How to Reface Old Kitchen Cabinets

Refacing kitchen cabinets can change the look of your kitchen.

Some people do not realize that indoor house items, such as cabinets, age over time. It is very common for cabinets to start rusting, to deteriorate, to peel or to just look old after a few years. Cabinets also change styles, just like music or clothing, as the decades go on. Remodeling your own home cabinets is an efficient way of saving money and brushing up on remodeling skills.

Things You'll Need

• Razor blade
• Trisodium phosphate (TSP)
• Straightedge
• Wood block
• Hammer
• Nails
• Tape measure
• Utility knife
• Try square and razor
• Drill
• Self-adhesive veneer
• 150-grit sandpaper
• Wood filler
• Rubber gloves
• Carpenter's glue
• Plywood

Instructions

1. Remove all the cabinet doors and their knobs or handles and clean the faces and sides of the cabinets with the TSP. Make sure to wear gloves during this process. Let the cleaner dry and sand all the surfaces of the cabinets with sandpaper.

2. Cut the plywood to fit the cabinet sides and glue it on to the surface using carpenter's glue. Secure the plywood to the cabinet sides using nails. Cover the nail holes with wood filler.

3. Measure all the stiles and rails and cut veneer strips that are 1/2 inch wider and 2 inches longer than each one. A stile is the upright sides of the cabinets, and the rails are the horizontal sides of the cabinets. Use the straightedge and utility knife to ensure a clean cut. Make sure the wood grain always runs lengthwise.

4. Hold the veneer up so that it overlaps on every side of the stile. Peel away the self-sticking backing and press the veneer into place. Do this for every stile. Press down on the veneer with a wood block to get all the air bubbles out, leaving a smooth surface. Trim all the excess veneer off of each stile using the utility knife.

5. Apply the veneer to the rails so that it overlaps the stiles on each side. Cut through the layers of veneer by using the utility knife and the square as a guide.

6. Peel away the extra veneer that you just cut and lift off the rail veneer to show the stile underneath. Use a razor blade to lift it off and remove it. Smooth the rail veneer back into place. Do this for all the frames.

7. Purchase new matching cabinet doors from a home store. Screw the hinges onto the cabinet doors and onto the cabinets to replace the doors. Adjust the hinges and doors until they fit properly.

8. Drill holes for the knobs or handles of the cabinets. Attach the knob or handle by screwing them into place.

Tips & Warnings

• Working with these tools can be dangerous. You must by knowledgeable and comfortable with using these tools before beginning the activity.

References

• This Old House: Refacing Kitchen Cabinets