How do I fix veneered cabinets that have air bubbles

veneered or Thermofoil?

If it looks like this it is Thermofoil:

Much depends on what these cabinets are made from. I’m sure they are made from MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), previously called particle board. The veneer can be made of most anything, usually some form of vinyl, or a thin wood veneer. Sometimes they don’t put anything on it, they just prime and paint the MDF. Unfortunately these are cheap, construction grade cabinets, and don’t hold up very well. If there is truly a veneer you can try making a small slit, working glue into it, then cover the area with waxed paper, and lay something heavy on top. Normally though when this happens the MDF, or other underlaymen, swells and that part of the cabinet is ruined. I build cabinets for a living, and my advice is to either replace all the cabinets, or get new doors and reface the cabinets. If you do replace the cabinets don’t buy the ones in home improvement centers...they will be the same as what you have now. Custom cabinets are very expensive, but they are worth it.

I'm not certain this would work, but try a small needle prick in the bubble and then placing a thick towel against the bubble and run a warm iron over the area. Try it on a bubble that is the least noticable first . Verneer is glued on the surfaces, so perhaps the heat will soften glue enough to re-adhere it under the bubble. I hope this works because it's $$ to replace cabinets.

Try ironing with a wet dish towel on It. Press and move from one part to the next. Not rubbing like you're ironing clothes but pushing for a few seconds until it shrinks back down and hopefully the heat can reactivate the adhesive. I've had pretty good luck doing this. May not be a perfect fix every time but it should be much improved. If its loose on an edge see if you can gently add some wood glue under( place on its side and let gravity help to work it in further. Careful not to crack the veneer.) It will more than likely need to be refinished. Good luck!

If it is Thermofoil, whick is shrink wrapped vinyl, you will need to remove the vinyl , prime and paint. I did it before it was a "thing". Of course ideally, it would be better to replace or reface, but it wasn't in my budget. It will fix it until you can seek other options.

Read the comments in theselinks:

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/q-suggestion-for-updating-white-thermofoil-kitchen-cabinets-9628433 https://www.hometalk.com/diy/paint/q-painting-thermofoil-cabinets-9446231

https://www.hometalk.com/search/discussions?filter=thermofoil%20cabinets