mil thick, newer veneers were up to 22 mil thick. The backings of these flexible wood veneer sheets act as a moisture barrier, preventing stain from reacting with the adhesive. The bubbles and cracks? Missing.
If using 5 mil or 10 mil paper-backed veneer is your only option, use hard glue instead of contact cement. “Hard glues” include urea formaldehyde, white or yellow PVA (wood glue), or epoxy. Hard glues work best with a vacuum press or a hot or cold press. There is no chance of bubbles or cracks when applying flexible veneer using these methods. The vacuum press is best for uneven surfaces. Hot and cold presses are best with flat surface adhesions. If you must use contact cement instead of hard glue, then opt for bubble-free veneer or another flexible two-ply or laminated wood veneer for best results.
If you are concerned about bubbles or cracks when installing flexible wood veneer, stop treating wood veneer like plastic laminate. Wood and plastic are very different materials. For a flat surface, use a hot or cold press. For irregular surfaces, use a vacuum press. Always use a “hard glue” when applying wood veneer with a press of any kind. If a press is not an option, use a contact cement for an instant bond with flexible yet stable 22 mil bubble-free veneer or other varieties of two- or three-ply, laminate-backed flexible veneer. Bubbles and cracks will be a thing of the past.