How to Reface Cabinets with Kits
``Refacing'' refers to the art of transforming your structurally sound cabinets without replacing them, by just changing what's on the face of them. Some tricks---like putting on new knobs and drawer pulls, or re-painting the doors and drawer fronts---are easy enough to do on your own, but to reface the cabinet body, you'll need new wood veneer, since the body is usually veneer over particle board. Refacing kits are available that provide you with the new veneer. Kits sometimes include a sanding pad and razor knife. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Sanding pad
- Refacing kit with self-adhesive veneer pieces backed with wax paper
- Tape measure
- Straight-edge
- Pencil
- Razor knife
- Block of wood
Instructions
-
-
1
Remove all cabinet doors, drawer-fronts and hardware, using your screwdriver. Set them aside.
-
2
Sand the whole surface of the cabinet with your sanding pad, getting it smooth, flat and clean. Don't try to sand through the existing veneer, just take off the shine. Wipe away the dust.
-
-
3
Measure each span of the cabinet on which you are going to apply new veneer.
-
4
Lay the veneer from your kit face-down on a work area where you can cut it. Mark out the spans that you measured onto the backs of the veneer pieces, then add 1 inch all around to those measurements. Use your razor and straight-edge to cut out the spans, cutting through the waxpaper and snapping the pieces while keeping the waxpaper on them.
-
5
Hold each piece up to the area where it's supposed to go. Peel back a little of the wax paper at one side, and press it to the to cabinet. Peel back the rest of the waxpaper as you press the veneer to it. (Remember, it should overhang on all sides by 1 inch).
-
6
Run your block of wood along the top of the new veneer to press it into place.
-
7
Run your razor knife along the edges of the veneer, at the edge of the cabinet, to trim of the overhang. Repeat for each span of the cabinet.
-
8
Re-install the doors and drawer fronts with new knobs and drawer pulls.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Wear a dust mask as you sand the cabinet.
