Many homeowners consider cabinet refacing as a good option to installing more-expensive new kitchen cabinets. It’s a relatively quick job in replacing doors, drawer fronts, and adding new hardware, and the results can be dramatic. You may even want to try your own hand at cabinet refacing, but beware: mistakes can be costly.
Let’s look over a typical cabinet refacing effort to help you see what’s involved. When done by a skilled professional a refacing job can be done in a few days, longer if you’re coupling it with a new countertop or sink installation. According to Kitchen Refacing.Org, if you’re working with laminates, you’ll start the cabinet refacing job by removing the doors, sanding and prepping the cabinets, lay out the glue, trim or route the excess laminate, apply and remove excess glue, complete the cleanup.
Do-It-Yourself Cabinet Refacing
Brian Simkins at Do It Yourself says you’ll need the following tools and a comfort level in working with them to complete a satisfactory cabinet refacing project: handsaw, brad nailer, miter saw, clamps, and miter saw. If that sounds like too much, consider bringing in a contractor.
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry warns consumers that the success of a do-it-yourself new cabinet installation or refacing project depends on your ability to follow installation diagrams and instructions, the savvy to improvise or start fresh when things go wrong, and a full knowledge of local building codes that are applicable with kitchen renovations.
You might visit several home improvement stores or speak with contractors first to determine whether you’re comfortable enough with your own skills before embarking on a cabinet refacing or replacement project on your own.
