Surface covering system and method and apparatus for covering a surface

A method of covering a surface, the method comprising:

• a) providing a plurality of panels, each of the panels comprising a rear surface;
• b) coupling at least one strip of a panel-side adhesive component to the rear surface of each of the plurality of panels, the at least one strip of the panel-side adhesive component being elongated in a first direction;
• c) coupling a plurality of strips of a substrate-side adhesive component to a substrate;
• and
• d) coupling the panels to the substrate with the panel-side and substrate-side adhesive components such that the strips of the substrate-side adhesive component are elongated in a second direction that is non-parallel to the first direction, the panels being placed in a side-by-side arrangement to cover the substrate;
• wherein prior to coupling the panels to the substrate, a release component is coupled to an outer surface of the substrate-side adhesive component or the panel-side adhesive component;
• wherein subsequent to coupling the panels to the substrate, the release component is located between the panel-side and substrate-side adhesive components;
• and
• wherein at least one of the panel-side adhesive component or the substrate-side adhesive component is configured to extend from a first edge of the rear surface of the panels to a second edge of the rear surface of the panels that is opposite the first edge.

A method of covering a surface, the method comprising:

• a) providing a panel apparatus comprising:
• a panel having a rear surface;
• and
• an adhesive tape located on the rear surface of the panel, the adhesive tape comprising a panel-side adhesive component that is coupled to the rear surface of the panel, a substrate-side adhesive component, a release liner covering the substrate-side adhesive component, and a release component located between the panel-side adhesive component and the substrate-side adhesive component;
• b) removing the release liner from the substrate-side adhesive component;
• and
• c) moving the panel apparatus towards a substrate with the rear surface of the panel facing the substrate until the substrate-side adhesive component contacts and adheres to the substrate, thereby mounting the panel apparatus to the substrate;
• and
• wherein at least one of the panel-side adhesive component or the substrate-side adhesive component is a multi-layer component, all of the multiple layers of the multi-layer component being co-extensive along a length dimension of the multi-layer component and being co-extensive along a width dimension of the multi-layer component.