Refacing Kitchen Cabinets

An affordable alternative to a complete kitchen remodeling project is kitchen cabinet refacing. This is a process by which the exterior surfaces and hardware of your outdated or worn cabinets and drawers receive overlays, usually with some combination of self-adhesive or glued-on materials. The result is a completely new kitchen that looks far more expensive and time-consuming than it actually was. Refacing is best performed on cabinets that are otherwise intact and structurally sound. Excessively damaged cabinets are not good candidates for refacing and should be replaced. Many methods exist for refacing cabinets, ranging from the highly complex to the astonishingly simple. The method you choose will depend upon your personal skill, time constraints, and the condition of your cabinets. The following article contains simplified instructions for the average beginning DIY-er who may or may not have already attempted this type of project before. This method can be completed in only a few hours on a weekend morning or afternoon, and is best for cabinets that have little to no superficial flaws and require only basic updating.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Cabinet refacing kit of your choice (make sure it includes all coverings and finishing nails)
• Sandpaper (fine grit)
• Tack cloth
• Cloth rags
• Mild detergent
• Wood glue and wood sealant
• Drill
• Handsaw
• Hammer (to remove any molding)
• Pneumatic air hammer (also called a “ brad nailer”)
• Level
• Pry bar
• Tape measure (Auto-locking types are ideal)
• Utility knife (for trimming excess old veneer)
• New cabinet and drawer hardware of your choice (unless included in the refacing kit)

1. Disassemble your kitchen cabinet hardware and remove all cabinet doors. Remove all drawer pulls as well, if you want to replace them. Use the sandpaper to gently abrade all surfaces until they are evenly smoothed out. This will prepare them to accept the adhesive coverings in Step 3. Lightly moisten a cloth rag with water and mild detergent. Clean the surface of each surface that was sanded to remove grit. Use another rag for drying. Eliminate dust, debris, and shavings with tack cloth.

2. Fit the side panels to the cabinet deck, and attach with glue. Finish the refacing of this area with the finishing nails. Sand the edges until even, and seal any exposed areas of wood.

3. Measure a series of self-adhesive coverings for the interior surfaces. You will need to cut them a bit longer and wider in order to achieve the best fit. Trim away any excess. Cover the rest of the cabinet, leaving the rails for last. Trim and discard any excess adhesive.

4. Drill holes and install any new hardware. If you are changing the hinges, do so now, according to the manufacturer’s directions. Re-attach and close the cabinet doors.

5. Attach new drawer faces and secure with finishing nails. Change drawer hardware to complete your kitchen cabinet refacing project

Tips & Warnings

• Most do-it-yourselfers save their old hinges, unless they show excessive signs of wear or are damaged.

• Any power tools that are used should be cordless whenever possible, for portability and ease of use.

• The quality of your finished work will depend greatly on the cabinet “base” beneath it. Keep this in mind when you are removing the doors and hardware in the first step. Be careful and use a lighter touch. Cabinet refacing is a very different process from the initial demolition phase of a complete renovation.

Resources

• Click here for FAQs and more information on cabinet refacing.