Con-Tact Brand makes its Creative Covering liner for shelves, drawers, cabinets and DIY projects. Its FAQ says the liner may not stick to fabric, rough or pebbly surfaces, or surfaces under 55°F, and that porous surfaces need sealing first. We’d call heat its weak spot: lukewarm or very low heat only.
What it sticks to
| Product | Uses the maker names | Won’t stick, or keep it away from |
|---|---|---|
| Con-Tact Brand Creative Covering | Shelves, drawers, cabinets, DIY projects | Fabric, rough or pebbly surfaces, below 55°F, unsealed porous surfaces |
| Con-Tact Brand Clear Cover | Books, photographs and documents; guarding cabinets and doors | The FAQ limits above |
| Con-Tact Brand Metal FX | Shelves, drawers, cabinets, DIY projects | The FAQ limits above |
| Brewster adhesive film | Drawers, countertops, furniture, picture frames, mirrors, glass, shelves | Not stated |
From each product’s page and Con-Tact Brand’s FAQ. Con-Tact says its Creative Covering is PVC vinyl with a water-based adhesive, and waterproof.
How Con-Tact says to apply it
- Wash the surface with soap and water, rinse, and dry it well.
- Seal porous surfaces such as raw wood with enamel, shellac, urethane or similar.
- Measure and cut, leaving 3/8 inch extra on every edge for shrinkage. The grid on the backing is marked in 1/2 inch steps.
- Peel the backing evenly, a small section at a time on big areas.
- Stick it down at the center and press out to the edges with a squeegee, straight edge or cloth.
Countertops, desks and food
The Con-Tact product pages we read don’t name countertops or desks. Brewster names countertops for its adhesive film, and Tempaper names desks for its dry erase peel and stick wallpaper. Con-Tact says not to put food straight on its liners: cover the food with something food-grade and use the liner as decoration.
Heat
Con-Tact says its adhesive liners are PVC vinyl that can stand only lukewarm or very low heat and no open flames, and it doesn’t recommend them as a backsplash near an open heat source. We’d keep it anywhere a hot pan or appliance won’t touch it. For tile sold for a backsplash, see peel-and-stick backsplash tile.
Taking it off
Con-Tact says its self-adhesive liner is removable and repositionable and won’t leave a sticky residue. It still suggests lifting liners now and then when you clean, since long-term pressure can cause problems. It also doesn’t recommend cutting its self-adhesive liners with a laser cutter.
Covering cabinets with wallpaper instead?
Peel-and-stick on cabinets and furniture