Depending on the damage, you can either fix the existing laminate or reface the door to fix the problem without installing entirely new units. As a general rule, if there are any cracks in the laminate, the entire piece needs to be replaced; however, if there's only peeling, you can reattach the laminate with adhesive.
Remove the item you used to separate the surfaces, and press the laminate onto the core. Put a piece of scrap wood over the glued area on the front side of the door and another on the back, and then clamp the two pieces of wood together with a C-clamp to apply more force and secure the glue bond.
Match the grain on the new veneer to the old before cutting the patch. If the new veneer is thinner than the old, glue down a piece of kraft paper to make the repair level. Apply a thin layer of wood glue to the substrate and a similar amount to the new veneer. Then press the patch into place.
Scrape old glue off the laminate and the core with a putty knife. Apply contact cement to the laminate and core, and allow it to dry to the touch — typically between 15 and 30 minutes. Carefully press the laminate back into place and use a mallet to randomly bump the laminate to bond it to the core.
Scrape off chunks of debris or dried lumps of glue from the end cap. If the countertop is newer, first try to iron the end cap back on with a medium-hot iron to reactivate the glue. However, in most cases the loose piece will need to be reattached with contact cement.
With laminate or wood veneers laid over the existing cabinet boxes, you can change the style, color, wood type—even the associated historical era.
Squirt a small amount of waterproof adhesive between the substrate and the laminate. Push the laminate into the glue, and apply a heavy-duty masking tape to the repair. Wrap this around the door to the opposite side and secure it in place.
In most cases, as long as the veneer layer is basically in good shape, the thinness that makes it damage-prone also makes it easy to repair. Undamaged veneer can be reglued; chips and bare spots can be filled with matching veneer. If you're careful to match the grain the repairs will hardly show.
Vinyl wrapped kitchen cabinets can't really be repaired. Once the vinyl starts to peel away, it can't be glued back onto the door. This is because of the way in which vinyl wrapped doors are manufactured, it's impossible to fix them.
Laminate costs an average of $91 per linear foot or $1,000 to $3,000 total. High-quality veneer costs an average of $193 per linear foot or $2,500 to $6,500 total. Real wood veneer costs an average of $454 per linear foot or $6,000 to $14,000 total.
The least expensive option is painting laminate cabinets. Laminate is not an ideal surface to paint, but it can be done.
Your kitchen cabinets might peel for many reasons, including water damage, a poor paint job or high humidity. Areas near the sink and above the stovetop are especially prone to peeling, and it's an eyesore that can drive you batty.
If the melamine coating has only come loose in a few areas, you can reattach it using an instant adhesive, such as Super Glue or Krazy Glue. You can use instant glue to reattach peeling melamine coating on a cabinet. However, if larger areas of the melamine cabinets are loose, you will need to paint the cabinets.
You can paint the cabinets with oil-based paints, acrylic paints, or melamine paints once they have been primed. Moisture-resistant materials in the paint make Melamine paints ideal for painting laminate surfaces, since they are just right for the moisture and steam that are so prevalent in kitchens.
DON'T PAINT OVER DAMAGED LAMINATE
If laminate is cracked, warped, or peeling, that damage can interfere with the bonding of paint to the cabinet. Ensure that the laminate is in good condition by repairing minor laminate damage or re-facing cabinets before applying paint.
A sure way to recognize wood laminate is when the grain does NOT follow through your piece. Wood Veneer is a sheet or thin layer of 'quality-natural-hardwood' that is adhered to a lesser quality wood surface. Wood Veneers give the impression of a more desired quality wood without being as costly.
After sanding the laminate with 120-grit sandpaper, roll or brush on the paint If you're having trouble choosing a paint color, keep it simple. White paint can help brighten your kitchen and give it a fresh look, while a sleek black or dark brown paint gives your laminate cabinets some modern flair.
Q: Can I install plastic laminate over a countertop that's already covered with existing laminate material? A: Yes, but the existing surface must be even and smooth. Repair any gouges or loose edges and make sure the existing laminate is glued firmly.
Minor Fixes
Small scratches, gouges and chips can be fixed with laminate repair paste or a color-matched repair pen, available at most hardware stores and home improvement centers. Choose the color that most closely matches your countertop color.
When looking to update or overhaul a countertop, use a resin, acrylic or polyurethane coating that's specifically labeled for use as a laminate countertop sealant. Polyurethane coating or a resin laminate sealer will provide shine and a protective coating.
Many people recommend NOT using Gorilla glue because of the excessive foaming. My early experiences supported that view. But in the last two years, I have been using Gorilla glue for bent laminations with good success and without excessive foaming.
You can sand, prime and paint laminate as if it were a solid wood piece of furniture! It's easy to skip the sanding step, because sanding is a drag… but it's especially important with laminate. Because it's often somewhat glossy-looking, and important to sand it down until the finish is very dull before priming.