A typical kitchen remodel often means installing new cabinets. You may have newer cabinets with high-quality construction and may be considering keeping the boxes. If replacing your cabinets is too costly, then a good alternative is to give them a face-lift. One way to update kitchen cabinets is by refacing them with new veneer and stain. Refacing cabinets can easily be done to change the look of a Cape Coral kitchen.
Prepare the Cabinets
This is done by removing all the doors, drawers, and hardware from the cabinets. If you have doors that have raised details, then new doors can be purchased and stained. You will need a screwdriver or power drill to remove hinges from the doors, door handles, and drawer pulls. Wash the exterior surfaces of the cabinets with soap and water to remove any grime. The cabinets then need to be sanded with sandpaper or a hand-held sander. Make sure to use 150-grit sandpaper and only scuff the surface. Wipe the surface with a clean cloth to remove sanding dust. If you plan to reface cabinets in your kitchen, then this step needs to be done before beginning any other process.
Apply the Veneer
Veneer needs to be applied to your cabinets with wood glue and finish nails. Apply a bead of wood glue to the backside of the veneer. Place the piece of veneer on the exposed end of the cabinet. Drive a finish nail into the veneer and cabinet with a nail gun. The finish nail should be recessed into the veneer using a nail set or a punch.(using compressed air guns are the optimal choice) The hole created by the nail can be covered with wood filler. Cut veneer strips that will go on the front stile and rail of the cabinet. This can be done using a straightedge and a utility knife on a flat surface. Veneer placed on the front of the cabinets typically has an adhesive backing that needs to be activated with heat from an iron. Trim any excess veneer with the utility knife. If you plan to refurbish cabinets in your kitchen, then select veneer that will provide you the best result.
Update Cabinet Doors
Existing doors that are flat need to have veneer added to the surface. If veneer cannot be used, then new doors can be purchased at a home improvement store or cabinet supply store. New doors will need stain or refacing with your new veneer. Apply the veneer to the doors with wood glue and nails. Reattach the doors and hinges to the cabinets with the power drill or use a screwdriver. Secure new drawer fronts with glue or with screws. The drawer pulls and door handles can then be reattached. Veneer that will need to have stain means that pulls and knobs will need to be attached after the stain is dry.
Staining the Cabinets
If you reface cabinets with naked veneer, then staining is necessary. Staining can be done by using a rag or a paintbrush. You need to stain the inside openings and edges first before staining the exterior. Apply a coat of stain to the veneer and then wipe off any excess. Allow the stain do dry and then apply a second coat or finish coat.
Finish with Polyurethane
A coat of polyurethane can be applied to protect the stain on the veneer. You may need to apply one to a total of three coats of a water-based polyurethane. The use of polyurethane when you refurbish cabinets requires light sanding between each coat. This will ensure that your Cape Coral kitchen cabinets will be protected from stream, heat, and other aspects of kitchen use. Reattach new cabinet hardware if you are using new drawer pulls and door knobs.
Things to Consider Before Deciding To Reface Your Cabinets
Now after reading this article you may think you want to go ahead with a refacing project. And you may want a cabinet specialist to come in and do this for you. But before you agree to anything, make sure you get pricing done for different options. If you are strongly considering keeping your existing cabinets get a price for that as well as a new kitchen. Why? Becauase refacing is a very tedious process. When things are tedious, this can involve tremendous amounts of time and labor. Sure you will be saving lots material cost by not replacing, but you are trading material cost for labor cost. Material costs have dropped and wages have raised, which means often times depending on what type of boxes and doors you choose, buying a brand spanking new kitchen can be more affordable than refacing.