Method for refinishing building panels

Claim 1

A method of refinishing a building panel, such as a ceiling panel or tile and the like, having a worn or discolored decorative front surface, a back surface and side edges forming a periphery, said method comprising the steps of: placing the building panel on a vacuum support surface having a plurality of perforations through which air can be drawn to form a partial vacuum, said building panel being placed so that its back surface is in contact with the perforated support surface and its decorative surface is exposed, said building panel being positioned on the perforated support surface so that its periphery is surrounded by exposed uncovered perforations; applying adhesive to one of the decorative surfaces of the building panel and a side of an air impervious sheet; placing the sheet over the decorative surface of the building panel with the adhesive therebetween, which sheet has a peripheral edge extending over the exposed perforations in the vacuum support surface around the periphery of the panel to form a vacuum chamber; leaving the peripheral edge of the sheet completely unrestrained; and drawing a partial vacuum via the perforations in the vacuum chamber formed between the sheet and the perforated support surface ;sufficient to hold the unrestrained peripheral edge of the sheet in sealing engagement with the support surface to create a partial vacuum across the entire decorative surface of the building panel which enables ambient air pressure to force or collapse the sheet tightly against the decorative surface and allows the unrestrained peripheral edge to be drawn up so that the sheet substantially assumes the contour or texture of the decorative surface and is adhered thereto by the adhesive.

Claim 2

A method of refinishing a building panel, such as a ceiling panel or tile and the like, having a worn or discolored decorative front surface, a back surface and side edges forming a periphery, said method comprising the steps of: placing the building panel on a vacuum support surface having a plurality of perforations through which air can be drawn to form a partial vacuum, said building panel being placed so that its back surface is in contact with the perforated support surface and its decorative surface is exposed, said building panel being positioned on the perforated support surface so that its periphery is surrounded by exposed uncovered perforations; applying adhesive to one of the decorative surfaces of the building panel and a side of an air impervious sheet; placing the sheet over the decorative surface of the building panel with the adhesive therebetween, which sheet has a peripheral edge extending over the exposed perforations in the vacuum support surface around the periphery of the panel to form a vacuum chamber; leaving the peripheral edge of the sheet completely unrestrained; and drawing a partial vacuum via the perforations in the vacuum chamber formed between the sheet and the perforated support surface ;sufficient to hold the unrestrained peripheral edge of the sheet in sealing engagement with the support surface to create a partial vacuum across the entire decorative surface of the building panel which enables ambient air pressure to force or collapse the sheet tightly against the decorative surface and allows the unrestrained peripheral edge to be drawn up so that the sheet substantially assumes the contour or texture of the decorative surface and is adhered thereto by the adhesive.