Cabinet Refacing
Why Reface Your Cabinets?
Removing old cabinets and adding new ones in your kitchen or bath is a great way to get a more modern feel to your home, or just the new look you want. The unfortunate part about replacing cabinetry is that the cost can be astronomical, especially if you are replacing a large number of cabinets with custom built ones. Fortunately there is a cheaper way to get that custom cabinet look, without the custom cabinet cost.
Cabinet refacing is a much more affordable alternative to replacing your kitchen or bathroom cabinets, refacing cabinets is also much easier, and provides stunning results that others will think you paid much more for. Most times a net set of kitchen cabinets will cost upwards of $5000, and that’s not even counting the custom cabinets that some people prefer to order, which can have a very large price tag. Cabinet refacing on the other hand can cost as little as $1000 for a kitchen and much less for a bathroom.
If your cabinet boxes are still square and in good working order, then refacing is a great option. You will only need to spend money on new cabinet hardware, doors, drawer fronts, and veneer instead of all the excess material needed for making brand new cabinets.
Doing Your Research
Making a time line is always a good step at the beginning of a project. With cabinet refacing, there is a lot of measuring involved, so even though you can reface your entire kitchen in one or two days, the measurements can take another half day or more to complete. Also, most home improvement stores do not carry the materials needed for cabinet refacing in their usual stock, but will be more than willing to order it in for you, you will need to plan on that wait time as well.
One of the first things you should always do when you’re doing any project is to shop around, not just for price, but for the look you want in your home. If price is an object and you’re staying to a smaller budget, than it helps get the look you want at the lowest price. Don’t pass up checking the internet for options either, there are a lot of good sites out there that offer great deals even after the shipping cost. Remember too, when ordering to order 10% more material than you need, as there will be some waste, and you might make a mistake or two along the way. Pick two or three types of materials just in case the one you really like is too expensive once you have your measurements.
Once you know what type of material you want it is time to measure your cabinets. Remember, if you’re using plywood end panels; make sure that you allow for the new length on each end. Measuring is one of the most crucial steps in your cabinet refacing project for one simple reason: if the new doors and drawer fronts are not the right size, then they will not close right, and you cannot use them. Make sure that you have a tape measure that is accurate to at least 1/16th of an inch. Before you measure, draw a sketch of your cabinet layout, and label each one with a letter or number. While you are measuring, mark on the drawing the precise measurements you have taken for each cabinet. The drawer fronts and cabinet doors should all be measured and recorded by exact size.
Refacing Your Cabinets
When your material arrives, be sure you check all of it for shipping damage immediately. A lot of places have a certain time frame in which you can return damaged materials for replacement, so this is best done as soon as possible. Once you have either decided that the material is good enough to use, or have received your replacement pieces, it’s time to start refacing your cabinets.
Start work on the end panels, those are the large, flat, exposed edges that are at each end of a run of cabinets. If you are using plywood for your new end panel, cut the panel to the measurements you took earlier, a table saw works best for this, and then use good quality wood glue. Secure the end into place with some finishing nails and then lightly apply a few clamps to strengthen the glue’s bond. The cut may leave an unfinished edge, but don’t worry if it shows up for now; it will get covered up later with veneer. If you weren’t using plywood for your ends then follow the instructions below for veneer finishes.
For self adhesive veneer finishes, you first must sand and clean any surface that the veneer will attach to with 150 grit sand paper, to get off any grease or dirt that may not let the adhesive stick well.
Once your sanding is complete and the cabinets have been cleaned, you want to start cutting out your veneer with a sharp utility knife. Cut each piece so that it is approximately ½ an inch too long and too wide, you will cut off the excess later. Begin applying each piece by pulling back just a small bit of the adhesive paper on the backside. Set the peeled end into place, and slowly remove the paper, little by little, as you set the piece in place. Going slow will help ensure that you get it right the first time, as the glue will make the piece very hard to remove once you have it in place. After each piece is in place, use a utility knife or razor blade to trim the excess material that overhangs the edges. The goal is to have a clean, straight edge when you’re finished, using a straight edged tool will help with this. Make sure that you only do one opening at a time, and apply the veneer to the stiles (vertical sections) before the rails (horizontal sections).
Cabinet Hardware Replacement
Before you pick your hardware, decide whether or not you want the old holes from the old hardware exposed inside their drawer box. Some people don’t care about this since their drawers will be closed most of the time, but it does matter to some people if they have an extra hole inside their drawers. A drawer pull with only one screw holding it on will have one exposed hole if a new drawer pull with two holes is put on to replace it, and a drawer pull with two holes may leave two extra holes if a pull with one screw. There is also a possibility of having two holes remain in the drawer box if another two screwed drawer pull is used, if the screws are not the same width apart.
If you are not picky about extra holes in your door then you can choose any drawer pull that you would like, it’s not going to make a difference. If you are one of the people who would not want extra holes in your drawers, you have two options. The first option would be to fill any extra holes with wood filler and paint over it, and the second is to choose new hardware that has the same screw set up as your old ones did. Having hardware that uses the same screw holes will save you some time in the end, since you will not have to drill new ones, although you will have to put them through the veneer.
For doors, you want to start by hanging the hinges approximately 2 inches from the top and bottom of the door. You want to make sure that you are drilling new holes though, as the old holes may not hold the screws properly and might eventually work loose, pulling off some of your brand new veneer over time. New hinges will also come with instructions that need to be read before you start installing the hardware.
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