How to wrap your kitchen doors yourself
With patience and the right order of steps, you can get a long way. These are the same steps our wrappers follow. Start with a drawer at the side, so you learn how the film behaves.
What you need
- The film, plus 10% extra
- A felt-edged squeegee
- A sharp snap-off knife
- A hairdryer or heat gun
- Degreaser and a clean cloth
-
Preparation
Take the doors off the cabinets and unscrew the handles. Degrease everything thoroughly: grease and dust are the main cause of bubbles and edges that lift. Fill any holes and dents and sand them smooth.
-
Measuring and cutting
Cut the film for each door with about 2 to 3 cm extra all round. With wood effects, watch the direction of the grain: it should run the same way on every door.
-
Applying
Peel back a small piece of the backing and fix the film at the top. Work outwards from the centre with the squeegee, peeling the backing off bit by bit as you go.
-
Edges and corners
Warm the film briefly at the edges with the hairdryer so it becomes supple. Fold it around the edge and press it down firmly. Cut into the corners at an angle so the film doesn't double up.
-
Finishing
Trim the excess film neatly at the back. Prick any air bubble with the tip of your knife and smooth it flat. Refit the handles and hang the doors back up.