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Best way to repair laminate cupboards?

Hi we are wanting to do a temporary and cost effective renovation on our kitchen to make it look a little nicer. We have laminate cupboard with MDF underneath. Would it be best to peel off exisiting laminate and paint the MDF or just paint the laminate. It is cracked in some areas.

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EricL

Hello @Graceksmith

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us and thanks for sharing your question about repairing your laminate cupboards.

Looking at the photos you've posted, I propose going with option number one and that is to remove the laminate on the surface and paint the MDF panel underneath. This will give your doors a fresh new look. I'm just a bit concerned that the old laminate will deteriorate even further and peel off the doors after you've painted them. Removing the laminate cover will eliminate this possibility.

I also suggest having a look at this discussion - Budget kitchen reno with Shaker-style cabinet doors by @jasmine_rose. This is an excellent example of an MDF door panel being painted over.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Dave-1

Evening @Graceksmith

I think a lot of us have the same cabinet! lol

Its a hard call, the bit of my laminate that has come away, I peeled off and its just chipboard underneath. I am not sure how good it would look pained and even if it will stand up to use as @EricL has suggested.

Id be tempted to try and glue any parts that are lift back down, for the cracked dip maybe some builders bog over it using you thumb to push it into the groove and once that has dried to sand it lightly including the laminate. If it holds up to that then laminate paint would look good on it.

Change the handles (if you find some with the same spaceing then no need for new holes and filling the old holes) and you will bump up the notch on how good it will look.

Dave

Graceksmith

Thank you for taking the time to reply! I was thinking the same thing. I’ll check out the resource you sent me cheers

Graceksmith

Haha yes they probably looked good back in the day but definitely need an update with the colour! Thanks for the tip I might try that first with the builders bog and if it doesn’t work can always remove all the laminate down the track. Worth a shot though! Thanks for the advice

Noyade

G'day Dave! @Dave-1

"I think a lot of us have the same cabinet! lol"

Yes! - and in bathrooms! They just loved to router those patterns back then!

I just sanded and painted - the knobs as well.

And reduced the wattage of the overhead light. 😁

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