Laminate peeling off Spacemaker fitted furniture

itm2

I had some study furniture fitted by Spacemaker (an Essex-based supplier) about a year ago. The laminate has already started separating from the front edge of the desk (see attached photo). I've emailed Spacemaker 3 times to ask for advice on how best to repair it, but I haven't had so much as an acknowledgement of any of my emails.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for repairing this - e.g. the best adhesive to use, and how to actually hold the laminate in place while the adhesive is doing its thing?

davemorton

Have you tried ironing it with a towel between the iron and the laminate? 

itm2

davemorton said:

Have you tried ironing it with a towel between the iron and the laminate? 

Interesting idea - no I haven't. Presumably I would still need to find a way of pressing the laminate to the edge of the desk while the adhesive takes effect? (assuming it would require more than a minute or two to set)

FreeBear

For clamping, a strip of wood either side of the desk, and a couple of sash cramps would be best - The wood will protect the vinyl from damage and spreed the clamping force over a greater area.

If you don't have sash cramps, a tourniquet would do the job..

These vinyl laminates are usually fixed at the factory using a hot press and a thin coating of heat activated adhesive. If the iron suggestion doesn't work, then a thin smear of a contact adhesive plus clamping should work.

shiraz99

itm2 said:

I had some study furniture fitted by Spacemaker (an Essex-based supplier) about a year ago. The laminate has already started separating from the front edge of the desk (see attached photo). I've emailed Spacemaker 3 times to ask for advice on how best to repair it, but I haven't had so much as an acknowledgement of any of my emails.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for repairing this - e.g. the best adhesive to use, and how to actually hold the laminate in place while the adhesive is doing its thing?

Exactly how long ago? If it's that new I would be getting the seller to fix the issue, whether under any guarantee they supply or by using your consumer rights, but you will have to prove the fault is one one of manufacture rather than something you've done, ie, misuse, accidental damage etc. with the latter. Under normal circumstances this should not be happening.

As far as adhesive is concerned, you'd want some sort of instant contact adhesive which wont need anything to hold the laminate in place but you could always use some adhesive/masking tape to hold it down in place. I have an office desk suite where the oak laminate started coming away from the edge, I used Evo-Stik Impact contact adhesive to stick it back in place. I didn't need to use anything to hold it in place.

itm2

shiraz99 said:

itm2 said:

I had some study furniture fitted by Spacemaker (an Essex-based supplier) about a year ago. The laminate has already started separating from the front edge of the desk (see attached photo). I've emailed Spacemaker 3 times to ask for advice on how best to repair it, but I haven't had so much as an acknowledgement of any of my emails.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for repairing this - e.g. the best adhesive to use, and how to actually hold the laminate in place while the adhesive is doing its thing?

Exactly how long ago? If it's that new I would be getting the seller to fix the issue, whether under any guarantee they supply or by using your consumer rights, but you will have to prove the fault is one one of manufacture rather than something you've done, ie, misuse, accidental damage etc. with the latter. Under normal circumstances this should not be happening.

It was fitted on August 24th 2021, so about 14 months ago. I had a look at the Spacemaker website (spacemakerfurniture.co.uk) and unfortunately it doesn't mention any kind of warranty. As they're not responding to my emails it looks like getting them to resolve this is clearly not going to be easy. I have emailed three separate addresses - sales, installations and the individual who did the design for me, and I haven't had so much as an acknowledgement of receipt from any of them. Thanks for the tip re. ironing, clamping and adhesives. I'm pretty hopeless at DIY in general, and don't have a sash clamp, but I can hopefully rig something up with some wood and some form of tourniquet.

shiraz99

itm2 said:

shiraz99 said:

itm2 said:

I had some study furniture fitted by Spacemaker (an Essex-based supplier) about a year ago. The laminate has already started separating from the front edge of the desk (see attached photo). I've emailed Spacemaker 3 times to ask for advice on how best to repair it, but I haven't had so much as an acknowledgement of any of my emails.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for repairing this - e.g. the best adhesive to use, and how to actually hold the laminate in place while the adhesive is doing its thing?

Exactly how long ago? If it's that new I would be getting the seller to fix the issue, whether under any guarantee they supply or by using your consumer rights, but you will have to prove the fault is one one of manufacture rather than something you've done, ie, misuse, accidental damage etc. with the latter. Under normal circumstances this should not be happening.

It was fitted on August 24th 2021, so about 14 months ago. I had a look at the Spacemaker website (spacemakerfurniture.co.uk) and unfortunately it doesn't mention any kind of warranty. As they're not responding to my emails it looks like getting them to resolve this is clearly not going to be easy. I have emailed three separate addresses - sales, installations and the individual who did the design for me, and I haven't had so much as an acknowledgement of receipt from any of them. Thanks for the tip re. ironing, clamping and adhesives. I'm pretty hopeless at DIY in general, and don't have a sash clamp, but I can hopefully rig something up with some wood and some form of tourniquet.

Have you tried phoning them?

grumbler

itm2 said:

shiraz99 said:

itm2 said:

I had some study furniture fitted by Spacemaker (an Essex-based supplier) about a year ago. The laminate has already started separating from the front edge of the desk (see attached photo). I've emailed Spacemaker 3 times to ask for advice on how best to repair it, but I haven't had so much as an acknowledgement of any of my emails.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for repairing this - e.g. the best adhesive to use, and how to actually hold the laminate in place while the adhesive is doing its thing?

Exactly how long ago? If it's that new I would be getting the seller to fix the issue, whether under any guarantee they supply or by using your consumer rights, but you will have to prove the fault is one one of manufacture rather than something you've done, ie, misuse, accidental damage etc. with the latter. Under normal circumstances this should not be happening.

It was fitted on August 24th 2021, so about 14 months ago. I had a look at the Spacemaker website (spacemakerfurniture.co.uk) and unfortunately it doesn't mention any kind of warranty. As they're not responding to my emails it looks like getting them to resolve this is clearly not going to be easy. I have emailed three separate addresses - sales, installations and the individual who did the design for me, and I haven't had so much as an acknowledgement of receipt from any of them. Thanks for the tip re. ironing, clamping and adhesives. I'm pretty hopeless at DIY in general, and don't have a sash clamp, but I can hopefully rig something up with some wood and some form of tourniquet.

Regardless of any warranty you have rights as a consumer and, obviously, 15 months isn't a reasonable time for furniture to last.

Consumer rights

Small claims court

Bendy_House

Pursue them using the CRA first. Do you have Legal Protection on your house insurance? If so, this sounds straight-forward. Have you kept a note of every bit of correspondence you've had?

ONLY when you've exhausted this avenue should you consider a DIY repair.

Also perhaps worth a call to Trading Standards in the LA that covers that business. 

DanDare999

Bendy_House said:

Pursue them using the CRA first. Do you have Legal Protection on your house insurance? If so, this sounds straight-forward. Have you kept a note of every bit of correspondence you've had?

ONLY when you've exhausted this avenue should you consider a DIY repair.

Also perhaps worth a call to Trading Standards in the LA that covers that business. 

The OP won't be able to do that. They'll need to go via citizens advice.

itm2

Good advice re. using CRA before attempting my own repair, although the lack of response from them isn't helping. I don't think I selected the Legal Cover option when I took out home insurance (and I'm still not clear what real benefit it offers).

I haven't tried phoning them yet, partly because it's less convenient but mainly because I prefer to have a written record of communications. I may try giving them a call next week, and raising the CRA. I'm not sure exactly what rights I have with fitted furniture, though.