Can I Reface My Kitchen Cabinets Myself?

Refacing kitchen cabinets

Many homeowners are intent on doing as much DIY as they can. It’s understandable. Doing projects on your own rather than hiring a professional can save you lots of money. And, these days, saving money is more important than ever.

If you’re an avid DIYer and have been thinking about remodeling your kitchen and are considering refacing your kitchen cabinets rather than replacing them, you’ve probably already done a little homework on the process of refacing. It isn’t a time-consuming process but can indeed be a bit tricky.

Attention to detail

If you’re not a detail-oriented person and don’t like measuring and measuring, cutting precisely, and taking your time to do things correctly the first time around, then you’re probably not the right person for refacing kitchen cabinets. However, if you think you can handle it and that it’s worth a try in order to save money, here are the steps you need to take it to get it done.

• First, you’ll need to measure your cabinets precisely. Every little ¼ inch is important! You’ll need to record both width and height. Specifically, you’ll require measurements for the door sizes, the cabinets’ opening sizes, drawer sizes, and end panel sizes. A good way to do this correctly is to make a diagram of the cabinet you’re measuring so you don’t forget which measurement is which. Remember, all your cabinets may not be the same size, so you’ll need to do this for each different-sized cabinet. Also, be sure to allow for the cabinet overlay (the size difference between the door and the door opening.)
• Next, order the materials you’ll need for refacing the kitchen cabinets. That means new cabinet doors and drawer fronts as well as the veneer for the fronts and sides of the cabinets. Note that there are three different kinds of veneer: 1) non-adhesive veneer, which requires contact cement to attach it; 2) peel-and-stick veneer, which makes installation a little easier; and 3) 1/8-inch plywood sheets which require nails and wood glue to install. Try to buy everything from the same vendor so that the grains match.
• While you’re waiting for the materials you can prepare your cabinets. Remove everything from the inside of the cabinets and clean them thoroughly. Remove the hinges if they need to be replaced. Next, sand the surfaces where you’ll be adding the veneer. Medium grit sandpaper usually works well. Finally, dust them thoroughly so that the new veneer will adhere to the cabinet surface.
• Here comes the hard part – applying the veneer. Remember, measure twice, and cut once! Make sure your measurements are accurate and then cut the veneer to match. A tool known as a laminate slitter is ideal for this step. If you’re using peel-and-stick veneer, you’ll also a veneer applicator tool to smooth it down once it’s in place. This can be a tedious process so be patient so as not to waste either materials or your time.
• Finally, install the new doors and drawers. This is likely the easiest part. Of course, you’ll need to install the hinges first, keeping in mind the amount of overlay you’ll need for your cabinets.

But can I really do this?

A lot of DIY jobs around the house are much easier than refacing kitchen cabinets. Even though the process seems straightforward, there are a lot of barriers to doing this well. First of all, you’ll need to have the right tools, which can be an expensive investment, especially if you only plan to use them once.

In addition, there are lots of opportunities for missteps. Measurements need to be precise for the finished job to look neat and tidy. If you make a bad cut, you’ll need to scrap the materials you’re using and start again.

Furthermore, if time is important to you, you’re really wasting it by trying to DIY your kitchen cabinet refacing project. Depending on the size of your kitchen, professionals can reface your room in anywhere from about 2 to 5 days. Most DIYers will take more than a week to complete the project.

Of course, you’ll want to love the outcome of your refacing project, so consider the services of a professional team of installers rather than trying to do it on your own. Often, the job demands more than one set of hands so unless you have a partner, it can be super difficult to get it right.

At kitchencabinetrefacing.com, our experts will save you both time and money, thanks to their wealth of experience and knowledge of the process. Hiring us means your project is quick and hassle-free and you don’t have to worry about buying costly tools. You can just sit back and leave it to the pros! For more information about our kitchen cabinet refacing products and our installation process, visit www.kitchencabinetrefacing.com.