Of all the furniture installed in a home or business during renovations, wooden cabinets are one of the most expensive. Since these cabinets can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, builders must be very careful to prevent surface damage that can occur from dropped tools, paint spills, and other construction accidents. Stained wooden cabinets can be made from both soft and hard wood, the durability of which varies, but all Wooden cabinets can get scratched. Using temporary surface protection to protect fine cabinets and millwork can save home builders, commercial builders and renovators thousands of dollars in replacement and repair costs.
There are currently several types of cabinet protection available. Cardboard protection with tape or plastic fasteners is designed to protect cabinets during transport and construction and is made of corrugated cardboard. This type of cabinet protection is not ideal for protecting already installed cabinets as it is not resistant to liquids and usually needs to be re-attached during longer periods of use. In addition, the cardboard cabinet cover is heavy and expensive to ship.
Adhesive films are also available through a few selected vendors. These thin 2.0 mil films are applied by rolling the film and then applying surface pressure to hold the film in place in the cabinet. In addition to easy installation, these films also offer some protection from scratches. Unfortunately, these films do not have a good reputation in the industry as they have been found to leave adhesive residue on cabinets and have been largely discontinued. Removing adhesive residue can be extremely difficult and naturally leads to poor customer satisfaction ratings.
Adhesive foam protection is another option for protecting fine cabinets and millwork. Impact-resistant polyethylene foam protects against dents, scratches and even dents caused by construction activities. It is easy to install because it is also applied by applying pressure on the adhesive side and rolling the foam. It is usually 30″ in size and has perforations every 12″, so no cutting is required. Although this method of protection is more expensive than other methods, it has the highest rating for customer satisfaction.
While each of these temporary surface protection methods has its pros and cons, protecting newly installed cabinets is ultimately cheaper than leaving them unprotected. Contact your local surface protection experts to learn more about your options for protecting your fine cabinetry and millwork.
