I have thermo foil kitchen cupboards and need a type of glue

Joy4741244
by Joy4741244
meed a type of glue as the skin is coming loose????? Any suggestions
  5 answers
  • Hillela G. Hillela G. on Apr 07, 2017

    Try applying a sealer over it to keep it all in place- good luck!

  • William William on Apr 07, 2017

    That is a major problem with cabinet doors. The skin delaminates from the MDF. Almost impossible to repair.


    Because thermofoil is a thin layer of vinyl, many homeowners report problems with delamination and peeling at the edges of doors and drawer fronts. A sharp blow to thermofoil can chip it. Again, edges tend to be the danger zone for this kind of damage. High heat will damage thermofoil. Kraftmaid, a major supplier of thermofoil cabinets, warns homeowners against using high-heat appliances next to thermofoil cabinets. Thermofoil-faced MDF cabinets cannot be painted. They could potentially be run through another thermofoil press, but cost is prohibitive. The best bet would be to purchase entirely new thermofoil doors and drawer fronts, while retaining the cabinet boxes. Older MDF may contain formaldehyde.

  • Melonnie Johnson Melonnie Johnson on Apr 18, 2017

    Would you be able to use formica glue on the thermofoil to make it hold? Just a question because I truly do no know and am unfamiliar with the thermofoil product.

    • Sharon Depatie Sharon Depatie on Apr 18, 2017

      Thermofoil is a thin veneer (paper thin) finish hot glued to pressed wood cabinets. It doesn't last long in humid conditions (boiling pots on stove, steaming kettles & coffee makers on counters) & can't take cleaners or scrubbing (only mild soap & warm water). It's considerably cheaper than wood cabinets, & not durable for busy families or hard use. Lifting corners & peeling edges are very common complaints.

  • Sharon Depatie Sharon Depatie on Apr 18, 2017

    Try your hardware store & explain why you need best glue available (maybe epoxy?) In future, avoid steam or prolonged high heat from the stove, buy a good fan, boil a kettle in open areas. Avoid harsh cleaners & vigorous scrubbing Also. If glue isn't a solution, try framing the perimeter of doors & drawers with wood strips nailed on. Painted or stained the same colour, it would give a flat door a "shaker" look & prevent more "lifting". Or maybe add panels of beadboard inside the frames. You'd need to do all doors & drawers, but still cheaper & less mess than a new cupboard install. Good luck & think about wood doors & drawer fronts. I was extremely carefull when we bought this house with white thermofoil cabinets, but daily use was just too much, so we installed wood doors & drawers (kept cabinet boxes) & 6 yrs later they still look mint.

  • Melonnie Johnson Melonnie Johnson on Apr 18, 2017

    Thank you for the explanation.