Laminate cabinets have long been a popular choice for bathroom and kitchen cabinets. Not only are they a fairly inexpensive choice, but they also provide several different colour and style options.

However, when the veneer starts to crack and peel, you’ll find your space looking a little sadder and older.

Fortunately, the process to fix up your cabinets is fairly simple and cost-effective. Let’s take a look.

Steps To Repairing The Veneer on Your Particle Board Cabinets

Depending on the extent of the peeling and damage, there are two paths to take.

Glue It Down

Taking a pair of pliers, slowly and carefully pull the peeling laminate away from the particleboard. Don’t peel back more than necessary, just until you feel resistance and have reached the veneer that is still firmly attached.

Using a paintbrush, apply contact cement to both the particleboard and the underside of the veneer. Ensure you continue to pull the veneer away from the particleboard, as you don’t want the cement to touch until it’s dry.

Once the contact cement has dried, push the veneer against the particleboard. Take the time to smooth out the veneer, as you want to avoid any bubbles or misalignments.

Finally, use a clamp to hold the veneer and particleboard together while it sets. If you don’t have a clamp, placing something heavy on top will work as well.

Replace The Veneer

If you find that the peeling section of the veneer is too large to simply be glued down, you may need to replace the entire front.

Gently peel the veneer off the particleboard. If there are sections that are still attached quite firmly to the particleboard, using a heat gun will help loosen that bond.

Kitchen Cabinets — Water damaged high gloss white MDF bathroom vanity cabinet door with molding. Moist bathroom condition concept.

Measure and cut the amount of laminate you will need for your cabinet door. It’s okay to measure a little larger, as you can always sand down the edges once it’s on the particleboard.

Add contact cement to the particleboard and the backside of the veneer. Once it dries, carefully push the veneer onto the particleboard. Using your hand or a roller, smooth out any swelling or bubbles, and ensure the entire surface is now covered.

Clamp the veneer to the particleboard while the cabinet door dries. If you don’t have enough clamps, or any at all, placing something heavy on top will work just as well.

Once everything is sealed together, sand out the edges of the cabinets if you feel that is needed.

Maintaining the appearance of your particleboard cabinets truly makes a difference in the feel of your home. Hopefully, you find this to be a simple and straightforward way to keep your cabinets looking brand new!

Handhills is a cabinet maker and manufacturer serving central Alberta. We specialize in custom cabinet design and installation, closet design, bathroom vanities, bookcases, custom entertainment centers, kitchen cabinets, shelving, MDF cabinet doors, cabinet parts and more. Send us your measurements and get started with custom cabinets from Handhills. Call the best cabinet maker in Calgary today on (403) 910‐2373 or send an email to [email protected].

The world of building materials is constantly changing and improving. In our interconnected world, it is important to use our resources to their fullest potential so that as many people as possible may benefit from trees, water and food stores. One of the ways that we, as a society, make use of even the scrap materials from the forestry industry is through medium-density fibreboard (MDF) cabinet doors.

Of course, MDF cabinet doors are only one way that we use the base product, which is MDF wood. We also use this material in the cabinets themselves as well as other indoor building projects and shop fitting, to name a few. For such a resilient and helpful product, the origins and manufacturing process seem shrouded in mystery. Today, we pull back the curtain.

The Process of Making MDF Wood

Fibre Production

After the lumber is gathered, the bark stripped, and the planks cut, there is a fair amount of leftover material. This is sent into the chipper, which makes chips of a regular size and cut. They are then stored or used for the creation of fibre.

The fibre production involved the heating of the wood chips to soften the natural binder material between the wood fibres. They are then fed through a rotating machine that pulls apart the fibres and turns them into a form of pulp. They are then coated with wax and then urea-formaldehyde, which serves the functions of binding the fibres together, increasing moisture resistance and reducing the likelihood of material clumping.

Sheet Formation

During the sheet formation, the bound and coated fibres from the previous stage are put through machinery to produce even sheets of material. It is pressure-treated and compressed to ensure a dense and strong final product. Occasionally, the boards will be laminated for additional strength.

Where to Find MDF Cabinet Doors

Even though it is thrilling to learn where these building materials come from, it is even more exciting to see them inside your home performing their intended function. To learn more about MDF cabinet doors and how they can reinvigorate your favourite rooms, give us a call today. We look forward to hearing from you.

If you love the look of your kitchen cabinets, but they are becoming worn out after years of use, refacing them can be a worthwhile investment.

Refacing is a popular choice for many homeowners who want to keep their kitchen style the same, but just give it a more modern look. By bringing on board a professional cabinet maker, you can ensure that your kitchen retains its look and feel.

However, how much do you have to pay to reface your kitchen cabinets? Before we get the project’s cost, it’s important to recognize when you should do it.

When to Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets

There are many clear-cut signs that your kitchen cabinets should be refaced, including:

The look of your kitchen is downgrading
The cabinets are damaged with the hinges being loose or flimsy
The paint is wearing off
You feel the need for an upgrade without the expensive costs

If you notice any of these with your cabinets, be they hardwood or M D F cabinets, then it is time to consider undergoing refacing.

How Does Cabinet Refacing Work?

The process behind cabinet refacing involves refreshing the cabinets’ front coverings, instead of removing and replacing them. It is noticeably cheaper than the cost of installing brand new cabinets. The process usually involves:

The doors, drawers and hinges being removed
Cabinet surfaces are then matched with the same style and tone, or a new style that can enhance your kitchen
The cabinet doors are trimmed for the perfect fit
New doors, drawers, hinges and handles are installed

While the process might sound simple, it can take a lot of work and involve some intense rework. As such, you should look towards hiring a professional cabinet manufacturer or maker instead of managing it as a DIY project.

Installation of drawers handles on kitchen cabinets

What Affects The Price of Refacing Kitchen Cabinets?

Many factors can include the overall cost of the refacing project, including:

The size of the kitchen and the number of cabinets
The quality of the materials, like laminate or hardwood cabinets, which cost more than MDF cabinets
The labour costs of the professional
Any extra work that might be required for the project

As the above points suggest, you should always look out for value.

How Much Does Refacing Cost?

Having a thorough understanding of the project’s cost can help determine if it is a valuable investment for you.

According to Home Guide, the “average cost to reface cabinets is $6,518, with most homeowners spending between $4,214 and $8,110 for a 10′ x 12′ kitchen”. It also says that a “smaller kitchen costs $1,000 to $3,000 and larger kitchen costs can rise to $8,000 to $10,000”.

Home Advisor backs this claim up, showcasing similar numbers. It suggests that “cabinet refacing costs $6,943 on average, or between $4,258 and $9,635”. It does note that “refacing is typically 30% to 50% cheaper than replacing semi-custom or custom cabinets”.

With this guide as a firm foundation, you can begin searching for a professional to reface your kitchen cabinets.

Finding cabinet manufacturers can be difficult for some. Naturally, this problem is understandable. You want to make sure you find a company with sufficient experience and outstanding quality. Further, you probably want a reasonable price and an excellent turnaround time.

Of course, with each of these stipulations, the search becomes a bit narrower, but also a bit more difficult. Luckily, with the help of information and knowledge, the search won’t be fruitless. See below for more info:

Traits of Cabinet Manufacturers

Their Experience

One of the first traits that you should look for in a cabinet manufacturer is their level of experience. If you find a company that consists of a single individual working out of their garage, the chances are that they lack some experience. While this isn’t always the case, established cabinet makers usually have a workshop and some apprentices working with them.

Their Quality

Next, you will want to verify the quality of the company’s work. If you can, go to their business and look at their completed works. Clean finishes, drawers and doors that open easily and attractive designs are all marks of exceptional quality. If you cannot travel to their location, look through a gallery of past jobs to get a feel, or request examples of their work instead.

Their Price

Honestly, this part of your search will probably have the most research attached. You will need to look at several companies and find their prices for the cabinetry you are looking to purchase. Then you will need to compare their prices with the other factors listed here and make an informed decision to avoid making the wrong choice.

Their Timelines

Finally, you want to make sure that you are going to get your cabinets in a reasonable time frame. Obviously, the complexity and style of your cabinets will play a significant role in how long they take to build, but make sure you check with your chosen company before you begin. This step will allow you to plan appropriately for the next phase of your project.

Come to Handhills Cabinets!

Yes, the steps above will certainly help you find a kitchen cabinet manufacturer. However, you can contact our team of experts who meet the skills above and skip all the hassle. We specialize in custom cabinets and would love to hear from you!

The cost of custom cabinets from a cabinet maker in Calgary can vary significantly based on the exact style and material you are looking to install. However, these costs can be mitigated by finding a reliable and experienced cabinet maker. As is common with all purchases, doing proper research and planning can make a big difference in what the overall budget will look like.

Therefore, the prices listed are estimates based on the current market value but are subject to change depending on the nature of the project that you are embarking upon.

Types of Custom Cabinets in Calgary

The material used to make your ideal custom cabinets will significantly influence the cost of installation. For instance, wood veneer cabinets, which are made with a thin coating covering plywood or multi-density fibreboard (MDF), will be significantly less expensive than stainless steel cabinets.

On average, you can expect to spend $500 to $1,200 per linear foot installed for all types of cabinets.

Wood veneer cabinets usually average a price tag of $2,500 to $15,000 with the upper-end usually reserved for exceedingly spacious kitchens. Wood veneer is a great low-cost alternative from fully-manufactured wood while also providing a similar look and feel.

Kitchen and adjacent Breakfast nook and living Room

For a truly elegant look, try staining them your favorite wood color to give a breath of fresh air and style to your custom kitchen cabinets.

By proxy, laminate kitchen cabinets run between $4,000 to $15,000. Like wood veneers, they are a cost-friendly alternative to wood. As a synthetic material that’s placed on MDF by both high-pressure and low-pressure applications, they provide great durability and long-lasting appeal due to their lack of warpage. However, high-pressure laminate is often produced by premier brands and isn’t exactly a custom cabinet product.

Finally, we have acrylics. They range in price anywhere from $4,500 to $20,000. Acrylic is a very hard, high-gloss finish applied in a similar fashion to a varnish. It comes in various colors and can achieve an ultra-modern or classical look.

Here are a few final tips to keep in mind as you go searching for the perfect custom cabinets:

A good rule of thumb to remember is that materials will make up between $300 and $750 per linear foot.

Most homeowners will spend between $12,500 to $18,100 for a full set of custom kitchen cabinets made by a cabinet maker in Calgary.

Look for an experienced cabinet maker as they will make a big difference in the overall cost when they do not have to worry about extra time or installation costs due to their record of quality installations.