How to Cover Cabinets

Old cabinets that are structurally sound but have a surface that is worn or dated can be salvaged by covering them with a new surface. One of the most popular choices for this kind of coverage is wood veneer. Wood veneer is actual wood that has been sliced into paper-thin sheets, which can be affixed over the existing surface to give it a look of solid wood. You can get veneer that has to be applied with separate adhesive, but an easier solution is self-stick veneer.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Vibrating hand-sander
• Tape measure
• Carpenter's square
• Pencil
• Wood veneer (self-stick)
• Utility knife
• Block of wood, two or three on a side
• Small towel

Instructions

1. Disassemble the cabinets with your screwdriver, taking off all the hardware and laying out the parts on a work area.

2. Run a hand-sander over the each part of the surface that you want to cover with veneer, getting the surface flat and dull.

3. Measure the length and width of the first area you want to cover. Mark out those measurements on a piece of veneer with a carpenter's square and pencil, adding one inch all around.

4. Cut out the veneer piece with your utility knife along the marked lines.

5. Pull the wax paper off the back of the piece of veneer. Press the piece of veneer onto the surface with a one-inch overhand all around.

6. Cut off the excess veneer from the edges of the space, running your utility knife along the edges.

7. Wrap an old towel around a block of wood, so it doesn't scratch the veneer. Scrape it over the surface, pressing firmly, to get the veneer firmly set and free of air bubbles.

8. Repeat for each section of the cabinets. Put the cabinets back together.

References

• This Old House: Refacing with Veneer