How to Renew a Cork Bulletin Board
- 1). Pull out all old staples. Clean the entire surface of the bulletin board and frame, removing anything that may inhibit adherence of paint or glue, and sand with fine grit sandpaper to remove any bumps from the existing cork. Remove existing hardware if in need of replacement.
- 2). Sand the frame using fine grit sandpaper, leaving a smooth surface for painting. Paint the frame of the board, applying primer as a first coat if necessary to insure full coverage. Add any details to the painted frame like stripes or polka dots and let dry completely.
- 3). Cut replacement cork to size from a roll or sheet. Covering cork with fabric adds a nice finish but the overall size of cork will need to be shaved down approximately 1/16 inch on all four sides to accommodate the extra thickness in the frame.
Iron the fabric flat. Cut fabric 2 inches larger on each side than the cork. Apply spray adhesive onto the old cork and, starting in the center, adhere the fabric, right side out, to the old bulletin board. If the cork has a self-stick back, carefully peel the liner away just past the fabric overlapping the back, and mitering corners, adhere fabric to the cork back. If there is not a self-stick backing, glue the fabric in place with the hot glue gun. Use hot glue to close miters completely to lay flat. - 4). Remove the liner from the self-stick cork sheet a small amount at a time and carefully adhere it from one short side to the other over the old cork on the board. Glue the cork replacement sheet over the existing cork board if it is not self-stick, using water-based contact cement or carpenter's wood glue. Spread the glue, using an old credit card , in an even, thin layer. Glue the fabric-bound outer edge if you added fabric as a design element.
- 5). Hot glue embellishments of choice onto the surface where they will not interfere with use. Seashells and starfish are good elements for a beach decor, buttons or measuring tapes for a sewing room, or wine corks, game pieces and dice make fun embellishments for a game room. Add new hanging hardware for a totally renewed cork bulletin board.