There are a couple of things that ‘stand out’ about mobile home interiors. For instance, if you looked at two photos of kitchens, one being a mobile home, you’d probably know which one was a mobile home because of the cabinets (the notorious VOG wall panels are the other ‘stand out’).
Most mobile home cabinets are typically made with particle board or MDF that has a top layer made of paper, laminate, melamine, Thermofoil, or veneer.
In this article, we’ll share a few methods to repair damaged particle board and MDF along with tips for painting mobile home cabinets with different top layers.
Keep reading or click on the topic you’re most interested in:
MDF and Common MDF Coatings
Though it has a bad reputation with mobile homeowners there’s nothing wrong with MDF.
Furniture and cabinet makers use MDF because it’s so smooth and dense and easy to work with. Plus, it makes use of construction waste and is usually more affordable than real wood. There’s a lot to like about MDF. All in all, it’s a great material but it has a couple of big downfalls: it doesn’t stand up to water very well at all and it doesn’t have a ‘grain’ like real wood.
Since MDF soaks up water like a sponge and doesn’t have a grain it needs a top layer adhered to give it both when used for cabinetry.
There is a lot of confusion about these top layers because the material can range from paper to plastic. That’s why it’s so important to know what your cabinets are coated with.
Particle board is NOT smooth because it’s made with sawdust and wood chips glued together into a sheet form. I’ve seen a few mobile homes with particle board cabinets but newer models will typically have MDF.
Paper
In most mobile homes, the top layer is just a special paper coated with a finish that makes it waterproof and easy to clean. Clayton Homes call the top layer on their MDF cabinets ‘textured paper wrapping.’
Laminate
Laminate is a more expensive material but it stands up against water and wears better than most of the other options.
For high-pressure laminate, they use a 4 step process: soaking sheets of wood-grain or solid printed paper in a plastic resin, letting them dry, layering them, and then thermosetting it all together. The sheets are then cured using 1200-200 psi pressure that creates a very smooth and durable surface thus the name high-pressure laminate. More expensive laminates may use plastic or foil instead of paper.
Clayton Homes used MDF cabinetry with paper wrapping in most of their homes until 2018 when they began using DuraCraft cabinets that are coated with a ‘proprietary PVC vinyl single-ply laminate material.’
Melamine
Melamine is also called direct or low-pressure laminate because it’s created the same way as laminate. They take sheets of paper and soak them in resin solids to create a plastic-like surface using thermal fusion. Melamine is much thinner than laminate so it only requires 300-500 psi to adhere it to the MDF. It typically only has a 5-year lifespan.
Veneer
A veneer is made from real wood so it’s more expensive but longer-lasting. A tree is peeled creating a very thin sheet. The sheets can be layered to create a stronger thicker material that can be stained and even sanded.
Thermafoil
Thermofoil is made by heating and molding vinyl to the MDF in a special vacuum press. It’s the most affordable option of the four and offers a smooth durable surface. Thermofoil is prone to delaminating and peeling around the edges of cabinet doors.
How to Repair Mobile Home Cabinets
MDF-coated cabinetry simply isn’t made to last. I once read that MDF cabinets have anb estimated 7-10 year lifespan. Here are a few tips to repair common issues that occur with MDF cabints:
How to Repair a Top Layer that’s Peeling
While the MDF itself is strong and long-lasting, the top coatings aren’t quite as durable. It tends to peel away from the MDF.
Paper
If the paper is still in one piece but has simply peeled away at a corner, Home Depot recommends using contact cement to glue it back down.
However, most of the time the topcoat tends to peel or curl around the edges and has missing areas like the image below:
To repair paper that has peeled at the corners and is missing an area you’ll first need to find a paper that matches the grain of the cabinet.
Places You May Find Matching Paper:
Finding a matching paper with the same colors and wood grain design will be difficult but it may not be impossible (we’re just talking about paper, not veneer). Check the following places:
- Your local craft store
- Scrapbooking section of Etsy
- Print it yourself
If you managed to find a match, carefully cut away the loose paper without cutting into the MDF. You’ll probably have the best results by cutting the damaged paper away in a square or rectangle shape. That makes it easier to glue the matching paper.
To adhere a new piece of matching paper most pros recommend contact cement, just follow the manufacturer’s directions.
If the peeling is extensive (like the image below) you will probably want to paint or reface all of the cabinets. Learn how to do both below.
Damaged Laminate, Melamine, or Thermafoil
If the laminate, malamine, or thermafoil is peeling or damaged it’s probably best to remove the top layer all together. A heat gun or hair dryer is all you need. The image below shows laminate being removed using a heat gun. You can watch the entire video below:
How to Repair Crumbling MDF
If the MDF itself is crumbling around the edges of your cabinet or has chunks missing you may still be able to repair it using wood filler, epoxy putty, or Bondo (yes, the company that makes automotive filler, however, they have a product for homes). You can see exactly how it’s done at Faceliftfurniture.com but here’s the process in photos:
Check this link out to see more wood filler examples.
Refacing Mobile Home Cabinets
Refacing means you remove the old cabinet doors and install completely new doors while keeping the original framework that the doors are attached to.
If you have a small kitchen, it may be cheaper and easier to just replace the doors instead of trying to repair them if there’s a lot of damage. You can buy new doors at Home Depot.
However, the most affordable way to replace mobile home cabinet doors is to make your own.
The Beneath My Heart blog has a wonderful tutorial that shows you how to make your own kitchen cabinet doors using a 4’x8′ sheet of MDF and trim. Amazingly, she was able to make the new doors for around $4.00 each! You can see exactly how to make the doors here. The photos below show how the trim was attached:
Here’s a video that shows you how to build shaker style cabinet doors:
How to Paint Mobile Home Cabinets
Painting is always the most affordable option to update kitchens if the MDF and laminate is in good condition.
Pro Tip: You can still use your original cabinet doors if they have slight crumbling along the edges or corners. All you have to do is cover the damage with shaker style trim around the edges of the cabinet door and paint.
The secret for painting laminate is all in the preparation. Properly sanding, priming, and cleaning the surface before you paint is extremely important. Here’s how to do all three:
Step 1: Cleaning the Cabinets
Painting professionals always say that preparing the surface is the secret to getting great results when painting anything. This is especially true for kitchen cabinetry because you can’t see grease or small cooking particles and smoke that sticks to every surface.
The primer and paint must create a true bond to the surface it is applied or it will peel and bubble. The only way to do that is to clean the surface extremely well and then clean it again.
TSP is the most recommended cleaning agent for cabinets but a few bloggers say Dawn dishwashing liquid works just as well.
Step 2: Sanding (Only if Needed)
This is a controversial step because some MDF laminates won’t need to be sanded because it can rip and tear the laminate.
If you have newer cabinets with a paper wrap that is in good condition it’s probably best to skip this step.
For shiny laminate or melamine skin over your MDF you may want to lightly sand it to give the primer better gripping power. If your cabinets are especially shiny you can also use a liquid sander to
Only sand with very fine sandpaper if it will help you achieve a smoother surface. Be sure to clean the surface again after sanding and use a tack cloth.
MobileHomeFarmHouse got great results after painting their mobile home cabinets and they shared their process:
1st we used gray Gripper primer. We applied two coats of this. Then we used BEHR paint and primer in one premium plus. We used two coats of that also. This formula was recommended to us by the man at the paint counter at Home Depot. They will mix up any paint color as a sample for around $3.50. Trust me it’s well worth getting many samples before deciding on a color. I think I had around 10. The colors do not look the same after going over the primer!
@mobilehomefarmhouse on Instagram
Step 3: Priming
Priming MDF cabinets
Most Recommended Primers
Click here for help choosing the best primer.
Step 4: Sanding
Sanding between two coats of primer is industry standard. The sanding is done with very fine sandpaper.
Step 5: Painting
Once the primer has been sanded and cured its time to paint. Two light coats of latex paint is most recommended.
Paint is definitely one of those ‘get what you pay for’ products, much like manufactured homes themselves.
Popular Paint Brands for Painting Laminate Mobile Home Cabinets
- Valspar’s Gloss Latex Enamel Interior/Exterior Paint and Primer in One
- PrepRite ProBlock Interior/Exterior Latex Primer/Sealer
- Benjamin Moore Aura
- Olympic’s Zero-VOC Latex Paint in Semigloss
- Varathane Floor Finish as a Sealer
Step 6: Sealing
Using a sealant after painting your mobile home cabinets is a personal preference. Most pros don’t see a need for it if you’ve used the best paint and primer. Sometimes sealant can turn white paint yellow so be sure to test it out beforehand.
Painting Laminate Mobile Home Cabinets with Chalk Paint with Annie Sloan
More Professional Advice for Painting Mobile Home Cabinets
The following tips are also recommended by painting pros.
Tip #1 Remove the doors and hardware. There are small painter triangles you can buy to hold the doors off the ground a bit.
Tip #2 Consider using a quality paint sprayer. I’ve had great results with the Wagner Spraytech 0529010 FLEXiO 590 HVLP Paint Sprayer.
Tip #3 Use a paint additive like Floetrol.
Tip #4 Strain the primer, paint, and the Floetrol well before using.
Tip #5 A lot of bloggers love chalk paint. If you’re interested in using it watch this video from Ace Hardware:
Painting Laminate Cabinets with Chalk Paint – Ace Hardware
Related: Get 7 more affordable mobile home kitchen cabinet makeover ideas here.
Painting Laminate Cabinets with Beyond Paint
With all this information you should be well-prepared to update your mobile home cabinets regardless of what they’re made from. Have you repaired or painted your cabinets? We’d love to hear about it below.
As always, thank you for reading Mobile Home Living®!
I used Nuvo cabinet paint two years ago in my heavily used kitchen. It as easy to use, cleaned up easily, and has held up beautifully since then. Not a mark anywhere. I did not sand or prime, but did wash everything down first.
Hi there Teresa! I have done a good deal of repair work when needed (like all the time). A trick I do is put a good amount of wood glue in the screw hole or wood putty. Insert a toothpick and break it off in the hole. Use as many pieces of toothpick as you need to fill the hole. Add glue or putty as needed to make it full. Then let it dry. Then sand it smooth by sanding till flush with the rest of the door. Screw in your screws with the hardware in place. Sometimes it holds well enough until you get enough money to replace the doors. Lol.
Don’t let the kids hang on the doors.
Don’t use your space as a soccar field.
Keep the dog and his ball away from the cabinets.
Just some additional tips on keeping the cabinet doors from being damaged. Those toothpicks don’t last for ever! Lol. Good luck, my dear!
Hi Ivory,
You could maybe use a liquid sander and deglosser. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it but have only used it once on a coffee table and it held up for a couple of years before it started peeling on top (my family doesn’t know what a coaster is though so it probably would have lasted a lot longer had they used them).
best of luck!
Could I use a cabinet painting kit like this? https://www.homedepot.com/p/NuVo-2-qt-Coconut-Espresso-Cabinet-Paint-Kit-FG-NU-COCONT-KI/204384589
The kit instructions recommend sanding. Could I skip that are just use a separate primer first?
Thanks again for the article.Thanks Again. Great. Virginia Nievas
This is one of the best articles ( out of many ) that you have ever posted that really provides useful information. Upgrading and repairing can be a challenge for many people living in a mobile home and this article gives detailed steps and actions. As someone that is always asked by my neighbors to “fix” items in their homes – you just provided me with additional knowledge set along with information I can use to “explain” and show them the different options that be used to “fix” a cabinet problem. Each issue of MHL always leaves me with a feeling of amazement and wonder – living in a mobile home is cool.
Thanks for the input Crystal!! Have found many useful tips on this website.
Hi Teresa,
That could be a sign that your home is not level. You can learn more about leveling manufactured homes here. It could also mean your cabinets are unlevel. I would try replacing the hinges first and then go from there. Best of luck!
My cabinet doors don’t want to stay on. I glued some of the screws into place. Do I need to replace this mdf board on front of the cabinets
Hi Cindy,
You may be able to glue a new veneer sheet or thin wood over the original surface (I don’t recommend removing the original surface as that protects the MDF and keeps it from chipping and degrading). It’s getting easier to find veneers nowadays so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a design that matches well. Best of luck!
All of our doors are peeling is there a way to get the layer of woodgrain coating off and get a wood grain look back. Don’t know that a solid painted door would look that good and would need to go with the door trim
Hi Kitty,
I have no other tips besides those in the article and in the comments. Hopefully, they can help you get some great results. Best of luck!
Fixing cabinets with holes. Double wide. I want to add the MDF board and color code the appropriate color and type to repair. Any suggestions to repair.
Thanks for your suggestions…..do you think that I would get better coverage by painting them a color rather than white?
Hi Judy,
You absolutely can paint them and yes, most are made of a composite material. Use the tips in this article. Basically clean the surface as much as possible and use the best name brand paint and primer you can that will work on your surface (you may want to take a door to your paint store so they can determine the right type of paint and primer). Paint has come a long way in the past few years, the expensive stuff has a great bond.
Best of luck!
Good morning Crystal….I’m so pleased to have found your site. I know I can remove the thermofoil from my cabinet doors using my hairdryer. My doors are so lightweight that they almost feel like plastic. Is it possible that they are? If so, can they be painted? I’ve not seen anything about doors being made of plastic so hoping they aren’t. I’ve removed thermofoil from MDF doors and they were much heavier. Thank you for any help.
How do you get the paper off?
Hi Rema,
You absolutely can replace those. I’ve seen a lot of people remove the glass and scrap the corner scroll designs off them and put them back to give the kitchen a fresh simple look. You can use anything as long as it fits in the clamps. Please take photos of your project – I’d love to add it!
Thank you for this article it has answered so many of my questions. I have a few cabinets with “glass” inserts is it possible to change out with real clear glass? How would I do that. Thanks again.
Hi Janice,
You can glue them loose ends back and paint over them or you can remove the paper altogether and paint. Use the tips in the article for paint. Best of luck!
I have real oak cabinet doors but the rest has paper coming of on corners. How do I paint that?
Hi Janice,
That paper is probably thermafoil or just plain ole laminate. You can paint them using the same information above. Best of luck!
My cabinets in my kitchen the doors are real wood but the wood around them is not real it has like paper peeling off so how do I paint?
Hi Cindy,
If it’s Thermafoil or laminated the gloss wouldn’t be so easy to remove. Can you feel a seam on the edge or on the backside? That would be indicative of a laminated film. If they aren’t laminated they may be real wood or at least a wood veneer which would make sense that it’s absorbing grease.
I’d remove a door and see if a cabinet pro could help at your home improvement store.
Best of luck!
Hi Lynn,
Usually, the cabinets are covered with a material called Thermafoil but it kinda sounds like you may have ‘real’ wood or at least a real wood veneer. That would soak up grease a lot faster than the laminated cabinets. I would think a polyurethane would work on most all surfaces but you will should take a door to a paint store and see what they suggest.
We recently moved into a Champion home. I was able to choose many of the features for the home including the kitchen cabinets. I love the cream colored wood grain cabinets but don’t know what material was used on them. I have noticed a couple of grease spots. Can I seal them before they are ruined? If so, what would you suggest I use?
Thank you so much for your website.
I live in a manufactured home and want to paint my cabinets. I am still unclear after reading this article what kind of material they are. All I know is they have a very glossy coat and the glossy coat comes off if I clean them with water. It isn’t paper. I’ve been researching this seems like forever and just can’t seem to come up with what types of finish they are. Can you help? Thanks.
Hi Christina,
You may be able to use the Bondo to build up the worn edging and then paint or you could add a 1-2″ frame around the door to cover the worn area? The white with black hardware would look great with black appliances!
Thank you, Christine! So glad you found us!
Love this website thank you for creating a resource for modular and mobile home owners. Looking forward to remodeling the inside and updating.
Hi, I own a modular home and want to paint my kitchen cabinets. The challenge is they are beveled and that area is worn. I’m not sure I can sand them, I’d like to paint the doors or should I make new ones? My appliances are black, I was thinking of painting the cabinets a soft country white and adding black hardware and hinges. Ideas and suggestions please.
Hi Debra! Thank you for commenting. I always appreciate kind words!
I love my mobile home and your site. I was raised in a brick house. I saw my first mobile home in 1969 and fell in love with it. I live in a 14×70 1997 Clayton Mobile Home. Thank you for this site and all your helpful information.
Excellent article, very helpful!