Kitchen cabinet refacing is a great way to change how your kitchen looks without buying brand new cabinets. What is kitchen cabinet refacing? It is the process of updating the visible surfaces of your existing cabinets, usually involving applying new doors, drawer fronts, and a veneer or laminate over the cabinet boxes. This guide will show you step by step how to tackle this project.
Why Choose Cabinet Refacing Over Replacement?
Many homeowners look for ways for updating kitchen cabinets without replacement. Refacing offers big benefits compared to ripping out old units. It saves money and time. It also keeps a lot of usable material out of landfills.
Cost Savings
Refacing is often much cheaper than installing all-new custom cabinets. You pay mostly for the new doors and the surface material, not the entire box structure. This makes it an affordable kitchen cabinet upgrade.
Time Efficiency
A full kitchen remodel can take weeks or even months. Refacing can often be done in just a few days, minimizing disruption to your home life.
Maintaining Existing Layout
If you like where your sink or stove currently sits, refacing keeps everything in place. You do not need to move plumbing or electrical lines. This simplicity is a major draw for many homeowners considering kitchen cabinet resurfacing.
Deciding on Your Refacing Method
There are several ways to approach cabinet refacing. Your choice depends on your budget, skill level, and desired look. We will look at the main options: professional kits, refacing kitchen cabinets DIY, and using specialized surface materials.
Professional Cabinet Refacing Kits
These kits provide most of the necessary materials. They often include pre-sized door and drawer fronts, veneer sheets, and hardware. They are designed to make the process simpler for the average homeowner.
Doing It Yourself: Refacing Kitchen Cabinets DIY
For the handy homeowner, a refacing kitchen cabinets DIY approach can save even more money. This requires more planning and precise measurement. You buy the materials separately, such as wood veneer, paint, or new doors, and do all the cutting and fitting yourself.
Painting vs Refacing Kitchen Cabinets: What is Best?
Many people ask about painting vs refacing kitchen cabinets. Painting only changes the color of the existing doors and boxes. Refacing changes the texture and look of the visible surfaces entirely. If your cabinet doors are very damaged or you want a completely new door style (like swapping flat panels for shaker style), refacing is better. Painting is a good choice for a very low budget or if the existing door structure is sound.
| Feature | Painting | Refacing |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lowest | Medium |
| Surface Change | Color only | Texture, Style, Color |
| Durability | Depends on paint quality | High, especially with laminate |
| Skill Level Needed | Medium | Medium to High |
Step 1: Planning and Preparation
Good planning saves time later. This is the most crucial part of any successful kitchen cabinet overhaul tips.
Assessing Your Current Cabinets
First, look closely at your existing cabinet boxes. Are they sturdy? Are they made of plywood or particleboard? Refacing works best on strong boxes. If the boxes are falling apart, replacement might be necessary.
Choosing Your New Style and Material
You must decide on the final look. Do you want a natural wood look? A modern, sleek finish?
- Wood Veneer: Thin slices of real wood applied over the existing surface. Gives an authentic look.
- Laminate: Durable, often textured material that adheres well. Great for high-traffic areas. Laminate kitchen cabinet refacing is very popular for durability.
- Thermafoil/Melamine: Vinyl films heated and pressed onto the surface. Good for a seamless look, but can peel if exposed to too much heat or moisture over time.
- Peel and Stick Cabinet Refacing: This is the simplest method. You use adhesive-backed vinyl sheets, often called peel and stick cabinet refacing. This is fast but might not last as long as glued-on veneers or laminates.
Measuring Everything Precisely
Measure every single cabinet face, door, and drawer front. You need exact measurements for the boxes that will stay, and for the new doors you will order or create. Measure height, width, and thickness accurately.
Removing Doors and Hardware
Take everything off. This means:
* Removing all cabinet doors.
* Taking off all drawer fronts.
* Unscrewing all hinges and handles. Keep all screws and hardware in labeled bags. Store doors and fronts safely where they won’t get scratched or warped.
Step 2: Preparing the Cabinet Boxes
The cabinet boxes are the foundation of the refacing project. They must be clean and smooth before any new material goes on.
Cleaning Thoroughly
Remove any grease, oil, or grime. Use a degreaser specifically made for kitchen surfaces. Rinse well and let the boxes dry completely. Moisture trapped under new material causes peeling or bubbling.
Minor Repairs
Fix any small dings, holes, or cracks in the boxes. Fill holes with wood filler if you plan to use wood veneer or paint. Let the filler dry fully. Sand down any rough spots until the surface is very smooth.
Sanding for Adhesion
If the existing cabinet boxes have a slick, shiny finish (like old lacquer or varnish), you must dull this surface. This helps the new veneer or adhesive grip better. Use medium-grit sandpaper (around 120-grit). You do not need to strip the entire box, just “scuff” the surface. Wipe away all sanding dust with a tack cloth.
Step 3: Applying New Surfaces to Cabinet Boxes
This step covers the visible sides and frames of the cabinet boxes. This is where the permanent change begins.
Applying Veneer or Laminate to Box Sides
If you are using a laminate kitchen cabinet refacing approach, you will cut your laminate sheets slightly larger than the box sides.
- Apply Adhesive: Spread a thin, even layer of contact cement or strong construction adhesive onto the cabinet side and the back of the laminate piece. Read the adhesive instructions carefully—some require drying time before joining the pieces.
- Positioning: Carefully align the veneer or laminate over the cabinet side. Work slowly from one edge to the other. Once contact cement touches, it bonds instantly.
- Pressing and Smoothing: Use a hard roller or a flat piece of wood to press the material down firmly. Roll out all air bubbles. Air trapped underneath will cause bumps later.
- Trimming Edges: Once the adhesive is set, use a sharp utility knife or a router with a flush-trim bit to carefully trim the excess material flush with the front edge of the cabinet frame.
Dealing with Door Frames (Face Frames)
The face frame (the wood structure around the door opening) must also be covered. This is often done with matching thin veneer strips or specialized molding pieces that come with cabinet refacing kits. Measure these strips carefully, cut them at 45-degree angles for the corners if necessary, and glue them securely in place.
Step 4: Preparing and Finishing Doors and Drawer Fronts
The doors are the most visible part of your kitchen. They demand the most attention. You have two main choices here: ordering new doors or refinishing the old ones.
Option A: Ordering New Doors and Drawer Fronts
This is often the easiest route if you want a completely different style. When you replace kitchen cabinet fronts, you order them sized to fit your existing cabinet boxes perfectly.
- Shaker Style: Very popular, offering clean lines.
- Flat Panel: Modern and sleek.
- Raised Panel: More traditional look.
Make sure the new doors have the correct drilling pattern for your hinges (either European-style or standard inset hinges).
Option B: Refinishing Existing Doors
If you keep your original doors, you can apply veneer or specialized paint to them.
Refacing with Thin Veneer on Doors
This process is similar to preparing the cabinet boxes, but doors are thinner and more fragile.
- Remove Hardware/Hinges: Ensure no hardware remains.
- Surface Prep: Sand well. If the door has recessed panels, you must apply veneer carefully to the flat parts, often using smaller pieces cut to fit snugly.
- Applying Veneer: Use contact cement or specialized wood glue. Work slowly, especially around curves or edges, using clamps or weights to ensure flat contact while the glue dries.
Using Peel and Stick Cabinet Refacing on Doors
For a quick makeover, peel and stick cabinet refacing vinyl is an option for doors.
- Clean the door surface thoroughly.
- Measure each panel section.
- Peel a section of the vinyl backing and carefully align it to one edge of the panel.
- Slowly peel the backing while pressing the vinyl down with a felt squeegee, pushing air outward.
Tip for Doors: If your doors have a routed edge or deep detail, standard flat veneer or contact paper will not work well. You will need specialty flexible wraps or plan to paint instead.
Step 5: Installation and Hardware Updates
With the boxes covered and the new doors ready, it is time to put it all back together.
Installing New Hinges
If you upgraded your door style, you likely need new hinges. European-style “cup” hinges are standard now because they offer easy adjustment.
- Mount Hinges to Doors: Install the hinge cups into the pre-drilled holes on the back of the new doors.
- Mount Plates to Boxes: Screw the corresponding mounting plates onto the inside of the cabinet boxes where the old hinges were located.
Hanging the Doors
Attach the doors to the mounting plates. Do not worry if they look slightly crooked; this is normal for the first fit.
Adjusting Doors for Perfect Alignment
This is where precise adjustment makes the project look professional. Modern hinges allow adjustment in three directions:
- Side to Side (Lateral): Controls the gap between adjacent doors.
- In and Out (Depth): Ensures the door sits flat against the face frame.
- Up and Down (Height): Aligns the top and bottom edges of the doors.
Adjust until the gaps around all doors and drawers are even, usually about 1/8 inch.
Installing New Hardware
New handles or knobs dramatically change the feel of the kitchen.
- Marking Hole Locations: If you are using the old holes, great. If you are using new hardware or new doors, use a template to mark the precise location for drilling new handle holes.
- Drilling: Drill slowly from the outside of the door, but stop before the drill bit breaks through the wood. Drill the final few millimeters from the inside to prevent splintering the veneer or wood surface.
- Attaching Hardware: Securely fasten the new knobs and pulls.
Advanced Techniques for a Complete Overhaul
For homeowners seeking the best results, consider these additional kitchen cabinet overhaul tips.
Refacing the Interior Boxes
If your budget allows, consider lining the inside of the cabinet boxes. This can be done with peel-and-stick shelf liner or thin, pre-finished plywood panels. This detail truly elevates the look, moving beyond simple surface treatment.
Dealing with Open Shelving
If you plan to remove some upper cabinets and turn them into open shelves, make sure the exposed sides of the remaining boxes are perfectly finished. You might need to add decorative end panels to the sides of the cabinets that will now meet the open air.
Choosing the Right Finish for Longevity
If you are painting or staining your new wood veneer fronts, always use a high-quality, durable topcoat meant for kitchens (like a polyurethane or a conversion varnish). This protects against grease, moisture, and cleaning chemicals. Proper sealing is key to making your kitchen cabinet resurfacing last years.
Specialized Materials Spotlight: Peel and Stick and Laminate
These two methods represent the extremes of DIY effort versus material performance.
Grasping Peel and Stick Cabinet Refacing
Peel and stick cabinet refacing is excellent for renters or those wanting a temporary update.
- Pros: Very fast, very inexpensive, easily removable.
- Cons: Less durable against heat (like near the oven), seams might show over time, lower quality appearance compared to wood.
Fathoming Laminate Kitchen Cabinet Refacing
Laminate kitchen cabinet refacing uses durable plastic sheets glued firmly to the surface.
- Pros: Extremely tough, resistant to water and scratches, wide range of colors and textures available.
- Cons: More difficult to apply evenly than vinyl; requires careful use of contact cement and precise trimming tools. If done wrong, bubbles are hard to fix once set.
Final Touches for a Modern Look
To complete your updated kitchen, consider matching the toe-kick area to your new cabinet fronts. You can apply the same veneer or laminate strip along the bottom base of the cabinets. This ties the whole look together and prevents an outdated baseboard from detracting from your fresh look.
This comprehensive approach ensures that whether you are doing a simple refacing kitchen cabinets DIY job using vinyl or a more involved laminate kitchen cabinet refacing, the result is a beautiful, updated kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does kitchen cabinet refacing typically take?
For an average-sized kitchen (15–20 cabinets), a skilled DIYer might take 3 to 5 full days. This includes time for cleaning, surface preparation, application, drying time for glue/paint, and final hardware installation. If you hire professionals, they might complete the job in 2–3 days.
Is refacing cabinets suitable for bathroom vanities?
Yes, cabinet refacing works well for bathroom vanities. However, bathrooms have higher humidity. Ensure you use waterproof adhesives and sealants, especially around sinks, for long-term success.
Can I use refacing if my cabinet boxes are curved or rounded?
Refacing curved boxes is very difficult with rigid materials like laminate or standard veneer. For curves, using flexible vinyl wraps (similar to high-quality peel and stick cabinet refacing) or painting the existing surface is usually the only viable option.
Does refacing add resale value to my home?
While refacing is cheaper than replacement, buyers generally view new, high-quality cabinets as a significant upgrade. Refacing adds value, especially if done professionally and if the materials chosen are modern and durable. It prevents buyers from immediately budgeting for a kitchen remodel.
What should I do if I notice bubbling after applying veneer?
If the bubbling occurs soon after application, and you used contact cement, you might be able to carefully slice the bubble with a very sharp razor blade, inject a small amount of glue into the void using a syringe, and then press the area flat with a roller or clamp until the glue sets. If the bubble is large and old, the section may need to be cut out and reapplied.