Feb 01 2012
Kitchen Decorating 101: Cabinet Refacing
Homeowners absolutely hate getting new cabinets for one huge reason, they are a serious expense. Whether the cabinets are totally worn out, or you just want a new and fresh look for the kitchen, you can do the work yourself for a fraction of the cost of getting a professional to install new boxes. If you want to learn to use veneers and reface your cabinet doors follow the steps in this article and you’ll potentially save thousands of dollars.
Avoid taking shortcuts
When working on a project, people tend to take short cuts. With this one, don’t even try to complete the work without having the cabinet doors removed. The cabinet doors and all the hardware, including the hinges and screws, should be removed. Not only will this help you prevent the scratching of other surfaces, you’ll also prevent scratching yourself.
How to begin
You’re going to want to start by sanding the doors after you remove them and all the hardware. Sanding the face frame and sides of the doors to bare wood will ensure that the veneers can be installed in a way that will help them look beautiful and last for years. Doing this will help give a good sealing surface, that way your veneers will adhere properly. Begin with coarse sand paper and move on to sand paper that is finer in order to complete the word.
Make sure that you get rid of any wood dust and debris from the surfaces by using a tack cloth and vacuum. Getting a smooth and professional look from veneers calls for the thorough removal of all sawdust so that the veneers can adhere well to the surface.
Preparing veneers
This step is one where patience will really show. When measuring and cutting veneers for the face and sides of your cabinets there is no need to hurry. Take measurements for the face frame and sides, then measure again before cutting so that you can cut exactly the amount of veneer you need. Doing it right the first time and avoiding inaccurate cuts will help make sure that you don’t waste any veneer.
Here it comes, now is the time to install the veneer on the cabinet door. For this step you need to be sure to apply contact cement to both the wood of the cabinet door and the back of the veneer. Doing this will ensure a smooth and professional look by providing a solid contact and preventing air bubbles. Use a roller to press all the surfaces down and get thorough adhesion once the veneer is placed and aligned properly.
Final Steps
Inspect your work as soon as you have applied the veneer to the cabinet doors. If you notice that there are any cracks, glue drips or misaligned veneers you should immediately handle the problem. When it comes to correcting mistakes, they’re much easier to handle before the glue has set and dried up.
Now, it’s time to re-hang the cabinet doors. Once the cabinets are nice and dry you should start hanging and replacing your hinges and hardware. Put the doors on their hardware. Simply wipe off any smudges or fingerprints that you leave with a a cloth, then apply some furniture polish using a soft rag to give them some protection and a soft sheen.
As you’ve come to see, some effort needs to be put into this project, but the savings more than pay for themselves in the end. With just a little elbow grease, anyone can give their cabinets a great new look.
About the Author…
For over 4 decades Leon Tuberman has helped people with their furniture and interior design needs. He owns and manages his family owned furniture store. They have a large inventory of handcrafted American built solid oak furniture for your bedroom, dining room and living room. Whether you’re looking for wood dining tables for your breakfast nook or a dresser for your bedroom then they carry everything you need.