I'm considering refacing kitchen cabinets with thermofoil. Am looking for pros and cons on this process?

I'm considering refacing kitchen cabinets with thermofoil. Am looking for pros and cons on this process. Asked by craftychic 39 months ago Similar questions: refacing kitchen cabinets thermofoil pros cons process Home > Home Improvement.

Similar questions: refacing kitchen cabinets thermofoil pros cons process.

Thermofoil cabinet finishes offer the look of paint but it probably requires the most due diligence on your part. Thermofoil Kitchen CabinetsThermofoil cabinet finishes offer the look of paint while avoiding some of the disadvantages. They're made by heat-fusing a very thin layer of vinyl to a substrate material to create a smooth, uniformly colored surface, avoiding the variations and inconsistencies that occur with paint.

The surface is also tougher and easier to clean than paint, accepts transparent washes for an antiqued look, and works well in nearly all styles. And, while it's a mainstay of budget-priced and do-it-yourself cabinetry, it's also offered with top-of-the-line custom products. That's the good news.

The bad news is that of all possible cabinet materials, Thermofoil probably requires the most due diligence on your part. A quick Internet search yields a litany of horror stories from unhappy homeowners with discolored cabinets, blistered and peeling surfaces (especially around cooking areas), and worse. This is by no means inevitable, as the awful tales almost always involve fly-by-night manufacturers and installers, but this is an area where you need to work closely with a reputable and trusted professional to make sure the manufacturer does good work and stands behind the product.

Read and understand the fine print in the warranty before you commit. Far better to ask searching questions now than to be left with no recourse later. Aside from general manufacturing quality and product support, the most crucial issue affecting the performance and longevity of your Thermofoil cabinets is what the Thermofoil is bonded to.

Which can range from little better than glorified cardboard (beware! ) at the ultra-low end to solid wood at the high end. Many budget and mid-priced offerings feature Thermofoil bonded to either particle board, MDF (medium density fiberboard) or other engineered wood product.

Particle board and fiberboard consist essentially of sawdust and glue, and while some products are stronger than others, the material is prone to sagging if not adequately supported. This can be an issue on shelves loaded with heavy dishes, pots and pans, or canned goods. Particle board and fiberboard also tend not to hold screws as well as wood or plywood, which may lead to loose hinges and drawer pulls that are a hassle to fix (not to mention sagging shelves pulling loose from the cabinet itself).

These problems are not inevitable, but be sure to have a thorough discussion of your requirements and potential trouble spots with your building pro. As long as the Thermofoil finish is seamless and intact, moisture won't seep into the substrate and all is well. However, gouges and dents in the finish can lead to a chain reaction of problems, including blistering and peeling as moisture gets below the surface.

Particle board and fiberboard are quite vulnerable to swelling and warping if they do get wet, thereby shortening the cabinet's life, while the more expensive solid wood holds up better. Averting water damage is another issue you definitely want to discuss with a trusted professional before making your final decision. Sources: http://www.calfinder.com/library/kitchen/cabinet/material/thermofoil .

Pros and cons of thermofoil Thermofoil is an interesting product! I have been a kitchen designer for five years and have heard lots of different stories about it...pros and cons. One great advantage is that it is easy to clean.

Another advantage is that it doesn't warp and expand and contract like solid wood does. It is fairly seamless, because it is an MDF core ( medium density fiberboard; some people call it particleboard) and then a laminate sheet is "melted" on it. It it very air tight.It works well in humid areas like the bathroom.

Some people say "I hear particleboard will disolve if it gets really wet". The way I see it, solid wood won't do too well if it is exposed to extreme moisture, either.It would take a flood in your house to ruin a thermofoil cabinet...the cabinet would have to sit in water for a long time. Hopefully that will never happen to you!

I wouldn't let moisture concerns make you decide against thermofoil. Some disadvantages....mdf cabinets are heavier than plywood with wood doors. They'll be heavier to lift and install.

Also, you have to be careful around high heat areas. I've had my share of clients come in with cabinet doors and drawers where the laminate is peeling right off the core. 9 times out of 10 it's because the installer didn't put heat shields in to protect the cabinets next to high heat areas (like ovens and dishwashers).

If you get heat shields, the cabinets should be fine. The heat shields are just metal strips that install between an appliance and a cabinet and deflect the heat. I've had some people complain that their old thermofoil cabinets turned yellow-ish, but I find that those cabinets are usually quite old...made before the science of thermofoil was perfected.

If someone tells you not to get them because they'll turn yellow, ask them how old their cabinets are. I'll bet they were made more than 10 years ago. Thermofoil is made very well these days.

Some people may also tell you that a disadvantage of thermofoil is that the color selections are limited to white and off-white. That is not necessarily true! We carry a brand of cabinetry called Apple Valley.

They have a whole line of foil cabinets in various colors and wood-grain patterns. They have the most extensive selection of thermofoil colors and doorstyles I have ever seen. They go from basic white to glossy red to horizontal wood grain....these guys can get fun and wild!

A company like Apple Valley also has a written statement that their colors will not fade or change. Check with your designer to see if the brand you are looking ta does the same. If a cabinet company stands behind their work enough to put it out in writing, it's worth looking into :)I would say I sell way more wood cbinets than thermofoil, but I have nothing a against a good quality foil cabinet.

If you install them correctly and treat them well, they'll last longer than you want them to :)Take care and good luck! Sources: answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=200... .

Web Search Thermofoil is an interesting product! I have been a kitchen designer for five years and have heard lots of different stories about it...pros and cons. One great advantage is that it is easy to clean.