How to Glue Bamboo to Cabinets

Measure your cabinet facings. Order cut-to-size bamboo plywood sheets to match the cabinets.

Use a screwdriver to remove the hinges and all hardware from the cabinet doors.

Use the claw end of a hammer to pry off any moldings on the cabinets.

Remove any wax present on the cabinets with a cloth dampened in household ammonia.

Clean the cabinet surfaces with a mild liquid soap and warm water. Rinse with clean water. Avoid saturating the surface with water, as this can cause the wood to warp. Allow the cabinets to dry thoroughly.

Cover the back of a bamboo panel for the side of the cabinet with a zigzag pattern of wood glue. Press the panel onto the cabinet, making any adjustment to fit it in place. Hold it firmly against the side of the cabinet for 30 seconds to allow the glue to begin to bond. Help hold the panel in place by tapping finish nails into the corners through the panel and into the cabinet body with a hammer.

Sand the edges of the bamboo flush with the edges of the cabinet with 150-grit sandpaper. Wipe the edges with a tack cloth. Seal the sanded edge with a wood sealant to protect the unfinished edge from exposure.

Repeat the installation process for the rest of the cabinet surfaces, gluing the bamboo panels into place and securing them with nails until the entire cabinet is covered.

Reinstall the cabinet doors by screwing them back into place or replace with new bamboo doors to go along with the veneered surface.