Of all the fixtures installed in a home or business during remodeling, wood cabinets are one of the most expensive. Because these cabinets can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, builders must be very careful to prevent surface damage which can occur from dropped tools, paint splatters, and other construction accidents. Stained wood cabinets can be manufactured from both soft and hard woods with varying degrees of durability however all wood cabinets can be scratched. Using temporary surface protection to protect fine cabinetry and millwork can save residential builders, commercial builders and remodelers thousands of dollars in replacement and repair costs.
There are several types of cabinet protection currently available. Cardboard protection with tape or plastic fasteners is designed to protect cabinets during transport and construction and is made from fluted cardboard. This type of cabinet protection is not ideal for protecting cabinets that have already been installed, as it is not resistant to liquids and tends to need reattachment during longer periods of use. Also, the cardboard cabinet protection is heavy and expensive to ship.
Adhesive Films are also available through a few select vendors. These thin, 2.0 mil films are applied by rolling out the film and then providing surface pressure to hold the film in place on the cabinet. In addition to easy installation, these films also provide some degree of scratch protection. Unfortunately, these films do not have a good reputation in the industry as they are noted for leaving adhesive residue on cabinetry and have been largely discontinued. Adhesive residue can be extremely difficult to remove and obviously results in low customer satisfaction ratings.
Adhesive foam protection is another option for protecting fine cabinetry and millwork. The impact-resistant polyethylene foam protects against dings, scratches, and even some dents caused from construction activities. It provides easy installation as it is also applied by applying pressure to the adhesive side and rolling out the foam. It is commonly sized at 30″ and offers perforations every 12 inches so that no cutting is necessary. Although this method of protection is more expensive than other methods, it offers the highest rating in customer satisfaction.
Although there are pros and cons for each of these temporary surface protection methods, protecting newly installed cabinets is ultimately less expensive than leaving them unprotected. To learn more about your options for protecting fine cabinetry and millwork, contact your local surface protection experts.