How do I Add Cabinet Facing to Kitchen Appliances?

The dishwasher breaks the clean lines of the lower cabinets in this kitchen.

Cabinet facing gives a kitchen a professional appearance. If the desired look is Victorian, there are cabinets and cabinet facing fabricated in that style. However, the look of a Victorian kitchen can be ruined by modern appliances such as a dishwasher. Cabinet doors can be purchased in a number of sizes that can be used to cover unsightly appliances. All you need is a few simple tools and materials.

Things You'll Need

• Cabinet doors
• Hinges
• Circular saw
• Drill
• Drill bits
• Hammer
• Standard and Phillips screwdrivers
• Wooden trim strips
• Screws
• Finishing nails

Instructions

1. 

   Cabinet refacing is not as idfficult as it looks.

   Measure the area being covered by the new cabinet doors. In the case of a dishwasher, the unit itself fits into a space within the lower kitchen cabinets. Measure the width and height of the opening rather than the width and height of the dishwasher. In the case of a dishwasher, the appliance normally extends past the cabinets it's mounted between. This means a frame needs to be constructed around the opening to extend the cabinet outward. Measure the length of the extension needed and purchase wooden trim stripping of the appropriate width. The wooden stripping should be at least 1 inch thick. If the extension needed it 2 inches, purchase 4 inch wide stripping. The extra 2 inches is needed to mount the frame to the existing cabinets

2. 

   This old stove stands out against the dark cabinets.

   Cut four wooden strips, using a circular saw, to create a frame on which the cabinet doors will hang. There should be four pieces; two sides, a top and a bottom strip. Once the pieces are cut, assemble the frame and mount it to the opening. The frame can be assembled using finishing nails that are two inches in length. Use 1 ½ inch long screws to mount the frame to the existing cabinets on either side of the opening. Three screws on each side of the frame will hold it in place.

3. Fit the doors on to the opening to ensure that they cover the frame around the appliance you wish to conceal. The cabinet doors should cover the newly built frame completely. Often, after a house settles on its foundation, cabinets will not be true or square. This means that the cabinet doors may have to be adjusted so they hang correctly or evenly. Make any adjustments to the frame before going on to step three. This includes adjusting the hinges or the frame.

4. Mount the cabinet doors. Make sure that the doors have at least ¼ inch space between them and the floor so the doors scraping against it. Most new cabinets have hinges that partially mount on the inside of the frame. Mount the hinges to the cabinet doors first, using a drill to create pilot holes for the screws. The drill bit should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw. Then use a pencil to mark the hole positions on the newly built cabinet frame. Mount the hinges to the cabinet frame.

5. Swing the doors open and closed to make sure they shut properly against the frame. The cabinet doors should line up uniformly with no more than a 1/8 inch gap between them. If they don't close smoothly, check to see if the hinges are screwed in correctly. Once the doors are correctly positioned, the project is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Many salvage businesses sell reclaimed cabinets and cabinet doors at a fraction of the price of new cabinetry. Often, they only require a little sanding and repainting. Many kitchen cabinet retailers have slightly damaged or obsolete cabinets on offer at a discount. The doors can be taken off the cabinet and used for this project. Cabinet retailers can also order just the doors, rather than the entire cabinet.

References

• Face Your Kitchen: Cabinet Refacing Guide
• Cabinet Refacing: Cabinet Refacing Guide
• Refinish Furniture: Kitchen Cabinet Refacing