How to Add Molding to Melamine Cabinets

Written By
Ian Kenney
Ian Kenney
Published: Nov 25, 2009
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

Instructions

  1. Choose a molding that accents but doesn't overwhelm your cabinet. Real wood looks great next to melamine, but you may also opt for a unified look by purchasing melamine molding. Either way, choose a strategy and sketch out what you want the finished product to look like.

  2. Clean your cabinet thoroughly. Consider using trisodium phosphate (TSP)--a heavy duty multi-purpose cleaner and degreaser--to ensure that all debris, dirt and grease are removed.

  3. Cut your trim pieces using your miter box and saw. If you opted to add a rectangular molding to the door faces, for example, bevel each piece at 45 degrees to get a professional looking fit. Finish that with a matching trim at the top of the cabinet facing by mitering those pieces at 45 degrees. To bevel a trim piece, place the flat side down on the bottom of the box. To miter, place the flat side down against the rear fence.

  4. Paint the cabinet before attaching your trim pieces, if you like. Begin by scuff sanding the cleaned surface with a 240 grit sandpaper and wipe away the dust. Apply a multi-surface primer or melamine primer and finish with melamine paint in the color of your choice. Follow the paint manufacturer's instructions for application. Some melamine paints call for a natural bristle brush, some work better with a foam brush and still others with a roller.

  5. Measure for even placement of your trim accents, then liberally apply adhesive to the pieces. Press the molding into place on your door facings first, then weight them with a large, flat item like a coffee table book. Allow the adhesive to dry completely, then repeat these steps for the crown pieces. A clamp is a helpful way to hold the crown trim in place while the adhesive drys.

References

Resources

Tips

Create a more dramatic look by outlining the door facings with molding, then create an additional, smaller rectangle centered on each door.

Warnings

Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning with TSP.

Use oil-based products in a well ventilated area.

Ian Kenney

Ian Kenney began his writing career in 1994 at a small daily in Florida covering the politics and crime beats. Kenney's fiction and poetry have appeared in "The Florida Review," "Kudzu" and "The Missouri Review." Currently, he is a writer…

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