Trespa TopLab Plus® Installation Guidelines
Handling: When removing Trespa TopLab Plus from the pallet or crate, lift & carry. Do not slide or drag an edge along the textured surface. Keep large panels from flexing by carrying them vertically. Save packing material, e.g., foam or paper, for restacking unloaded panels. If freight damage is noticed or suspected , do not refuse the shipment. Note the damage on the bill of lading and ask the driver to sign the bill to acknowledge your notations. Contact the freight company and determine if they want to inspect the shipment. If so, they may want you to leave all of the packing intact for their inspector to review and potentially authorize a claim settlement.
Storage: Trespa should be stored inside in a dry, well ventilated area. When stacking panels horizontally, use styrofoam spacers to allow air to circulate. Toplab panels come with a protective film on the top (Peel Coat); leave the film in place until the installation is complete to help protect the surface from incidental damage by other trades. Remove the film prior to client use.
Fixing: The most secure method of attaching Trespa panels is with blind fastening into the back or underside of the panel. Use #10, type A, sheet metal screws, sized to stop at least 1/8" (3mm) short of the finished face. Pre-drill the Trespa with an 11/64" (4.36 mm) diameter high speed drill bit. Use a spacer block to ensure that the drill does not penetrate the finished surface. To prevent screws from binding, drill a 7/32" (5.56 mm) clearance hole in the cabinet, rail, cleat, etc. You should be able to drive the screws with a hand screwdriver. If not, enlarge the 11/64" (4.36 MM) pilot hole.
A subsurface or sub-top is not required when utilizing 3/4" (20mm) or 1" (25mm) thickness of countertop material (e.g., plywood or particle board). Edge banding is not required nor are Apron panels that normally would be used with Solid Surface matertials or post form laminates.
Seams: Where minimal or almost no seam is desired, the installer / fabricator can prepare the mating sections for Tight-Joint Fasteners and bisquits or splines; be sure to determine if high humidity will be encountered as thin boards have a capacity to warp under certain conditions. Bisquits or splines help provide a level surface. Bisquits and splines not provided with sheet materials.
Trespa panels can also be seamed using a two-part epoxy or polyurethane adhesive (e.g., Smooth-on® epoxy adhesive). When using Smooth-on®, mix equal parts of A and B, (1 to 1 ratio). Once mixed, the adhesive has a working time of about one hour; do not mix more than can be used at any one time. Smooth-on is also water soluble while wet. During this working time, excess adhesive can be easily removed with a putty knife and the area cleaned with a damp cloth dipped in acetone, lacquer thinner, mineral spirits or denatured alcohol. After one hour the epoxy sets up hard and cannot be readily removed, so clean each seam immediately! If you desire a more removable seam material, use a colored silicone adhesive sealant ( e.g., G. E. "Silpruf" or Dow 786). The least expensive seam is a simple butt joint with sealant or adhesive filling a nominal gap of 1/8" (3 mm); this can be readily done with black or colored surfaces surfaces.
Sinks: Either Epoxy resin, Polyethylene / Polypropylene or Stainless Steel undermount or drop-in sinks can be used with Trespa countertop materials. Brackets should be fastened into predrilled pilot holes. For undermount or flush drop-in sinks, the cutouts should be prepared at the fabrication facility with finished edges where required. If the sink hole cutout must be made in the field or job site, see "Field Modification" below.
Splashes: Apply two part Epoxy adhesive or silicone to the underside of the back and side splashes and along seam lines, where required. Use the foam padding, paper or cardboard protection on the countertop surface to avoid adhesive spilling onto the countertop surfacing material. Apply a small amount of Silicone to the back side of the splash prior to installation so the splash remains in a 90 degree position while the adhesive or silicone sets in place.
Field Modification:
Sawing: For straight cuts use a 7-1/4" (184 mm) diameter 40 tooth, carbide, "triple chip grind" saw blade in a typical hand-held power saw. The teeth should plunge into the good surface.
Routing: Irregular cuts should be routed, not jig-sawed! Use a 3/8" (9.5 mm) electric router with 3HP minimum. Router bits should be double straight fluted carbide or carbide insert. To prevent the router base from scratching the Trespa surface, pre-apply a 4" (100 mm) wide acrylic packaging tape. Remove the tape immediately after routing. Remove any tape residue with lacquer thinner or acetone, etc which will not damage the Trespa panel.
Drilling: Small diameter holes can be drilled with an ordinary high-speed twist drill or diamond core bit. For larger holes, a carbider hole saw is recommended. Drill into the good face and use a wood board below the hole being drilled to avoid "blow-out" on the back side.
Edge Finishing: Trespa countertop edges can be easily sanded to produce a smooth finished appearance. Begin with a 60-80 grit paper or equivalent diamond pad, to remove saw/router marks. Follow that with a 120 grit sand paper finish over the edge. If a smoother finish is required, consider 220 grit up to 440 grit paper or diamond sanding pads, wet applied. The 60 and 120 grit applications may be made with an orbital power sander, belt sanders are not recommended. Next use 220 to 440 grit and hand sand parallel with the edge to remove 60 & 120 grit sanding swirls.
Finally, a small amount of light gauge oil may be rubbed on the edge with a clean cloth and immediately wiped off to increase the sheen. WD-40 can also be used to darken the Black edge only.
The top leading edge of the exposed countertop material should be finished with a 1/8" (3.17 mm) bevel or 3/16" (4.76 mm) radius finished edge and eased corners or radiused if desired, and when exposed on an end. The Bottom exposed edge of the counter should be finished with a 45 degree chamfer to eliminate any sharp exposed edges.
Top Finishing: Trespa top surfaces have special factory finishes; do not dress, oil, wax or finish in any way. Trespa may be cleaned with non-abrasive liquid cleaners or disinfectants. Care and maintenance should be performed after spills of chemicals, hard water, etc.
CAUTION: DO NOT BUFF, SAND OR POLISH THE CRYSTAL SMOOTH TEXTURED FINISH.
Scratch Repair: Edge scratches may be repaired as in "Edge Finishing."
Surface scratch repairs depend on severity. A small amount of epoxy adhesive may be mixed and diluted to apply to the taped off area of repair if the scratch and abrasion is deep and unsightly. Light scratches may be dressed with a light coating of a mineral oil or WD-40. The integrity of the working surface is not impaired or compromised with surface scratches.