If you’ve ever set out to remodel a kitchen, then you’re well aware of how expensive such a project can be. But since a great kitchen is one of the most desired amenities in a home, there’s no better place to put your money. My wife and I recently purchased an existing home and of course the kitchen was extremely out of date and it was obvious to me that this would be the first of many home improvement projects my wife would look to me to start. After some initial planning and design research, my wallet lucked out when it was determined that a kitchen cabinet door veneer would provide a fresh, new look without a total cabinet replacement.
Refacing kitchen cabinet doors is a great way to achieve a more modern and updated kitchen without having to remove and replace existing cabinets. Relining your cabinets saves you a great deal of time and money as you’ll be reusing existing boxes, drawers, and possibly doors and cabinet fronts.
The first thing to consider if you are going to tackle kitchen cabinet door veneer is whether or not your current cabinets are structurally sound. If the boxes, doors, and drawers are in good shape, restoration is an option you can use. Once you determine that the cabinets are in good condition so that replacement is not necessary, you need to determine the type of process you will use to redo the cabinet doors. Resurfacing cabinet doors involves replacing or refinishing cabinet doors. If you are happy with the look and condition of your doors, finishing can give you the desired effect. If you don’t like the design, then replacing the doors will be the best option for you.
If the kitchen cabinet door refinishing project you choose is to restore your existing doors, then the first step in the process is to remove the cabinet doors so that you can prepare the surface of the doors for the new finish. Thoroughly clean the doors with a heavy-duty cleaner to remove grease and grime buildup, then lightly sand the surface if you are refinishing the doors or remove the finish with paint and stain remover if you are restoring doors with a stained finish. . Once you’re done with the doors, apply the same process to the cabinet boxes and drawer fronts and your new kitchen cabinet look is complete.
The other option you may choose to use if you don’t like your current door fronts is to remove and discard the doors and drawer fronts and replace them with new ones. Before you discard the doors and drawer fronts, be sure to measure each one and note the location where they were installed. If you are using this option, visit a kitchen design center or your local big box home improvement center to see all the options that are available to you in kitchen cabinet design.
Whichever of these options you choose to pursue in your kitchen cabinet door refinishing project, you are sure to be completely satisfied with the results. I can assure you that this project will give your kitchen a whole new look for a fraction of the cost of new custom kitchen cabinets and in much less time too. Who wouldn’t be happy with such a result.
