With this simple kitchen renovation method, you can completely transform the appearance and the vibe of your current cabinets.
Refacing your current cabinets will still allow you to give your kitchen an appealing new look even if a complete makeover isn’t in the cards at the moment. Adding a high-quality veneer over the current boxes and face frames can do wonders to your cabinets and home’s vibe. Professional cabinet refacing can upgrade your basic or outdated cabinets in a matter of days for a lot less money than installing new cabinets. If you’re a meticulous homeowner, DIY cabinet refacing jobs is a good option to save much more money.
1. If You Like The Design Of Your Current Kitchen, Refacing Is An Excellent Alternative.
Refacing can give your kitchen cabinets a brand-new style, color, and finish, but it’s best suited for people who are quite satisfied with the room’s current design. If you want to rearrange the cabinet positions and floor layout, this is a bad choice because even the best cabinets might not withstand the relocation. To achieve good results, the current cabinets should be in reasonable condition, with perhaps only a few minor aesthetic dings and chips. If your cabinets have structural flaws or problems, it should be replaced.
2. To Complete The DIY Refacing Project Properly, You’ll Need Some Refinishing Skills.
When done properly, cabinet refacing is a long-lasting fix with a high-end appearance and feel. For DIYers you should have completed a few restoration tasks before you can produce results just like how professionals would do.
Any little gaps or misalignments will result in a subpar finished product because the veneers are meant to make the cabinet appear as though it were totally constructed of that wood species. To obtain an even, level, and plumb appearance, the installation of the new cabinet doors and drawer fronts also requires precise attention to detail.
3. You Can Choose From A Variety Of Materials.
Refacing cabinets involves the use of a variety of materials. Veneers can be purchased pre-finished or unfinished, which means they need to be stained and completed after installation. Veneers come in 3 primary varieties that differ from one another based on how they are applied.
- Contact cement must be used to install non-adhesive rolls: The installer gets to pick the cement, but this can be a little messy. The bond will last a lifetime of the cabinet if you use a premium cement.
- Rolls of peel-and-stick adhesive (PSA) with adhesive already applied to the veneer’s back. Although it is a simple procedure, the glue’s quality may not always be reliable.
- For the ends of cabinets, use 1/8-inch plywood sheets attached with wood glue and nails. These sheets are generally more expensive than a thin roll of veneer, despite being strong and long-lasting.
The simplest methods for trimming veneer to size include utility knives and flush-trim router bits, however a decent craft knife can also be used. A sheet can be cut with scissors to a rough size, and then it can be perfectly trimmed with a router or razor.
Although drawer fronts and doors can be made of any number of materials (oak and maple are the most common), the species and finish must match the veneers. There are numerous finishes available for hardware and hinges, including chrome, stainless steel, bronze, and brass. Pick one that beautifully enhances your project.
4. It Will Take Some Investigation To Locate The Proper Supplies.
Refacing veneers are available at home centers, but online searches will provide you the most variety of wood species to choose from. The majority of veneer retailers on the internet carry hundreds of species.
Although there are several online retailers who sell doors and drawer fronts, the majority of people get these via cabinetmaker at a somewhat higher cost. Whichever you choose, attempt to purchase the veneer and door/drawer fronts from the same supplier you had so the wood grains will properly complement one another. In order to keep the process moving, make sure to accurately measure the cabinet doors and drawer fronts that are currently in place.
5. Replacing Is Far More Expensive Than Refacing.
It is possible to reface your cabinets for less money than it would cost to replace them all. Although expensive, high-quality veneers won’t be used extensively. The doors and drawer fronts will cost the most money by far. Wood doors typically cost roughly $30 each, although prices can vary greatly based on style, and size.
6. Diligence And Patience Are Necessary For The DIY Cabinet Resurfacing Procedure.
The following list of general cabinet refacing steps is provided. Spend enough time and effort to ensure a flawless outcome; this is not a job that should be slapped together or hurriedly completed.
- Remove the hinges, doors, and drawer fronts from the cabinets. Remove any trim that would obstruct your path when installing the cabinet veneers as well.
- Check your cabinet boxes for dents or other damage. Utilize wood putty to repair any dents or gouges.
- Cabinet face frames, which are made of solid wood and located on the front and sides of the cabinets, should be lightly sanded.
- Use a damp sponge to thoroughly clean all surfaces, then let them air dry.
- Using glue and nails, attach the new end panels to the cabinets’ sides.
- The cabinet front frames should be covered in veneer. Start with the rails, then move on to the stiles (vertical components) (horizontal pieces that run between the stiles). With a sharp utility knife, trim the extra material. Peeling the veneer’s backing paper off may be necessary for this stage. If not, contact cement must be applied to the cabinet’s surface as well as the veneer’s back.
- Install the new drawer fronts and doors in the appropriate locations, being careful to align everything.
- Add fresh moldings to the cabinets.
- Install new equipment.
DIY cabinet refacing may consume a lot of time, patience and money especially if you weren’t able to achieve the design you want for your cabinets. GREENLINE offers state-of-the-art cabinetry. Allow our team of professional carpenters to produce high-quality cabinets for your home. Contact us today at 877-498-0555.
