Hello everyone,
I’ve noticed that on my Malm chest of drawers, the thin plastic laminate has started to peel off along one of the top edges. This is the typical thin plastic film used on most IKEA MALM furniture to visually protect the MDF particleboard material.
My question is how to best repair this without having to remove the entire laminate or fully refurnish the piece. Are there any special adhesives or tapes suitable for this kind of repair?
I want the repair to be as discreet as possible and, above all, durable. Tips on how to proceed as well as recommendations for materials to use would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help!
I’ve noticed that on my Malm chest of drawers, the thin plastic laminate has started to peel off along one of the top edges. This is the typical thin plastic film used on most IKEA MALM furniture to visually protect the MDF particleboard material.
My question is how to best repair this without having to remove the entire laminate or fully refurnish the piece. Are there any special adhesives or tapes suitable for this kind of repair?
I want the repair to be as discreet as possible and, above all, durable. Tips on how to proceed as well as recommendations for materials to use would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hello josue35,
Thank you for the detailed description! When a coating peels off MALM furniture, it is usually a melamine resin-coated paper foil. This layer is thin, relatively delicate, and adhered to a particleboard or MDF substrate. Repairs are generally possible but require some care and precision.
First, you need to gently clean the edges of the peeled-off foil and remove any dust or loose material. A slightly damp microfiber cloth works best for this.
For the adhesive, I recommend water-resistant white glue or specialized wood glue, as these dry transparent and allow for a flexible bond. Superglue is usually too brittle and can cause further damage to the foil in this thin area.
Use a fine brush to carefully apply a thin layer of glue under the foil. Then press the foil gently back into place—using a small ruler is helpful to avoid air bubbles.
Make sure you avoid trapping wrinkles while pressing, and let the furniture rest for at least 12 hours, preferably with some weight on top to evenly distribute the pressure.
If the foil edges are frayed, it’s advisable to lightly trim them with a sharp cutter so they lay down better.
An alternative option is melamine repair kits from hardware stores, which consist of special adhesives and fillers. However, these are better suited for minor scratches rather than peeled-off foil corners.
Could you provide a bit more detail about the extent of the damage? How large is the peeled area? Is the underlying board damaged or just the foil?
Best regards,
Surela
Thank you for the detailed description! When a coating peels off MALM furniture, it is usually a melamine resin-coated paper foil. This layer is thin, relatively delicate, and adhered to a particleboard or MDF substrate. Repairs are generally possible but require some care and precision.
First, you need to gently clean the edges of the peeled-off foil and remove any dust or loose material. A slightly damp microfiber cloth works best for this.
For the adhesive, I recommend water-resistant white glue or specialized wood glue, as these dry transparent and allow for a flexible bond. Superglue is usually too brittle and can cause further damage to the foil in this thin area.
Use a fine brush to carefully apply a thin layer of glue under the foil. Then press the foil gently back into place—using a small ruler is helpful to avoid air bubbles.
Make sure you avoid trapping wrinkles while pressing, and let the furniture rest for at least 12 hours, preferably with some weight on top to evenly distribute the pressure.
If the foil edges are frayed, it’s advisable to lightly trim them with a sharp cutter so they lay down better.
An alternative option is melamine repair kits from hardware stores, which consist of special adhesives and fillers. However, these are better suited for minor scratches rather than peeled-off foil corners.
Could you provide a bit more detail about the extent of the damage? How large is the peeled area? Is the underlying board damaged or just the foil?
Best regards,
Surela
1. Clean the edge of the damaged membrane with a sharp cutter.
2. Carefully remove any dust from the area.
3. Apply a very thin layer of wood glue to the substrate panel; avoid using too much to prevent waves.
4. Gently press the membrane down and smooth it out with a clean, flat edge.
5. Weigh down the area and allow it to cure for at least 12 hours.
For larger damages, specialty membrane adhesive from a building supply store can be used to create a particularly durable bond. It is always important to follow the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
2. Carefully remove any dust from the area.
3. Apply a very thin layer of wood glue to the substrate panel; avoid using too much to prevent waves.
4. Gently press the membrane down and smooth it out with a clean, flat edge.
5. Weigh down the area and allow it to cure for at least 12 hours.
For larger damages, specialty membrane adhesive from a building supply store can be used to create a particularly durable bond. It is always important to follow the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Hey josue35,
“Chipped veneer on MALM furniture” sounds annoying at first, but with some patience and the right glue, it’s really easy to fix 🙂
I would even recommend lightly sanding the edge beforehand so the glue adheres better. Just go over it briefly with fine sandpaper.
Then, as already mentioned, use wood glue, apply it very thinly, press the veneer firmly in place, and put something heavy on top – for example, a few books.
Important: don’t use too much glue, or it will squeeze out and look quite unattractive in that area. With a bit of care, you can definitely manage it.
Looking forward to hearing how it goes! 🙂
“Chipped veneer on MALM furniture” sounds annoying at first, but with some patience and the right glue, it’s really easy to fix 🙂
I would even recommend lightly sanding the edge beforehand so the glue adheres better. Just go over it briefly with fine sandpaper.
Then, as already mentioned, use wood glue, apply it very thinly, press the veneer firmly in place, and put something heavy on top – for example, a few books.
Important: don’t use too much glue, or it will squeeze out and look quite unattractive in that area. With a bit of care, you can definitely manage it.
Looking forward to hearing how it goes! 🙂
Surela schrieb:
Can you describe the extent of the damage in more detail? How large is the chipped area? Is the underlying board damaged or just the laminate?Thank you for the detailed advice!
The chipped area is about 3 cm (1.2 inches) long and roughly 1 cm (0.4 inches) wide, so it’s an elongated section along the front upper edge of the drawer. The particleboard underneath appears intact—no splinters or cracks, just smooth when I gently run my fingers over it.
The laminate at the edge is basically bent back and detached, and in some places, you can see the adhesive layer, which seems to have lost its grip.
I can bend the laminate aside to access the area—would that be helpful, or am I risking further damage to the laminate by doing so?
Looking forward to your opinions.
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