When it comes to renovating a kitchen or any other room to give it a fresh look and enhance its aesthetics, cupboard wrapping is the most popular choice for people. It is also known as cabinet refacing allows you to bring a new life to your cupboards and update the style of your kitchen at a fraction of the cost and without going through the stress of completely replacing cabinets.
Cabinet or cupboard wrapping is a quite simple and cost-effective solution to modify your kitchen but often people are curious about the wrapping process. Therefore, in this article, we will walk you through the cupboard wrapping process step by step.
Needs Assessment and Wraps Selection
Before starting the rapping process make sure to carefully assess your needs and find out why you want to wrap your cabinets and what type of wraps you need to ensure maximum durability and desired aesthetics.
Usually, vinyl wraps are used for this purpose because they are available in a wide range of colors, designs, and textures. Moreover, they can easily mimic any type of material including marble, concrete, wood, plastic, and stainless steel. You can choose any type of wrap that can be perfectly compatible with your cabinet surface, kitchen style, and budget constraints.
Make sure to choose vinyl wraps that are resistant to heat, cuts, scratches, and daily exposure.
Collect Crucial Materials
The cabinet wrapping process is quite simple and you need only a few basic materials to complete this process. Let’s take a look at the essential materials you need to wrap your cabinet here;
- Vinyl wrap or sheets to cover the cabinet surface.
- A squeegee that is used to remove wrinkles and air bubbles during the wrap application process.
- Heat gun or hair dryer to ensure adhesive bonding of the vinyl wrap with the cabinet surface.
- Surface cleaner, crucial to prepare and clean the cupboard surface to apply vinyl wrap.
- Sandpaper which helps you clear and smooth the cabinet surface.
- Primer. It is used to create a better surface.
- Painters tape that is used to protect the adjacent surfaces such as walls.
- A sharp utility knife or Caesar to cut the vinyl wrap and trim excessive edges.
Prepare Your Cupboards
Start the cabinet wrapping process by preparing your cupboards, crucial to ensure the perfect adhesion of the vinyl wrap or sheet with the cabinet surface. First of all, remove everything from the cabinet surface including the handle, lock, paint, and any decorative elements, and clean it by using a surface cleaner. It will remove all the dust, grease, or residues.
If your cabinet surface is uneven, you can sand it lightly to get the desired level of evenness or smoothness. You can also use a primer to create a better surface, it is usually used for cabinets with imperfections.
Measure and Cut the Wrap
The next step is measuring and cutting the wrap according to your cabinet size. Take an accurate scale or measuring tape and measure all sides correctly. Now make marks on the vinyl sheet according to measurements and use a sharp utility knife to cut it.
Make sure to leave a few extra inches on all sides to allow perfect coverage. You can cut the excessive edges after finishing the application process.
Apply The Wrap
Now comes the most important part, the application of vinyl sheets on the cabinet surface. Always start with the doors as they are the most crucial components of your cabinet. Peel off a small section of the backing from the vinyl wrap and carefully align it with the edge of the door.
You can use a squeegee or a credit card to remove any wrinkles or air bubbles. Be patient while applying the wrap on the surface and slowly apply the wrap all across the doors to ensure flawless wrapping.
Trim Excessive Edges
Once you have done with the application process, carefully notice and cut the excessive edges, especially around edges and fixtures. You can use a sharp utility knife to cut around the edges.
Apply Heat
Heat treatment by using a hairdryer or hot gun is crucial to ensure a smooth bond of the vinyl sheets with the cabinet surface. Make sure to start from the center and slowly work your way outward.
Reattach Hardware
Once the wrap is fully applied and trimmed, reattach any hardware such as handles or knobs to complete the transformation.
Bottom Line
Cabinet wrapping is a very simple, easy, and cost-effective solution to update your kitchen looks and value. With the right materials, a little patience, and following this step-by-step guide you can easily wrap your cabinets at a fraction of the cost.
To ensure perfect finishing and professional-looking results, we recommend you hire expert wrapping services like We Wrap, one of the top-ranked wrapping services. They will not only wrap your cupboards perfectly but will also save you time and protect you from unnecessary stress.