Easy Steps & Items Needed To Repair Peeling Melamine Cabinets
Melamine cabinets are the most commonly used cabinets in western homes, due to the reason that it is an expensive material that tends to show wear and tear easily. One of the best things is that the most damage, including peeling as well as chipping, can be repaired without having to resurface the cabinets. Gather the required items first before going through the easy steps mentioned below in order to repair the peeling melamine cabinets on your own:
Items Needed
- Painter's Tape
- Cotton Swabs
- Paper Towels
- Melamine Glue
- Small Sponge Brush
- Clamps
Step 1: Clean The Cabinet
First of all, you need to perform the cleaning process on the cabinets & make sure to do this several days in advance, at least 3 days before going for the repairing process, which as a result will give the cabinets plenty of time to dry completely. Cleaning is important due to the reason that glues won't stick well to dirty or damp surfaces.
Step 2: Cover The Hardware
If in case you are unable to detach the hardware completely, then in that case you can simply cover it with the help of painter's tape. This is mainly suggested only due to the reason that the repair may take up a larger portion than it appears, and this will safeguard the hardware from the glue.
Step 3: Get The Right Glue
It must be kept in mind that the majority of the cabinets are composed of an MDF core. This material is well built and will tackle the situation comfortably for cabinet applications. The main issue is that the material likes to suck up moisture. So when purchasing a glue, you need to keep in mind this issue. Find a glue that is composed particularly for different materials. You can find glue explicitly made for melamine at the majority of home improvement stores.
Step 4: Apply The Glue
Applying the glue to the entire area without causing any damage is the most important part of the repairing process. You need to coat the surface of the cabinet, with the utmost care, under the peeling melamine. If in case the melamine is starting to peel in a small area, then in that case use a cotton swab in order to get the glue under the melamine without pulling on it. For larger peeling areas, you can smoothly take hold of the melamine marginally while you brush on the glue.
Step 5: Clamp It Down
Use a clamp in order to create the pressure that is required for the glue to bond. You can find clamps having a rubber coating in order to safeguard the finish of the cabinet. If in case these are not useful, you can fold up a soft paper towel in order to place it on each side of the clamp. In most cases, keep the clamps on only for a few hours, but go through the recommendations provided on the glue for maximum stickiness.
Step 6: Clean Up
As soon as the glue has healed you can get rid of the clamps. You can also remove the painter's tape at this point as well. The detached hardware can also be reinstalled back. It's common for the cabinet to peel in a nearby section once you've fixed one area of the cabinet. Wait for a few weeks & if you notice any peeling then repeat the same process. It's much easier to repair when you first notice instead of letting it go.