If you’re having your cabinets refaced, the time is right to examine drawer guides and runners. Over time, the glides can bend out of alignment, causing your drawer to stick on openings or freeze entirely. You can consider having the guides and runners replaced for your most-used drawer in the kitchen: your silverware drawer.

Start by taking all your kitchen drawers for a test drive, noting if the movement of the runners is free and easy.  The point is, why worry about a few dollars here or there in the kitchen renovation budget to ensure that your newly faced storage areas are sturdy, but easy to use?

Replacing Drawer Glides

The step-by-step glide replacement is relatively a simple job. You may have easy release slides, or you may have to pry the drawer out from the roller assembly.  Either way, once you have the slides out, you can remove the glides from cabinets and take a set with you to the home improvement store.

Many carpenters lubricate the runners with silicone or wax to keep things rolling. For older drawer sets and historical replacements, you’re going to need solid wood-working skills. Chances are, if the original wood grooves are out of alignment, you’ll need to run a router to create fresh grooves for the runners.

Before you begin removing hardware, get some colored masking tape. If you lose your way around replacement projects, consider marking each glide and box sides with matching color tape, one color for the left side, and another for the right. The time it takes to mark them can spare hours later removing ill-fit, poorly matched sides and glides. That can get ugly fast.

If your laminate countertop is the worse for wear, it may be time to call in experts to replace it. Laminate countertop replacement projects can be completed in less than half a day, depending on your square footage. There are also kits at home improvement stores and kitchen specialty shops for repairing minor laminate scratches or chips. If you’re uncertain of the extent of damage, ask for free estimates from specialists.

In some cases, new laminate can be applied over the top of your existing countertops; but if your existing laminate coverings are damaged or post-formed, you may need it removed entirely.  If you’re dealing with patching countertop chips or dents, there are laminate polishes that build up over scratches in a few applications.

Some suppliers carry putty repair kits, but you’ll need to match the putty color with the original laminate.  If you call in a contractor to help with repairs, ask about getting a supply of matching putty at the time you have new laminate installed.

Countertop Laminate Replacements

If you want to try the job yourself, be sure to store your replacement laminate at room temperature for several days before beginning. Laminate is sensitive to changing temperatures.  If you have to remove back splashes be sure to protect your walls from prying damage.

Before replacing the countertop laminate you’ll need a spanking clean surface and, if you’re laying laminate over existing covering, you’ll need to scuff up the surface to create good adhesion.

You’ll need a good eye and leveling tool to ensure that your pieces fit imperfections in the surface such as cutouts and sinks. Cutting laminate is typically done with a utility knife, jigsaw, or band saw. Practice on a few extra sheets.

Considering how easily the color shows dirt and grime, it’s amazing how white remains one of the most-popular colors used to paint cupboards and kitchen cabinets.

Veneers and natural colors are still favored by many remodeling experts. But the use of high-gloss, basic white is increasing as a way to balance out the use of bright greens and yellows on other surfaces, countertops, and floors.

If you plan on using white, you want to be meticulous in prepping your new or replacement cabinets before picking up your paint brush. It’s tough to find a more scrupulous, methodical audience than in the readers of Popular Mechanics, where an article reminds home improvement enthusiasts that, “The better you prepare the cabinets, the better the end result. “

Cleaning Kitchen Cabinet Surfaces

Trisodium phosphate (TSP) mixed in warm water from powdered form is among the favorite cleaners used by cabinet installers and contractors today. When you’ve cleaned all the surfaces and let the solution dry, be sure to wipe it clean with a soft cloth to remove any leftover powder. Now you’re ready to patch any existing cracks or dents with wood filler or cabinet patcher.

After that part of the procedure is done, sand the cabinets with medium sand paper to prep them to receive the first coat of white. Paper with a 120-grit can provide just the right abrasion to help the paint adhere to the clean, wood surface.

If your old cabinets need deeper cleaning to remove built-up grease and grime, consider buying orange oil or a dedicated furniture cleaner instead of TSP.  Check your home improvement store for a liquid de-glosser if you need to cover the history of blemishes, uninvited artwork by your kids, or that hurried recipe you copied down with a marking pen.

Kitchen designers offer a broad menu of services that can aid consumers plan a dream kitchen.  A designer can help you plan the features of a kitchen remodeling effort, help you build a budget to pay for materials and labor, and introduce you to retailers and manufacturers that supply the materials to make your dream come true.  However, not every consumer needs to receive the full range of services—or the bills for them.

Basic services can cost from several hundred to a thousand dollars for consultations, precise measurements, and several designs to choose from for your kitchen remodeling project.  If you need additional help in cabinets, countertops, lighting, and other features, the price goes up from there.

Know What You Need
At the outset, you’ll need to know the extent of services you’ll need to execute your kitchen idea. A designer can provide a top-level layout, take measurements, suggest ideas and steps for completing your plan, manage your project from start to cleanup, order your materials, and ensure that the work is done to your timeline and budget.

To do a 200-square-foot kitchen remodel, you might spend as little as $20,000, or as much as $100,000. That’s why you need to know the scale and budget before signing any contracts.  An initial meeting with a designer can be free of charge to help you set the bar.

If you like the designer and can afford additional fees, you may want to move forward toward ordering several design schemes. Don’t limit yourself to a single plan. Ask for a range of improvements with an assortment of material choices in your budget.  A good designer can help you maximize results for your hard-earned dollar.