If the cabinets in your kitchen are due for a change and you’ve decided to go the re-facing route, the next decision you need to make is whether to hire a company to do the work or to do the work yourself. Most people have never heard of the do-it-yourself (diy) option.
Save Money by Doing the Work Yourself
Refacing your own kitchen cabinets is probably easier than you think. There are a few ways to go with re-facing.
Buying Premade Doors
One option is to buy new cabinet doors and the veneer overlays for your cabinet frames to match. When doing refacing, once you change the doors you need to change the look of the exterior of your existing cupboards (end panels and face frames) to match the new doors. This is often done 2 ways: painting or applying veneers.
Painting is cheaper than veneer but is limited in the look you can achieve. If you are buying white cabinet doors, painting can be a good option. If you go with a wood look, you will need to change the face frames and end panels to match the wood. Self adhesive veneers provide an easy way to change those pieces to the right look. The veneers won’t scratch or chip as easily as paint.
Self-Adhesive Veneers
Veneers are relatively easy to apply. The surfaces must be treated in order for the veneer adhesive to stick properly. If there are any areas that are raised or peeling, they must be sanded down or scraped to be flat. If there are any depressions they must be filled in. Wood putty can usually be used for this task. Sand down the putty after it dries so that it is flush with the surface.
The surface should then be lightly sanded. Don’t use a power sander – only sand by hand. You want to rough up the surface so the cabinet veneer will stick. After sanding, the surface should be cleaned with a water and dish soap mixture. Don’t soak the surfaces, just wash lightly and then use a damp rag to rinse the soapy water away. A tack cloth should be used to ensure no dust particles remain. Let the area dry thoroughly.
Many veneers are pressure sensitive, meaning that the adhesive will stick with pressure. Manufacturer’s instructions should be followed in applying the veneers. A few tools are usually necessary such as a razor knife, a smoothing device, etc.
Buying premade doors adds a bit to the cost of your diy refacing project, but can provide a more professional look and make your job easier.
Refacing Cabinet Doors
You can reface your old kitchen cupboard doors with veneer if you have flat doors. Moldings can be added on afterwards for extra design.
Painting alone
The cheapest way to reface is by painting everything. It is harder to achieve a more polished look this way, but can be a big improvement in some situations.