Water-damaged chipboard

Safesurfer1 · Saturday at 9:13 PM

I found a lovely little cupboard left out on the street and brought it home. However, it has some water damage which has penetrated into some of the chipboard on the top and made it sodden. The protective layer has bubbled and peeled away at some of the edges. If I remove the protective layer and dry out the actual chipboard, what do I need to do to add a new protective layer on top - what product do I need, some kind of vinyl? Thanks in advance!

ETAF · Saturday at 9:26 PM

just a diyer and had this a few times, side of kitchen end panels , mainly from floor being cleaned and also an unnoticed leak from the dishwasher drain , chewed by mice , and a toilet cupboard front panel after a unnoticed cistern leak.

I did not manage to fix either, tried allowing to dry out and then i did try - using a lot of wood hardner (which is quite expensive ) and then a lot clamping with material covering to try an recompress

for me nothing really worked out

But i'm sure some of the professional may help out
photos may help

what do you mean by

If I remove the protective layer and dry out the actual chipboard,

Do you mean the laminate , melamine, veneer or a plastic finish often found on doors ???

big-all · Saturday at 9:53 PM

Dependent on design forget repair but think something like add something like timberboard with a added rounded edge overhanging the top around 20mm assuming board around 18mm thick

endecotp · Sunday at 5:40 AM

Replace the top with a new piece of board of some sort. The chipboard will have turned into wheatabix.

(Post a photo?)

HERTS P&D · Sunday at 9:26 AM

Throw it away.

Andy

Safesurfer1 · Sunday at 9:33 AM

ETAF said:
Do you mean the laminate , melamine, veneer or a plastic finish often found on doors ???

Thanks. It's the layer of plastic/formica/vinyl or whatever it is that is stuck to the top of the chipboard. Because it's got wet, it peels off like brown wrapping paper (see picture). The chipboard underneath is damp but salvageable I think, if I peel off the layer and dry the wood out. I just wondered what a suitable material would be to re-cover it afterwards.

Harry Bloomfield · Sunday at 9:41 AM

Safesurfer1 said:
Because it's got wet, it peels off like brown wrapping paper (see picture). The chipboard underneath is damp but salvageable I think, if I peel off the layer and dry the wood out. I just wondered what a suitable material would be to re-cover it afterwards.

It's not worth the expense, or effort, because it will all be wasted. Once water gets into that material, it is doomed.

ETAF · Sunday at 10:06 AM

checkout the rest of the wood , doors, sides etc , i suspect its not just the top

little cupboard left out on the street and brought it home.

Saved them the trouble of taking to the dump

I suspect for the amount of money you will spend , its really not worth it , as i said i have tried to do this and failed and spent a lot of money on products to put it right

If you went to a charity shop that has furniture , we have a few in chichester , brown furniture is often just given away, i'm sure you may find something very cheap , and maybe better quality for the amount of money you may end up spending on this item

Deluks · Sunday at 10:42 AM

For the bin, unless you use it for storage in the garage or something. Depends what you want it for.

If it really is just the top that's damaged, you might be able to dismantle the top section, and replace it with something else.

Wildcard option! Plywood top, then tile it.

Safesurfer1 · Sunday at 11:55 AM

Deluks said:
For the bin, unless you use it for storage in the garage or something. Depends what you want it for.

If it really is just the top that's damaged, you might be able to dismantle the top section, and replace it with something else.

Wildcard option! Plywood top, then tile it.

It's actually just one corner of the top, not all of it. It's a DVD/ video cabinet. I was going to buy one anyway so hopefully I can rescue it as the rest of it is in good condition.

foxhole · Sunday at 12:02 PM

Safesurfer1 said:
It's actually just one corner of the top, not all of it. It's a DVD/ video cabinet. I was going to buy one anyway so hopefully I can rescue it as the rest of it is in good condition.

Charity shops are full of them .

Deluks · Sunday at 12:12 PM

You can probably find a replacement top in the same style. But you'll need to cut it and iron-on edge it.

As stated, another second hand one would probably be cheaper. If you can transport it or score free delivery.

MFC Lancaster Oak Furniture Panel- 15 x 600 x 2400mm | Wickes.co.uk

MFC Lancaster Oak Furniture Panel- 15 x 600 x 2400mm

www.wickes.co.uk

JohnD · Sunday at 2:50 PM

That looks like vinyl-wrapped chipboard, a very cheap and poor quality product.

If you can get another piece of board, screw it to the old top, once dry, rather than waste time trying to get the old one off. Make it a bit bigger so the overhang hides the join.

There may be a DIY shed or timber merchant near you willing to cut a piece of furniture board to size. They will make a much cleaner cut than you can do yourself.

Laminated board is better quality and more durable.

Edit
@Deluks link is more expensive than I realised. I wonder if they do a 4 foot or 1 metre length?

I wouldn't spend much on the one you've got. Look on your local Freegle page.

diynot

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Water-damaged chipboard

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