Painted Vs. Thermofoil Cabinets [Explained with Pros + Cons]

Are you struggling to choose between painted and thermofoil cabinets?

The challenge of making a choice is common when designing new cabinets or overhauling your existing design.

High-gloss or solid color matte thermofoil cabinets closely resemble painted cabinets. That’s why the two are common alternatives in a kitchen design.

Nevertheless, you would want cabinets that suit your budget and lifestyle.

In this article, we’ll get down to the nitty-gritty of both painted and thermofoil cabinets. We’ll examine their features, advantages, disadvantages, and differentiating features.

JUMP TO: Pros & Cons of Thermofoil Cabinet | Pros and Cons of Painted Cabinets | Painted Cabinet Vs. Thermofoil Cabinet

Table of Comparison

Parameters	Thermofoil	Painted
Resistance to Damage	Resistant to damage	Highly vulnerable to common kitchen damages
Ease of Cleaning	Easy to clean	Delicate in that it easily gets affected by water
Cost	Cheaper	Slightly expensive
Refinishing	Quite tough to do refinishing	Easy to refinish
Heat Resistance	Highly vulnerable to heat	Resistant to heat damage
Installation	Takes less time	Takes longer
Durability	Highly durable	Durability can be compromised in busy homes
Aesthetics	Limited varieties	Numerous color varieties

Thermofoil Cabinets

Source: dagigathermofoil.com

Thermofoil is a type of PVC vinyl color coating fused to a veneer or solid wood surface using heat. The result is a smooth, seamless finish.

Thermofoil has been around for the last 30 years. However, It has highly evolved since it first emerged on the market.

Although most thermofoil finishes are white or off-white, some manufacturers offer various colors and even faux wood grain patterns.

Thermofoil cabinets have varying levels of shine, such as:

Matte thermofoil
Textured thermofoil
High-gloss thermofoil

A thermofoil cabinet door was exclusive to modern kitchen designs in the past. But, today, they are also more prevalent in transitional spaces.

Pros

Low maintenance and easy care
Less expensive (although the price varies based on the color or faux finish you choose)
Easy to wipe clean
Moisture resistant

Cons

Have low heat resistance
Prone to yellowing (primarily white and off-white colors)
Prone to water damage if there are dents or scratches on the vinyl coating.
The thermofoil cabinet door is heavier, making installation a bit challenging.

Painted Cabinets

Source: julieblanner.com

Painting is one of the best ways to transform your home. It’s a means of bringing more personality into your home.

With painted cabinets, you can choose from the numerous colors on the market. However, according to a study, white is the most popular color.

Source: homestratosphere.com

So, how do painted cabinets hold up in an average kitchen?

MDF (medium density fiberboard) and birch are the best paint-grade engineered wood products as they have the smoothest and most uniform surfaces of laminate cabinets. However, you can also opt for:

soft maple
alder
hard maple
European Beech

Does that mean you cannot paint other solid wood species?

Of course, you can paint any other solid wood, but if it has large wood grains and knots, it will surely defect the painted finish.

Consequently, some solid wood you should avoid for painted cabinets includes oak and ash.

Pros

Enhances the beauty of your kitchen space
Relatively durable
Super-resistant to heat, dings, and dents
Can be refinished any time rather than replaced

Cons

More expensive
The paint is thick and may hide some fine details/ character features of your natural wood cabinets.
The painting process is pretty tedious.
Touch-ups can be challenging if you don’t have the exact paint color handy.

8 Key Differences Between Painted and Thermofoil Cabinets

Resistance to Damage

Thermofoil cabinetry is more resistant to hand scratches and regular damage from water spillage than paint.

However, if your thermo cabinets get severe cuts or scratches to the point of exposing the underneath, it’s almost impossible to repair them.

Crashes and bangs are common in the kitchen. When they happen, painted cabinets show damage more than thermofoil. The same happens with dents and stress cracks.

Verdict: Thermofoil cabinets are more resistant to common kitchen damages than painted ones.

Ease of Cleaning

Cleaning-wise, thermofoil is a walk in the park. A quick wipe is all it takes to have your thermofoil cabinets sparkling.

As such, thermo is a prevalent choice for homeowners looking for an easy-to-clean kitchen design.

On the other hand, cleaning painted cabinets is tricky. They can swell, split or lose their finish even with little exposure to water.

Verdict: Thermofoil cabinets are easy to clean than painted ones.

Cost

Thermofoil is way less expensive than paint. Its manufacturing process is easier and quicker since it’s a machine that handles all the heat shrinking and vacuum pressuring work.

According to several homeowners, thermofoil cabinets cost between $300 and $350 per linear foot. However, the cost of painting a cabinet ranges between $395 and $1,254.

Cabinet painting is an 8-step process that requires multiple coats of primer, base paint, actual paint, and top coat. Plus, a significant amount of labor is needed.

Consequently, the cost of painted cabinets is quitter higher.

Verdict: Thermofoil cabinets are cheaper than painted ones.

Refinishing

With paint, you can always touch up the bare spots with a paintbrush or have a professional do a factory refinish for you.

Refinishing thermofoil cabinet doors is tough. You can try to repair thermofoil damage with clamps and glue, but even so, this is far from a foolproof solution.

Source: thistledowndomesticcreations.com

Re-gluing thermo only works if the material is still a whole piece after peeling. But if it has split or cracked, the only way out is a replacement.

Many cabinet makers offer a complimentary touch-up kit after installing your painted cabinets.

The kit often contains a small can of matching paint. This way, you can repair dents and dings independently without seeking professional help.

Also, if the paint is too damaged, you can always re-prime and re-paint your cabinet doors.

Verdict: For a long-term refinishing look, consider painted cabinets instead of thermofoil.

Heat Resistance

Thermofoil cabinets are very vulnerable to heat damage. These can blister, peel or melt if exposed to frequent steam from your regular cooking, oven, dishwasher, or toaster.

Some install heat shields for thermofoil doors near the potential steam/ heat sources. However, these heat shields are not 100% effective.

Paint is highly resistant to heat and can withstand high temperatures without peeling or discoloring.

Verdict: Painted cabinets are more heat resistant than thermofoil cabinets.

Installation

Painting cabinets is a labor-intensive task. According to some homeowners, painting kitchen cabinets can take up to one week.

However, if done by a professional, it can take several hours or just a few days to paint and allow the cabinets to dry completely, ready for use.

Thermofoil is readily made, and installing them is way easier. The only challenge is that they can be a bit heavy, so lifting and hooking them up requires an extra hand.

Verdict: If time is a factor you are considering, thermofoil cabinets are the best option for you.

Durability

Thermofoil cabinets are incredibly durable. It can withstand the everyday wear and tear of kitchen cabinets.

They feature a bending and warping-resistant solid core. In addition, the PVC coating doesn’t fade. It’s resistant to chemicals and can hardly get dents.

Consequently, it’s easy to sanitize thermofoil.

How long do thermofoil cabinets last?

With routine maintenance, thermofoil cabinets can last up to 15 years or more.

Painted cabinets can also last several years with proper care. However, their longevity gets significantly compromised in busier households with your kids and pets.

Verdict: If durability is your major consideration, thermofoil cabinets are the best deal.

Also Read: Can You Paint Thermofoil Cabinets? Steps Explained

Aesthetics

The best thing about paint is that you can get just about any color under the sun.

Although some manufacturers offer in-house color selections for thermofoil, they cannot match the paint varieties.

Themofoil may also limit you when you want to add other custom design elements to your kitchen.

Besides color, painted cabinets are more customizable in terms of custom millwork. For instance, you can have a custom molding or range hood designed to match your painted cabinets.

Such versatility is not available for thermofoil.