Kitchen cabinet fading question...

[Larry D. Kage]

These cabinets are in a Florida home that is 18 years old. They used to be white like the laminate. The same fading happened to the old range and microwave. They do not have sunlight hitting them. House is vacant in the summer with air kept at 80 degrees.

I'm interested in finding out why they fade to a yellowish color.

[Larry D. Kage]

Here are some pictures:

[John Shishilla]

Different materials, Formica and thermofoil?

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by jshishilla

Different materials, Formica and thermofoil?

That's the direction I was thinking, John, but the range and microwave faded substantially, too. The appliances are gone now but maybe they only faded at the plastic parts. I don't know for sure.

[Bob Elliott]

Grease

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by belliott

Grease

Thanks, but, no, that's not the problem.

[Michael Larson]

The doors and the cabinets were not painted with the same material.

Packaged pre finished doors perhaps.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by mlarson

The doors and the cabinets were not painted with the same material.

Packaged pre finished doors perhaps.

No paint...laminate and plastic.

I think John may have it:

Originally Posted by jshishilla

Different materials, Formica and thermofoil?

I don't see much in the line of PVC cabinetry but a Google search indicated that the non-fade warranty is about 5 years.
I don't know how the Florida weather affects that exactly but it seems to speed it up. Plastics all around the home seem yellow when they were once white...intercom...wall phones...stool handles and seats, etc.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by lkage

Thanks, but, no, that's not the problem.

Since you have no idea why are you eliminating this.
If base is Formica and the doors are a polymer the polymer will fade over time while Formica always retains its color.

Polymers require a catalyst to harden and the surface often retains a certain porosity if not cured properly.

Take a look at any polyester resin (clear) and you will notice a Amber tone.
Learned this while building fiberglass mixed media pieces.

Too sum up plastic is not a totally hard surface.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by belliott

Grease

Originally Posted by lkage

Thanks, but, no, that's not the problem.

Originally Posted by belliott

Since you have no idea why are you eliminating this.

Because I can see/feel that it is not grease.

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by lkage

Because I can see/feel that it is not grease.

Larry you can not feel deep set staining however perhaps it is to hard for me to explain that to you here.

Will just state I have many plastic items whose color faded with time.Scratch a plastic shower pan and see if you ever get that mark looking new again without sanding.

[Larry D. Kage]

Thanks, Bob.
I just took the door pull off and can see the MDF underneath in the bolt hole, so, as I said, I think John has the material pegged in post 3. The fading/yellowing is obvious...I just don't understand why it appears to occur faster in the hot humid climates.

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

Originally Posted by lkage

These cabinets are in a Florida home that is 18 years old. They used to be white like the laminate. The same fading happened to the old range and microwave. They do not have sunlight hitting them. House is vacant in the summer with air kept at 80 degrees.

I'm interested in finding out why they fade to a yellowish color.

Possible yellowing from adhesives (vinyl floors, laminate countertops, etc), and/or indoor air pollutants reacting with plastics.

[Larry D. Kage]

Originally Posted by rnewland

Possible yellowing from adhesives (vinyl floors, laminate countertops, etc), and/or indoor air pollutants reacting with plastics.

Thanks, Robert. I am interested in learning more about the indoor air pollutants reacting with plastics. Someone wondered if spraying for WDI in the wall tubes from the exterior could cause the fading/yellowing. Do you have any links or more information?

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by lkage

Thanks, Robert. I am interested in learning more about the indoor air pollutants reacting with plastics. Someone wondered if spraying for WDI in the wall tubes from the exterior could cause the fading/yellowing. Do you have any links or more information?

It can be anything.
You will never know for certain.
last comment is "have you ever poured Sulfiric Acid down a tub drain and ruined the tub finish"?

I have and it sucks but also demonstrates how this stuff can happen in many ways.
I would note staining and move on.

Different materials react in different ways.