Refacing Kitchen Cabinets

The carcasses should be OK but to upgrade the doors, you’ll also have to upgrade the face frames. Face frames are easy actually, it’s the doors that give me a hard time. But then again, if you’re reusing the existing hardware and making the new doors the same, then you shouldn’t have any problem…right?

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

I will make the doors the same size but not the same style. I hadn’t even thought about whether to use existing or new hardware but I am thinking I will probably use new hardware.

-- Pie

Lots of possibilities here, Pie, and I will let the professionals guide you. However, one thing I did to our kitchen cabinets that pleased my wife, was to build slide out shelves for the lower cabs, and put full extension slides on them. Makes it easy to get those big bowls and pans out. I also put full extension slides on the drawers, again to gain access to the back of them. Good luck, post lots of pics!

-- Rich in Richmond

I upgraded the cabinets in our master bathroom by refacing the cabinets and replacing the drawer fronts and doors with unfinished items bought through Rockler on-line. I bought the self-stick veneer and also used contact cement to make sure everything stayed in place. It’s been 12 years now and the cabinets and everything still look great.

Depending upon your location, you might have a cabinet shop in the area that will build doors and drawer fronts more cheaply than through an online order.

The worst part of the whole job was making sure all the joints between the cabinet carcasses were flat and smooth so that the veneer wouldn’t show that there was a joint beneath it. I didn’t have to do the ends of any cabinets, but when we had the kitchen done (before I knew it was reasonably easy) they just used a thin (3/16”?) plywood with the face veneer on it over the ends, then used a trim router to trim it to the cabinet.

I’m wrapping up a kitchen re-face now. The client wanted new face-frames … not just veneer over the old face frames. Never again! The veneer is so easy – you can get 2” wide peel & stick and just slap it on there. If you are happy with the quality and layout of the cabinets you have, I’d go with a reface.

However, if you like the look of painted cabinets, you don’t have to build anything, just buy the paint. Let the person at the paint store know what you are using it for – you don’t want to use regular interior latex because it’s not very hard and takes forever to cure. There are suggestions in other threads about what paint to use, and everyone has their favorites!

-- http://www.north40custom.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --

Wow thanks for the advice. Sliding shelves sounds like a very good idea. Thx PetVet.

Sounds like the refacing option is sounding soooo much better in all aspects. I am thining of making my own doors and have them contrast in wood/color etc from the cab frames. If I can convince the boss this will make things super easy. The end result desired is to brighten up the kitchen so this would do i

-- Pie

1/4” ply for the end panels and veneer for the face. This is fairly easy and will make a huge difference in the look. Hardware will also make a big difference. For the doors, you can either strip and refinish them or replace them. Some of the older cabinets have odd size doors so be ready tomake some or pay extra.

I’m painting mine here in a few days. I found some mdf doors online a while back for around $15 a piece on several websites. They seemed to have some pretty decent looking raised panel versions as well. It would be nice to have hardwood cabinetry but lately it seems like the more I pretend I hate mdf the more I look around and realize that it is starting to become all I use… Its just too dang cheap. Oh, and I was thinking about new hardware until I realized how proud hardware stores are of a simple set of hinges. I’ll be interested to find out if anyone has some clues on inexpensive hardware sources…

-- Jay

If your current cabinet layout works for you, then I would reface and build new doors. I’ve done a few reface jobs and it gets easier every time. This is your biggest bang for the buck and if done well, the results are amazing.

-- I don't make mistakes, only design changes....www.dgmwoodworks.com

Thanks a bunch everyone. I am feeeling better about doing this and how it will turn out.

-- Pie

JDL, inexpensive hardware is usually just what it is, the finish usually won’t last very long or tarnish. But I do know what you mean, price out the hardware, with drawer glides it could get really expensive.

I do think that refaceing isn’t a bad option.

Anyone have a good source of supply for the veneer for refacing?

-- Pie