One of the best ways to freshen up a kitchen is by changing the cabinetry. However, completely replacing kitchen cupboards is expensive. Since vinyl wrapping is a wildly popular trend right now, you might be wondering if you can wrap your kitchen cupboards.
You can wrap kitchen cupboards. Vinyl wrapping kitchen cupboards can be a great option over painting or complete replacement. It is both economical and easy to do.
Vinyl wrapping kitchen cabinets will give your kitchen an updated look. It also allows you to easily change color schemes or themes. Read on to find out more about wrapping kitchen cabinets.
Main Topics
Wrapping Vs Painting Kitchen Cupboards
In most situations, wrapping cupboards is better than painting cupboards. This is because vinyl is inexpensive and easy to use. You can usually repair small scratches or damage to your vinyl wrapping using a vinyl repair kit.
Paint will cost more and is a messier product to use. There is very little clean-up involved in wrapping your kitchen cupboards.
What Is the Best Vinyl Wrap for Kitchen Cupboards?
There are several different types of vinyl wrap that can be used to cover kitchen cupboards. The most common types are adhesive-backed vinyl wraps and heat-activated vinyl wraps. Vinyl material for wrapping also comes in different styles. These styles include matte, gloss, and metallic.
How Do You Vinyl Wrap a Cupboard?
It is very important to start with a clean cupboard door when you are going to vinyl wrap your cabinets.
Before you begin, round up the needed supplies for vinyl wrapping:
Sharp scissors
Pencil
Tape measure
Smoother
Exacto knife
Clean Rag
Screwdriver (to remove cabinets)
You will need to remove the doors from the cupboard. If there is hardware, such as a handle on the door, you will need to remove it as well. You do not need to remove the entire cabinet unless there are hard-to-reach surfaces. Clean the doors and the outfacing surface with rubbing alcohol and a lint-free rag. Then follow these steps to wrap kitchen cabinets.
1. Size the Vinyl Wrap
Most vinyl wrapping comes with a grid printed on the back. Use the grid if it is available to help keep the wrap straight. Use the pencil to mark off the appropriate area to cover the door. Allow one or two inches for wrapping around the edges of the door. Cut the vinyl wrap to size.
2. Apply the Vinyl Wrap
Remove the vinyl backing, starting with one corner. Press the vinyl to the door using the smoother as you go. Continue on until the backing is completely pulled away and the vinyl covers the door.
3. Finish Application
Use the smoother over any air pockets to push them to the side and out of the covering. For neat edges cut a small slit at the corners and fold over the door edge. Cut away any excess vinyl and smooth any remaining air pockets. Wait for about 24 hours before repositioning the door on the cabinet.
4. Cover Additional Areas
Cover any front-facing areas of your cupboard similarly with appropriately sized strips of vinyl.
How to Wrap Kitchen Cupboards With Grooves
When wrapping kitchen cupboards with grooves (or bevels), you will use a similar process as that above, except you should use strips cut to a three or four inch width to make handling the vinyl easier.
Prepare the cupboard doors in the same fashion. To cover grooves smoothly, begin at the top edge of the first groove. Apply by smoothing down vinyl along one groove at a time. You may need to use a pin for smoothing if the grooves are small. You will also want to use the pin to puncture small holes that allow the release of air pockets. This will also help to smooth down the vinyl.
Use the technique for cutting corners to avoid wrinkles at the edges of each groove. Don’t worry if you make a mistake or have many air bubbles. You can gently pull the vinyl back and start again.
Wrapping Framed Kitchen Cupboards or Shaker Cupboard Doors
To wrap a framed kitchen cupboard or shaker cupboard doors you will combine both of the methods listed above.
Prepare the cupboard and doors the same way as you would a flat or grooved cupboard.
First, cover the frame or outer edges of the door. Cut an appropriately sized strip of vinyl and cover just the frame. Treat the frame as you would grooves, smoothing the vinyl along each surface.
When the frame is covered, measure and cut vinyl to fit the window of the frame. Like with the flat door, start at the top corner and press the viny to the door.
Pull away the backing, using the smoothing tool as you go to remove any air bubbles. Cut away any excess vinyl when the backing is removed and the vinyl is smooth on the door.
Covering a Cupboard With Heat-Activated Vinyl Wraps
One of the main differences between this method versus the adhesive-backed vinyl is that once the heat is applied, although you can easily remove the vinyl, you will not be able to reuse it again. That means you will probably have an easier time using adhesive-backed vinyl wraps because they are more forgiving.
To use heat-activated vinyl wraps, prepare doors by removing and cleaning them. Measure and cut vinyl to fit the door.
Place the vinyl over the surface of the door. Use the heat from a blow dryer to activate the adhesive process.
You will need to be careful to hold the hairdryer close enough to get the vinyl hot enough to work. However, you should not have the hairdryer too close. Depending on your blow dryer and the specific vinyl you have chosen, you could do damage by overheating it.
FAQs
How Long Does Vinyl Wrap Last on Cupboards?
You can generally expect that when you vinyl wrap your cupboard doors that the vinyl will last for about a decade. With gentle use and good care, your vinyl wrap should maintain a nice look over the years.
Rough usage may shorten this time dramatically.
Can I Do a Vinyl Wrap Kitchen Makeover?
It is a fun project to refresh your kitchen with a vinyl wrap kitchen makeover. To do the full kitchen in a vinyl wrap, you can include the refrigerator and drawer fronts as well as countertops and other mostly flat or geometric surfaces.
How Much Does Kitchen Wrap Cost for Cupboards?
You can get cheap vinyl wrap starting as low as $10 for 25 feet. The prices can go up quickly based on the quality, thickness, and finish of the vinyl wrap.
Keep in mind that the final cost will depend heavily on how much vinyl wrap that you will need to use to cover your cupboards.
Should I Hire a Professional to Wrap My Cupboards?
It is not necessary to hire a professional to wrap your cupboards. However, if you are doing a vinyl wrap kitchen makeover or are wrapping unusual shaped cupboards or objects, you may want the help. Opting for a handyman may be cheaper than hiring a vinyl wrapping service.
However, if you hire a kitchen door vinyl wrapping service that will add a fair amount to the final kitchen wrap cost. In this case, you may want to consider painting as an option.
Can Vinyl Wrapped Cabinets Be Repaired?
Vinyl wrapped cabinets can be repaired. If a vinyl wrapped cupboard starts to peel, you may be able to simply glue it down. This is especially true if you notice the peeling early when it first starts.
There are many sprays and patches on the market that will work to cover up scuffs and small, shallow scratches. However, these often do not work if the scratch is especially deep or the scuffing has affected the texture of the vinyl.
You can not paint over the vinyl to fix or change your cupboards. If you want to paint your cupboards, you will need to remove the vinyl wrap first.
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Conclusion
Wrapping kitchen cupboards can be a great way to get a new look for your kitchen. Wraps are economical and easy to use in a do-it-yourself format. However, durability may be a problem with rough use, so make sure you are buying a quality vinyl wrap if you know your cupboards get a lot of use.
For those who aren’t interested in taking on a full project or have particularly rambunctious kids or pets, painting your cupboards may be a better option.
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