Good-quality wood glue and a clamp to hold the laminate against the core is a good way to repair laminate coating that is peeling. Once the glue has set and dried, you can begin to clean the cabinet doors and drawers.
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.
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.
Yes, laminate cabinets can be refaced as long as the cabinet boxes are in good shape. But if the cabinet boxes are weak or damaged, you may need to replace your cabinets altogether.
Peeling laminate should be completely removed before painting, staining or otherwise refinishing the wooden composite underneath. But before you start to remove lamination from your kitchen cabinets, do a little investigating to ensure that the outer layer is true laminate and not melamine or thermofoil.
The best way to do it is to use a heat gun to soften the adhesive and pull the laminate off in sections, starting with the edging. Some MDF cabinets have a plastic coating, and removing a plastic coating from kitchen cabinets is usually easier than removing a wood laminate.
With laminate or wood veneers laid over the existing cabinet boxes, you can change the style, color, wood type—even the associated historical era.
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.
Things You'll Need
One of the advantages of laminate is that it allows for a wide range of different decorating choices. On the downside, it can look warn and dingy over time. You can revitalize laminate cabinets without peeling off the old laminate, as long as they're firmly affixed to the frame and in good shape.
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.
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.
In short, you can't. Sanding the laminate surfaces to “scuff” the finish and provide a surface for the primer to adhere to is a critical step in the process. But first, remove the doors, drawers and hardware. Then, take time to look over the cabinets and repair any spots where the laminate is coming loose.
The least expensive option is painting laminate cabinets. Laminate is not an ideal surface to paint, but it can be done.
Start by cleaning and sanding the surface, making sure to avoid removing too much of the veneer in the process. Then repair any minor damage and apply the paint or stain of your choice. Finally, you'll want to seal your refinished cabinets to preserve their look over the long term.
If the veneer is bubbled, and has no visible cracks, cut a small slit into the bubble and inject glue into the bubble. Place a thin piece of plastic over the crack or bubble. Use a padded clamp with cardboard or rubber to pad the door, and apply enough pressure to the flap or bubble to smash it down flat.
The veneer can be reattached with contact cement, but you may prefer to use carpenters' glue because it sets more slowly and allows repositioning. To reglue the veneer, apply contact cement to both bonding surfaces and let it set, as directed by the manufacturer.
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.
Position a heat gun along the edge of the cabinet base to soften the glue. Wedge a thin piece of wood between the veneer and substrate every 3 to 4 inches along the edge. Continue to heat the glue, wedge in the wood and lift the veneer until you've removed all the veneer from the cabinet surface.
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.
Yes, you CAN repair MDF cabinet doors (sometimes called laminate cabinet doors, too). And the chunk that I took out of my cabinets was super easy to repair! Did you know, even water-damaged MDF cabinets can be repaired? However, it does take a bit more time and effort, but it's really not hard.