For most of us after about 10 years even with proper maintenance our kitchen cabinets will need refinishing, repair or replacement. Years of abuse from kids and animals and just general use will lead to breakdown of finishes and hardware line hinges and knobs.
If you have been very gentle with your cabinetry you may only need to prep them with steel wool or a light sanding and then spot stain and polyurethane to restore them to new.
If you are not so lucky you may be wondering if total replacement is in your budget.
The first thing you need to do is inspect your cabinets for damage.
Note any problems with the exterior but more important inspect the interior and base structure.
All cabinets no matter the style share the same basic parts.
Back and Sidewalls
Face Frame
Doors
Hinges, Drawer Sliders and Door Pulls
Counter tops for Base Cabinets
The Structure
Most new cabinets will only have a hardwood face frame and door set. The structure of the cabinet is made out of a particle board or maybe a plywood on better models.
When different models are ordered by a consumer you will find that there is no difference in the structure. However some companies may apply a vernier wood or more likely a peal off plastic foe wood covering on the cabinet interior or sides to give the appearance that the whole cabinet is made of the same wood type.
If your structure is sound and working well then you can easily update your cabinet sides, doors and face frames giving the appearance of a totally different wood and change almost the complete look and feel of your kitchen for less then you can imagine.
Make any repairs necessary then visit your local retailer so you can view product samples and get sizes.
Performing the Work
So now that you have inspected the structure and made any repairs what things can you do to make your remodel look professional.
Cabinet Face Fronts
The most common cabinet wood type is oak and if you are replacing your cabinet doors with new oak doors you can simply prep stain and finish your old face fronts.
If you have decided to replace the doors with a paint grade door or paint the doors you have then painting the face fronts is as simple as sanding and painting. You should however decide whether you want to see brush strokes in your wood or if you will be pickling the doors with a semi transparent paint.
If you want a completely smooth result then you will need to sand and prime with an automotive primer then sand again and apply the final finish with a spray applicator not a brush. Some people like sponge brushes but they still leave marks. If necessary you can use an epoxy enamel in a spray can.
Changing the Wood Type
You may want to upgrade your oak or paint grade cabinets to a Cherry or other Hardwood. This is a little harder to do inexpensively but you can do it if you are willing to take some considerations.
Again the hardest part to replace will be the face frame and this is where you have a few choices you must make.
If you are going from paint to a hardwood or changing the hardwood type you can:
- Paint the face frame a very similar or darker color then the color of the new natural wood doors.
- You can Stain the natural wood to match the other type of wood. Do this only if you are going darker.
- You can apply a matching vernier tape to the face frame.
- You can build or hire a carpenter to build you a new face frame for your cabinets out of matching natural hardwood.
The choices above are in the order of difficulty and expense.
Painting is the least expensive and easiest to do. If you have a darker cherry then you can go with a deep red or black painted face frame and your doors will pop out.
Staining is pretty much the same as painting. You want to use an opaque style with a soft brush to hide the larger grain of oak. You may need to apply a few coats before you get it right.
Vernier Tapes come in 1/2 to 4″ widths and can be applied relatively easily. There are 2 grades one is a simulated photo plastic type and more expensive is real wood vernier. You need a little skill with a utility knife and you should buy extra for mistakes and for later repairs.
Rebuilding the face frame can be expensive but definitely no where close to the price of replacing cabinets. Access to quality hardwood could be a problem so you may endup hiring a contractor to perform the work and in that case have them hang the doors you ordered for not much more in labor cost.
Other Choices for Doors
Depending on the style of your doors you may want to knock out the wood panel insert and replace it with glass. If you want to do this you will need a router to make a ledge for the new glass by cutting off the back lip of the panel insert tongue.
You will probably also destroy the panel insert getting it out so you will need to build cardboard templates or deliver the door frames to the glass cutter for sizing of the glass.
Glass doors are nice for display of your glassware and dishes but you probably want to keep full face doors to hide your pots and pans and groceries.
Finishing it up with Hardware
It is best to keep the same style hinges if you can but if they need replacing there are a variety of different types you can choose from. Some are hidden pocket hinges others are decorative and exposed.
You will also want to look at replacing older pulls that probably have some wear. There are many different styles that you can choose from and special orders are available to match your need for a custom look.
Now we haven’t mentioned counter tops they are a very important part of any kitchen. There are many different materials and styles. If you have any surface or water damage around a sink then this would be the time to replace a laminate counter top or have a contractor come in and grind and buff out dammage to stone or man made product counter tops.
Repairing and restoring stone is not the most difficult process but it will require a lot of messy work.
Have your stone counter tops restored before you begin other work at the reccomendation of your contractor. This will reduce damage from your refinishing. But if you are installing / replacing a laminate counter top wait until the end of the project since it will require no in place work that could dammage your cabinets.
The YouRepair Store Carries a full line of products to complete this job. Please check our low prices and look for free supersaver shipping for most orders over $25.
Back Plates
Catches, Latches, & Locks
Drawer Slides
Furniture Legs
Furniture Pads & Cups
Hinges
Knobs
Pulls