Vinyl wrapped kitchen doors 'bubbling' ??

motleyinvestor

All doors/drawers/end panels have delaminated 5 years installation which was very frustrating. All the kitchen cabinets and worktops are fine.

After a lot of talking to people and web research, look for "bespoke interiors" and "vinyl-doors-pros-and-cons"
Extract below:
"... The vinyl door industry had a real problem around 2007-2009. At the time, door manufacturers were unaware that MDF board manufacturers had changed the way they manufactured MDF, specifically that they had begun using a different type of adhesive to bond the fibres together.

The new adhesives reacted with the adhesives used to laminate the vinyl to the MDF and unfortunately the reaction wasn’t instant so it wasn’t immediately picked up on. It took nearly 5 years for the doors to begin peeling and the peeling was extensive! There were occasions when the entire kitchen door delaminated with the handle being the only thing keeping the vinyl on the door. Because the board manufacturers supply most door manufacturers, the results were the same for nearly every vinyl door supplier in the industry.

Thankfully this problem was rectified and through this process the industry learned a lot and now produces better adhesives and can now give longer guarantees as mentioned above. This problem is now a thing of the past……but that doesn’t mean the doors can never peel!"

Thankfully the company (ECF) who produced the doors agreed to replace all the failed components free of charge. Next time I would not choose Vinyl Wrap and instead look at alternative products such as painted wood, acrylic, lacquered or Egger board (e.g. PerfectSense) . They will cost more but worth it rather than having problems in years to come. If you are really stuck, then google around and there are people who have tried to glue the delaminated Vinyl Wraps back down.

frankie

So is there an idiot's guide from the 'expert' knowledge base on here for non-savvy consumers about what types of doors are currently available along with their pro's and cons.


I have tried googling but it is so confusing!

Furts

frankie wrote: »

So is there an idiot's guide from the 'expert' knowledge base on here for non-savvy consumers about what types of doors are currently available along with their pro's and cons.


I have tried googling but it is so confusing!

Solid timber doors are foolproof. Obviously treat with respect, and timber needs a sealing coat be this a paint, a laquer, a wax or whatever. But then think laterally - the Victorians and right through to WW2 and all internal doors on houses were made like this. They took endless bashing and survived. Today people wants things cheap, they do not want things to last, they want their doors to be obsolete within say 5 years. Consequently good timber doors are not fashionable, be it on houses or on kitchens. But also nothing wrong with a timber door with an inset laminated panel - it will be cheaper. But again it is not fashionable.

If you get mdf doors there is a problem - even if the finish seems good you do not know the type, or grade of mdf used to make the doors. Plus mdf does not take kindly to knocks on the edges.

[Deleted User]

Some of this was entered in error so not fair to leave it in place.

Doozergirl

That would be pretty MSE if you hadn't have put your company name in. It's against the rules.

Any chance of you removing that rather than losing your post through it being reported?

Loddonite

There are two legal routes that I am aware of: the first is current consumer protection legislation. There is a second option for those whose kitchen is now out of the period covered by the Consumer Rights Act and that is the Latent Damage Act. This potentially provides redress for customers whose vinyl-wrapped kitchens are showing signs of bubbling, cracking and splitting and where this can be shown to be a result of an inherent manufacturing defect that the seller would or could have been aware of. Applications to court need to be submitted within 12 years of the date that the units were fitted by the supplier, depending on when you first noticed the issue. I suggest that you consult a solicitor (NB I am not a solicitor!).

thrombel

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I'm also wondering about German kitchens. I do have a distinct preference for buying German whenever I can.

Does anyone know of stockists of cheap to mid-price range German kitchens in West Wales?

I do know about Homebase stocking Odina kitchens - but I'm not too sure about them and they don't seem to have the Shaker kitchens I like in that range either.

We have got a German kitchen. Its made by Kuhlmann. Nearly 7 years old & no signs of wear or tear whatsoever. It gets a lot of usage - family of 4.

Gloss units with 12 coats of lacquer. Very strong & durable. But this obviously comes at a price....

Theres also Schuller (German kitchen manufactuer) who at the time of us getting quotes, had lacquered doors too, but were cheaper than Kuhlmann.

When looking around, ask if the doors are lacquered or foil wrapped....
& how many coats of lacquer.....

Check out independent kitchen retailers who stock German kitchens.

Davesnave

thrombel wrote: »

We have got a German kitchen. Its made by Kuhlmann. Nearly 7 years old & no signs of wear or tear whatsoever. It gets a lot of usage - family of 4.

Gloss units with 12 coats of lacquer. Very strong & durable. But this obviously comes at a price....

Theres also Schuller (German kitchen manufactuer) who at the time of us getting quotes, had lacquered doors too, but were cheaper than Kuhlmann.

When looking around, ask if the doors are lacquered or foil wrapped....
& how many coats of lacquer.....

Check out independent kitchen retailers who stock German kitchens.

This is all very interesting, but this thread has already had more lives than a cat and the person whom you quoted has long since had their kitchen installed.


ZOMBIE THREAD ALERT!

handygirl

Has anybody come up with any advice regarding getting the bubbling out of the doors, if possible?

Tmalone

It is an impossible task
After much research I found the cause was due to manufacturers using an eco glue which was obviously not up to the job 
After many complaints u managed to have all my units replaced free if charge due to this process. 
It pays to complain