Updating Your Old Kitchen Cabinets
Resurfacing your old kitchen cabinets is a good alternative to buying new ones that may run you many thousands of dollars.
Your kitchen cabinets are scarred, stained, and just plain old. You would love a new look, but a complete makeover or even replacing just the cabinets is beyond the limits of your budget. A sensible alternative is to reface your existing cabinets. You can do this yourself in a day or two and save thousands of dollars over the cost of a complete remodel.
Refacing kitchen cabinets different from refinishing, which means stripping and restaining, varnishing, or painting the cabinet surfaces. When kitchen cabinets are refaced, a self-adhesive veneer is applied to existing doors, drawers, and end panels. New hardware—handles, knobs, and hinges—can be purchased to complete the new look.
The old adage “measure twice, cut once” definitely applies to your kitchen cabinet refacing project. Begin by drawing a sketch of the cabinets and drawers, labeling each one, and then recording the measurements for each surface exactly. You will need a measuring tape with 1/16” increments in order to do this important part of the job correctly. Do not forget the vertical (stiles) and horizontal (rails) surfaces within the cabinet opening as these are important.
When ordering the veneer, expect to cut each piece 1/2” wider and longer than the area required. Clean and/or sand the surfaces to be refaced in order to insure good adherence. Place the veneer over the area to be covered with a half-inch overlap all the way around. Peel back a little of the backing and press the veneer into place. Working slowly from top to bottom, keep pulling away the backing as you adhere the veneer to the old surface. When it is covered, trim away the excess with a razor or utility knife, and wallah! You have a brand new kitchen look that is easy to do and easy on the budget.
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