The kitchen is the social center of many homes, and house proud home owners realize that the appearance of this room can make a great contribution to the general impression the house makes, but also that shabby kitchen cabinets can detract from an otherwise beautifully kept home.

It is possible to simply replace all the kitchen cabinets, but if they are generally in good condition structurally, and if the present layout is satisfactory, it may be more economical to reface them. Refacing simply means that all the doors and drawer fronts are replaced while the sides and the framework is treated with stick-on veneer or glued-on plywood. If done correctly, the kitchen cabinets will look like new again at the fraction of the cost that new cabinets would cost.

Take Time to Plan and Prepare

The first step would be to decide about the style for the new-look kitchen cabinets. There are thousands of choices, and it may be best to examine catalogues in do-it-yourself or home improvement shops. At the same time, it is necessary to choose between plywood and self-adhesive coverings, keeping in mind that plywood can be cut to size while self-adhesive coverings will need to be cut at home, and that it would be necessary to ensure that the veneer or the plywood is available in the style that was selected for the doors.

It is important to measure the cabinets very carefully and to record the exact sizes of the drawer fronts, the doors and the various aspects of the framework. The importance of this step cannot be overemphasized, because sloppy measurements will complicate the task endlessly. Only then can the doors, drawer fronts and hinges be removed, and the remainder of the cabinets be sanded and cleaned thoroughly. If plywood coverings were chosen, it can be ordered to size and in the case of veneer, the material can be purchased and cut according to the measurements, with at least two inches extra on all sides.

Perform the Refacing

In the case of veneer, the next step is to carefully peel the various sections that have been prepared in advance, and to attach it to the framework of the kitchen cabinets. Great care must be taken to align the veneer strips very carefully before firmly attaching it to the surface. If plywood is used, first apply the glue to the cabinet surface, one area at a time, then align the plywood sections carefully and press them firmly into place while taking care to wipe away any excess glue immediately.

Finally, the doors and drawer fronts can be replaced, taking care not to reuse the old holes when putting back the hinges. The doors and drawer fronts can then also be treated with the veneer or plywood if they were not ordered ready-made. It may be fun to get creative with the doors and drawer fronts by adding decorations and unusual handles; tiles, mirrors and glass can all be used to create an interesting and creative result. By working carefully and by spending some time on planning, brand new kitchen cabinets can be obtained at a fraction of the cost.