Cabinet protection saves builders money

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 take great care to avoid surface damage that can occur from dropped tools, paint splatters, and other construction accidents. Stained wood cabinets can be made from softwoods and hardwoods with varying degrees of durability; however, all wood cabinets can be scratched. Using temporary surface protection to protect fine cabinets 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 shipping and construction and is made of corrugated 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 to be refitted for extended periods of use. In addition, cardboard cabinet protection is heavy and expensive to transport.

Adhesive films are also available through select vendors. These 2.0 mil thin films are applied by unrolling the film and then applying surface pressure to hold the film in place in 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, notorious for leaving adhesive residue on cabinets and have been largely discontinued. Adhesive residue can be extremely difficult to remove and obviously results in poor customer satisfaction ratings.

Adhesive foam protection is another option for protecting fine cabinetry and carpentry. Impact-resistant polyethylene foam protects against dings, scratches, and even some dents caused by construction activities. Provides easy installation as it is also applied by applying pressure to the adhesive side and unrolling the foam. It is typically 30″ in size and offers perforations every 12 inches so cutting is not necessary. Although this method of protection is more expensive than other methods, it ranks highest in customer satisfaction.

While there are advantages and disadvantages to 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.