Kitchen Cabinet Doors - Laminate Cracking

Doop

We inherited our kitchen when we moved into our house 5 years ago, I reckon the kitchen was at least 5 years old at that stage ...so say 10-13 years old. We decided we wouldn't replace it as it was ok, and really doesn't present or look too bad, so we spent a bit of cash on replacing the worktops and the backsplash and were happy with the result.

Just in the last week two of the unit door have developed large 'cracks' on the outside of the what I assume is a vinyl covering? They have always some little tiny cracks in a few different places like up along the side the door handle and barely noticeable. But as I said last week two of these got alot worse as per the photos.

Question 1 What's causing this...? would it be the heat in the winter indoors? or just pot luck its happened to two doors in a short space of time

Question 2 - is it repairable (DIY) ? some sort of glue maybe?!

As I said its an old kitchen we dont really want to spend much on it.. getting new doors would seem silly if the carcasses aren't in great nick.... or do we just have to try budget for a full kitchen replacement undoing the money we only (recently) spent on the worktops and backsplash.

listermint

Replace the individual broken doors not all. Cheap solution. They're just painted MDF

Kaisr Sose

Happened to me and I took off plastic covering, scraped off glue residue till ingot back to smooth MDF surface, primed and painted with durable paint for cabinet doors. Turned out great.

Doop

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121659722#Comment_121659722

Thanks might look into that... its not paint on them but a sort of vinyl covering, might see if I get those doors recovered... worried about them not matching in with the rest tho.

rodmn2377

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121659856#Comment_121659856

Im looking to do the same with my kitchen cabinet doors, just wondering what paint and primer did you use and did it take many coats etc... thanks

Rows Grower

You can get a very strong spray on glue that will do a good job on the damage in the second picture, the first picture looks like it would be a bit trickier to do a good job.

Another option is remove doors and handles, strip off the plastic wrap, sand, prime, paint and seal the doors.

You could also look into having all the doors and drawers wrapped in vinyl, either DIY or professionally.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121659856#Comment_121659856

Did that myself and it worked out very well. Takes some time and I was lucky I could work away on it in a spare room which kept the dust down.

Question 1 What's causing this...? would it be the heat in the winter indoors? or just pot luck its happened to two doors in a short space of time

The cause was the Winter weather - we had that very cold period and the relative humidity was exceptionally low outdoors, causing the indoors air to also dry out and the wood to shrink. The laminate delaminated from the wood/MDF as the glue behind it failed, you'll probably find that the laminate comes off in sheets now.

Kaisr Sose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121663852#Comment_121663852

I used Fleetwood bloxx it primer (oil based). Zinnser BIN would also be good. You can use water based primer, but oil is better. Apply with 4" mohair roller for super smooth finish. 1 or 2 coats. I did 2.

Lots of specialist top coats available. Any shop will advise. I used B&Q Durable (water base) and got a super smooth finish.with mohair roller. 2 coats.

Finish is totally dependent on surface prep. It's time consuming.

rodmn2377

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121664435#Comment_121664435

thanks for that... good to hear what types and amounts to use from someone who has done it...