Refacing Cabinets: Making an Old Kitchen New (Fine Homebuilding) [Paperback]

Product Description

By refacing old cabinets, virtually anyone with basic skills can make a kitchen or any room in the house look stunning at a fraction of the cost of new. The secret is knowing how to refurbish old cabinets by applying high-quality wood laminate and new cabinet doors, door fronts, and/or trim. This book shows readers everything they need to know to achieve professional results. 130 color photos. 50 drawings.

 

What People Are Saying About This Cabinet Refacing Book

Buy this book before you think about refacing!

This book is very thorough, and reading it convinced me to skip refacing (I think I have the skills) and just buy new cabinets. There's much more work involved than I appreciated and the disruption to the kitchen doesn't look to be much less than simply replacing the cabinets and cupboards.  

My husband is refacing my kitchen cabinet in the future and this book will be great help! It sure has all the information he will need. 

I had never seen a refaced kitchen or even spoken to someone who had. This book detailed the aspects of kitchen refacing in such a way that I am confident I can do this job myself and do it well. The pictures and diagrams are abundant and pertinent to the text and are a great supplement to understanding each aspect of the job. The book is organized and the subjects are categorized in such a way that the book is a good tutorial but can also be used as a reference.

If you plan to reface your kitchen or just want to know what is involved with the job this book is an excellent resource.

I purchased Herrick Kimball's "Refacing Cabinets" book since it was the "bible" on how to reface your kitchen cabinets. I was not disappointed! I followed Mr. Kimball's instructions and the results were fantastic. My first refacing project looks great with few errors. Some references to materials need to be updated since the book is 10 years old. I did find equivalent substitutes. 

I don't think I could have gotten the project done without this book. Organized in perfect order. Many, many techniques to make the job look great and save time making everything fit. I talked to some professional cabinet refacers and they weren't even aware some of the techniques used in this book that made the result look great.

However, one item that is missing is the technique for getting a clean cut between 2 pieces of veneer that touch each other. It's the same overlay technique that wallpaper hangers use. Other than that, this book has it all.  

 

 Bosch 12V Cordless Max Multi-X Tool

 

 

I completed my refacing project in a few days after thoroughly
reading and following the instructions in this excellent book.
The MUT is an indispensable tool; I got mine at Rockler. This
book saved me a lot of money by doing the reface myself and not
paying someone to redo my kitchen. It's worth every penny! 

The MUT (multi-use tool) is now available from Rockler, rather than fabricating your own.

Read the book, found it interesting and thorough, but have not tried a whole job using it.

I have however used some of the techniques in spot repairing fire damage, and the concepts I learned in the book were helpful.  

This book delivers exactly what it promises. I have used the techniques and they DO work. I would recommend this approach for the extremely budget minded renovator. By the way, the veneer he uses can be found easily online. 

This is a really excellent guide to cabinet refacing. It covers the job from start to finish, and offers several options for different steps along the way, not just the author's preferred technique. It gives the pros and cons of different techniques and materials as well. I'm a pretty good woodworker/carpenter/builder, so I really wouldn't hesitate to take on a reface job after reading this book. I've already ordered his other two books.

I found this to be a very clear explanation as well as a source reference for resurfacing cabinets yourself. Many photographs, charts, and diagrams accompany the text. The author convinced me that this is a home improvement project that I could tackle with a little help from my friends. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to update their 60's or 70's kitchen. I plan to give it a try this summer. 

 

Detail but dated and incomplete

This book is focus on putting new veneer or laminated board on old cabinet, not what I was looking for as refacing the existing face with stain or new paint. Even on the subject of installing new cabinet face, it lacks the final finish (clear coat, stain)suggestion. The pictures are way dated and not inspiring. it's a good wood work book, but not very helpful if you want to evaluate different options to modernize your kitchen such as sanding and painting the existing panels.  

Refacing Cabinet Doors for a Whole New Look

At any given time in this great country, there are literally thousands, no, probably tens of thousands of kitchen remodeling projects underway.  Included in these projects are replacement of cabinets that could probably be reused by utilizing a simple process to reface the cabinet doors.  In most cases, this project can be easily accomplished by the homeowner, thus saving thousands of dollars and also lots of down time waiting for the new custom cabinets to arrive.  The money saved by not replacing the cabinets can then be used to upgrade other items that will be replaced or used just to offset the cost of the overall project.

As long as you are happy with the style of the cabinet doors and drawer fronts you presently have, a cabinet refacing may be a way for you to get those fresh and new appearing cabinets without spending the tens of thousands of dollars that replacement custom cabinets can cost.  Even if you do want to change the door style, replacement doors can be obtained and the cabinet boxes can be refinished to match, again saving lots of money over the cost of total cabinet replacement.

Start by inspecting the condition of you present cabinetry.  Check each cabinet for loose joints, warped doors, the proper opening and closing of drawers, water damage in the area of the sink, and any other type damage that may be noticeable.  If you find the cabinets to be in good condition and still usable with at most a few minor repairs, then you are ready to begin the cabinet refacing process.

The next step in the process is to visit the home improvement stores or kitchen design centers in your area to see the many choices in cabinet finishes that are popular today.  You can also get some great ideas on reorganizing the interior of your cabinets and drawers by installing some of the new items available designed to make your cabinets more usable then ever.  Once you settle on a finish and whether it will be stain or paint, you will then be able to determine the exact process necessary to reface your cabinet doors.

First off, I have found that the easiest way to approach a cabinet refacing is to first remove the doors.  The cabinet doors are much easier to refinish when they are laid horizontally on a flat surface.  After you remove the doors, remove the hinges and cabinet pulls.  If you are going to reuse the cabinet hardware, clean it all thoroughly with dish washing liquid and a toothbrush.

After removing all the door hardware (hinges and cabinet pulls), the real fun can now begin.  All surfaces must be cleaned thoroughly using a good industrial strength cleaner which will remove any greasy residue that may have accumulated on the surfaces.

Once the surface is completely clean, you are ready to begin preparing the surface for the new finish.  If your intent is to apply a new coat of stain to the cabinets, then you will need to remove the present finish from the wood.  Today, there are many environmentally safe paint and stain removers that also have a much more pleasant odor than those of earlier years, but still do a great job of removing even the toughest finishes.  If you are going this route than the general instruction would be to apply the paint and stain remover per directions on the container followed by a good sanding prior to refinishing.

If you are applying a painted finish to the your cabinets, you do not need to completely remove the present surface.  After cleaning, lightly sand the surface in order to dull the old finish which provides a good surface for the adherence of the new paint.

Now that the cabinets are lightly sanded, be sure to remove all the dust from the sanding.  Then apply two coats of a high quality primer allowing at least 24 hours between each coat and also doing a light sanding between coats.

Once the second coat of primer is dry, it is now time to start to see the results of your labor.  Again, apply two coats of a high quality finish paint designed specifically for cabinets and trim, following the same procedures you used for the primer.

Once the final finish coat has dried for the required twenty four hours, you can reattach the old hardware if you desire, or if you purchased new hinges, drawer pulls, and cabinet pulls in order to provide a more up to date look, attach the new hardware.  After the hardware is on, hang the newly resurfaced cabinet doors and your cabinet refacing is complete.

By taking the time to determine your design choice and inspecting your existing cabinets for the ability to be serviceable for many years to come, you can make a decision that will not only save you thousands of dollars and weeks of time but could also be the difference in whether your kitchen remodel can take place at all.  By choosing the process of refacing cabinet doors instead of replacing your existing cabinets, you will have made a financially sound decision that will allow you and your family to enjoy many future gatherings and events in your freshly remodeled kitchen for many years to come.

Do It Yourself Cabinet Refacing Cost

Have you ever looked at those tired looking cabinets in your kitchen or bath and thought it would be nice to just rip them out and replace them with some nice new custom cabinets?  If you have, I bet it was not long after having this thought that the next thought was something to do with how doing such would cost a small fortune.  There is an option that will make those cabinets look brand new at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Do it yourself cabinet refacing is an option that involves either applying a laminate over the existing cabinets and replacing the cabinet doors or simply applying a new finish to the existing cabinets.

One of the most common rooms that usually requires a major remodeling every couple of decades is the kitchen.  Of course, one of the major expenses in a kitchen remodel is addressing the cabinets.  However, do it yourself cabinet refacing will be extremely affordable when compared to replacing the cabinets and can possibly be the difference in being able to proceed with the remodel at all.

Whenever I speak to people about one of the projects in their kitchen, the first question is almost always, "How much does it cost to reface kitchen cabinets?"  Cabinet refacing costs can be kept to a minimum if you choose to tackle the project yourself by simply refinishing the cabinets.  If you do decide to handle your own cabinet project, the cost of cabinet refacing will involve just the materials themselves.  The material cost of refacing cabinets in an average kitchen should run in the one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollar range.  As you can see, refacing kitchen cabinets cost a fraction of what replacing the cabinets would cost.

When figuring the cost of do it yourself cabinet refacing, do not forget to factor in the cost of replacing your cabinet hardware.  In all likelihood, your cabinet hinges, cabinet pulls, and drawer pulls will have also seen their better days.  Even though there are major savings when you consider refacing cabinets cost, some people still try to save a few more dollars by reusing the old hinges on their newly refinished cabinets.  Even if the appearance of the hinges may be okay, the installation of new self-closing hinges will save the aggravation of constantly pushing the cabinet doors shut.

So, if you are in the planning stages of an upcoming kitchen remodel, the cost of do it yourself cabinet refacing can play a major factor in the overall cost of the remodel.  When you consider the cost to reface kitchen cabinets can easily save you enough money to replace that tired old refrigerator, as well as a few other items in your new kitchen, the amount of work you will put into this project will prove to be a small price to pay.

Cabinet Refacing Materials - Quality Counts

The economy of today has placed many home improvement projects on the back burner as people hunker down and find themselves in survival mode.  For those that still are in the market to improve their homes, the term do-it-yourself has taken on a whole new importance.  Many people would rather pay someone else to complete their home projects and during the years of prosperity, many people did.  However, those same people today are finding themselves doing lots of these projects themselves in order to save some money so the project can continue.  Like always, kitchens still get remodeled more than any other room, and the major feature in any kitchen is the cabinets.

Where in the past, people would replace their cabinets, they now are refacing them instead.  Since cabinets are such a prominent feature in the kitchen, this is no time to try to scrimp and save a few bucks.  Using quality cabinet refacing materials will make the difference in whether the job looks like it was done by a professional or by an amateur.

While no one out there enjoys a trip to their local big box home improvement store more than me, this may not be the best place to go to begin this project.  You will be much better served by visiting a professional paint supply store where you will likely find an employee much more knowledgeable about paint than the guy or gal staffing the paint department at Home Depot that got moved from the plumbing department for the day when the regular paint guy did not show up.

Tell the clerk at the paint store what you are doing and they will be able to provide you with professional quality tools, as well as, primers and finish paints designed especially for cabinet and trim painting.  By choosing high quality, professional grade cabinet refacing materials, you will achieve results that make your existing cabinets look like they are brand new.  The finish applied with the best materials will also be long lasting and allow you to get your kitchen remodeling project off to a good start that will be the foundation for the remainder of the projects you choose to take on in order to complete the kitchen makeover.

Laminate Cabinet Refacing Can Renew Your Kitchen

If you have been in your home for several years or you have recently purchased an older existing home, there is a good chance you are in the market for a change in your kitchen such as a laminate cabinet refacing.  Almost every homeowner faces a kitchen makeover sometime during their life as a homeowner and the first issue involved in the planning of a renewed kitchen will be how to address the cabinets.  You may have a strong desire to reconfigure your kitchen and, if so, your best option may be to tear out and entirely replace your cabinets.  However, if your kitchen is laid out to your satisfaction and your cabinets are still structurally sound, your are a good candidate to save quite a bit of time and money be refacing your existing cabinets.

There is more than one process you can choose when you are considering a cabinet refacing.  You can simply paint your existing cabinets for a fresh new look and many people choose this method.  If you have stained cabinets, you can refinish your existing cabinets and again refresh the look of your cabinets.  However, one of the more common methods involves a complete laminate cabinet refacing that includes the replacement of your cabinet doors and drawer fronts, and applying a matching laminated to the cabinet boxes that matches the new drawer and door fronts.  This process will give the appearance of brand new cabinets with much less expensive and be completed in just a few days.

In reality, many times, laminate cabinet refacing may provide you with better quality then new cabinets.  If you are in an older home, your existing cabinets may be of solid wood and higher quality construction than most custom cabinets that are built today.  Refacing your cabinets will allow you to get back in your kitchen much faster as it is also much less labor intensive then tearing out and reinstalling brand new cabinetry.  Keeping your present cabinets will not require you to tamper with existing plumbing, sinks, or counter tops unless you have the desire to do so.  Along with these advantages that help you keep from busting your budget, refacing kitchen cabinets will add value to your home as an updated kitchen can give you a return on your investment of 75 to 125 percent.

When you begin the planning of your kitchen cabinet makeover, do not forget the options available to you in the replacement of your drawer and cabinet pulls.  Chances are these items also need to be updated and will provide a finishing touch to your laminate cabinet refacing.  Consider adding some updates inside your cabinets such as cookie sheet racks, a Lazy Susan in a cornet cabinet or some drawers in the bottom cabinets for your pots and pans.  You will easily be able to pay for these space saving upgrades with the money you saved by not blowing your budget on brand new cabinets.

What Cabinet Refacing Supplies Do I Need?

Just like any home improvement project you choose to take on, the tools and materials you use will either make the job go extremely well or extremely bad.  Of course, cabinet refacing supplies are no different.  If you will remember that you are saving thousands of dollars by not having to totally replace your cabinets, spending extra money to get high quality tools and materials for this project should be no issue.

When thinking of tools you will need for this project, the actual tools needed are minimal.  A screwdriver to remove the hardware,and paint brushes and rollers to apply the finish.  Since you likely have plenty of screwdrivers on hand to deal with this, I'll focus on the brushes and rollers.  Purchase a professional quality 4-1/2" roller frame and the finest shed resistant 1/4" nap roller covers you can find.  Also purchase a professional quality 2" or 2-1/2" flat or angled sash paint brush made for use with all oil-based or alkyd paints, low VOC coatings, enamels, and high-grade acrylics.  Depending on the type painting tools you are used to buying, these may seem quite expensive, but believe me the extra cost will be apparent in the end when you are rewarded with a beautifully applied finish.

Now that your tools are in hand, let's address the paint and primer.  Once again, go for quality.  Skip the discount center and even the big box home improvement store for this project.  Head to the local paint supply store and speak with a knowledgeable sales person there and explain what you are doing.  They should supply you with a professional grade primer and paint designed for cabinet and trim application.  Again, you will spend a little more, but you will be overjoyed with the results.

The combination of professional grade tools and high quality paint designed for cabinet refacing will produce a beautiful finish that will last for many, many years to come.

How to Reface Kitchen Cabinets

Have you ever looked at those old, out of style cabinets in your kitchen or bath and thought it would be nice to just tear them completely out and replace them with some nice new custom cabinets?  If you have, I also bet that not long after having this thought that the next thought you had was something to do with how doing such would cost a small fortune.  There is an option that will make those cabinets look brand new at a fraction of the cost of replacement.  Cabinet refacing cost is an option that involves simply applying a new finish to the existing cabinets.  You could hire a professional painter to complete this project and still save quite a bit of money over completely replacing your cabinets.  However, this is a project that can be accomplished easily by even the most novice do it yourself homeowner and doing it yourself is where you can really save thousands of dollars over the cost of cabinet replacement.

First off, I have found that the easiest way to approach a cabinet refacing is to first remove the doors.  The cabinet doors are much easier to refinish when they are laid horizontally on a flat surface.  After you remove the doors, remove the hinges and cabinet pulls.  If you are going to reuse the cabinet hardware, clean it all thoroughly with dish washing liquid and a toothbrush.

After removing all the door hardware (hinges and cabinet pulls), the real fun can now begin.  All surfaces must be cleaned thoroughly using a good industrial strength cleaner which will remove any greasy residue that may have accumulated on the surfaces.

Once the surface is completely clean, you are ready to begin preparing the surface for the new finish.  If your intent is to apply a new coat of stain to the cabinets, then you will need to remove the present finish from the wood.  Today, there are many environmentally safe paint and stain removers that also have a much more pleasant odor than those of earlier years, but still do a great job of removing even the toughest finishes.  If you are going this route than the general instruction would be to apply the paint and stain remover per directions on the container followed by a good sanding prior to refinishing.

If you are applying a painted finish to the your cabinets, you do not need to completely remove the present surface.  After cleaning, lightly sand the surface in order to dull the old finish which provides a good surface for the adherence of the new paint.

Now that the cabinets are lightly sanded, be sure to remove all the dust from the sanding.  Then apply two coats of a high quality primer allowing at least 24 hours between each coat and also doing a light sanding between coats.

Once the second coat of primer is dry, it is now time to start to see the results of your labor.  Again, apply two coats of a high quality finish paint designed specifically for cabinets and trim, following the same procedures you used for the primer.

Once the final finish coat has dried for the required twenty four hours, you can reattach the old hardware if you desire, or if you purchased new hinges, drawer pulls, and cabinet pulls in order to provide a more up to date look, attach the new hardware.  After the hardware is on, hang the newly resurfaced doors and your cabinet refacing is complete.