Cabinet protection saves builders money

Of all the accessories 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 falling tools, paint splatters, and other construction accidents. Stained wood cabinets can be made from soft and hard woods with varying degrees of durability, however all wood cabinets can be scratched. The use of temporary surface protection to protect fine cabinets and joinery can save residential, commercial builders and remodelers thousands of dollars in replacement and repair costs.

There are several types of cabinet protection available today. Cardboard protection with plastic tape or fasteners is designed to protect cabinets during transportation 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 repositioning during longer periods of use. Also, cardboard cabinet protection is heavy and expensive to ship.

Cling films are also available through select vendors. These 2.0 mil thin films are applied by spreading the film and then applying pressure to the surface to hold the film in place in the cabinet. In addition to their 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 notorious for leaving adhesive residue on cabinets and have been largely discontinued. Adhesive residue can be extremely difficult to remove and obviously results in a low customer satisfaction rating.

Adhesive foam protection is another option to protect fine furniture and woodwork. Impact resistant polyethylene foam protects against bumps, scrapes and even some teeth caused by construction activities. Provides easy installation as it is also applied by applying pressure to the adhesive side and spreading the foam. It is typically 30 “in size 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 trade-offs 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 furniture and woodwork, contact your local surface protection experts.