Thread: melamine cabinet swelling - how to seal?

Good Morning Towersofdub

Firstly, welcome to the Forum with your maiden post.

Sad state of affairs with your bathroom cabinets. The real damage was done when the material for the cabinets was ordered in that it is ST (Standard) rather than HMR (High Moisture Resistant) melamine - the latter can be easily reconised in that the chipboard has a greenish colouring. ST melamine really does not have a place in any bathroom, kitchen or laundry; moisture in the form of water vapour will always attack it.

Unfortunately, eventually you will almost certainly have to replace it.

You can probably delay the inevitable by sealing all edges of the melamine sheeting. This would involve totally dismantling the cabinet, then applying two or three coats of a suitable sealant to all, repeat all, the edges where the chipboard is exposed. Epoxy, polyurethane, danish oil, varnish or even paint would probably work. But, at best, this is only likely to be a temporary or delaying fix. Water vapour will enter the smallest pin hole in the sealant, even at the microscopic level.

Sorry to be such a bearer of ill-tidings on your first post.


Fair Winds

Graeme

thanks for the reply graeme, i had an inkling this was bad but not that bad.

to make things even better these are new renovations only a few weeks old...

Sh*t happens.

I always use HMR melamine. It's usually the same price as ST, but for some unfathomable reason, many outlets, especially Big-Chain branches, do not stock it.

Was the "oversight" yours or someone elses. If a cabinet was bought as a bathroom cabinet and was later found to be made from non-HMR melamine (ie from water-absorbent chipboard) then it is arguable that the cabinet was not "fit for purpose". Probably not worth the hassles - write it off as one of life's little learning experiences....


Fair Winds

Graeme

Originally Posted by towersofdub

thanks for the reply graeme, i had an inkling this was bad but not that bad.

to make things even better these are new renovations only a few weeks old...

We have the same problem in out kitchen.
My plan is to seal it with two pack poly.

Originally Posted by BobL

We have the same problem in out kitchen.
My plan is to seal it with two pack poly.

Bob, please bite your tongue on my next comment.

Towersofdub, Bob is very knowledgable and very experienced, yet he is in a similar situation to you. We all benefit from hindsight.

Back to you, Bob. Are you sure that the two-pack poly will be compatible with the glues in the chipboard? Normally two-pack needs a virgin surface to be worry free. I would have guessed that one-pot would have been more reliable.


Fair Winds

Graeme

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Bob, please bite your tongue on my next comment.

Towersofdub, Bob is very knowledgable and very experienced, yet he is in a similar situation to you. We all benefit from hindsight.

Back to you, Bob. Are you sure that the two-pack poly will be compatible with the glues in the chipboard? Normally two-pack needs a virgin surface to be worry free. I would have guessed that one-pot would have been more reliable.

I agree, It's just a plan based on the way the Wattyl 708 went over the old epoxy 2 pack on the kitchen bench. I'll give it a try on one door and report back.

Did you complete the renovation yourself if not the builder is liable and has to replace it !!!