Contact paper is a useful item for redecorating kitchens. It can be used in cabinets and on pantry shelving to provide semi-permanent protection from scratches and stains. High quality contact paper can be easily wiped down and sanitized. It can be installed in old or new cabinets on top of the bare particle board or over a coat of paint.

You can choose contact paper in a wide variety of patterns and colors. If your cabinet exteriors are painted white, a bright gingham or flowered contact paper provides a surprising contrast. There also specialized types of film lining that are skid resistant or have bug repellant properties.

Removing/Replacing Old Contact Paper

Is there already contact paper in place that you don’t really like? You aren’t stuck with it. A few removal tricks can make redecoration quick and painless. Use a hair dryer to warm the surface of the old contact paper and restore some flexibility in the plastic film.

The heat will also melt the underlying adhesive just enough so that a corner will easily peel back. From that corner, you can work the hair dryer gradually over the entire surface. Pull the contact paper off at the same time with your other hand. Work slowly so that the old paper is less likely to split into fragments as you peel it off. Once the paper is removed, residual adhesive needs to be wiped away. Use ‘Goo Gone’ or another citrus type cleaner.

Let the surface dry completely before attempting to put in the new contact paper. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation. Use a soft cloth to smooth the surface of the paper with gentle pressure from the palm of your hand.

Once all the bubbles are gone from underneath the paper, carefully trim away any excess with a pair of sharp scissors. A nice even edge on the contact paper will make your kitchen cabinets look professionally redone.

Related posts:

1. Tips For Refurbishing Kitchen Cabinets
2. Universal Design for Kitchen Cabinets
3. Old Painted Cabinets – New Wood Look
4. Installing Base Cabinets
5. Kitchen Cabinets

Tags: Kitchens

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 28th, 2010 at 8:46 pm and is filed under Kitchens. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.