Do it yourself cabinet refacing - is it worth trying or not?

Question: Do it yourself cabinet refacing - is it worth trying or not?

It sure is tempting: keep the existing cabinet boxes, but reface the rest. Oh - and save money by doing it yourself. But a do it yourself cabinet refacing job may be more than you can handle. Read on to find out.

Answer: Cabinet refacing has become more popular in the last few years, due to the explosion of companies that do nothing but reface cabinets. Or, there are companies, such as Kitchen Tune-Up, that undertake refacing projects along other jobs like bathroom remodeling and wood reconditioning.

The Do it Yourself Cabinet Refacing Process

To help you see the full DIY cabinet refacing picture, let's look at just a few of the things you would have to do. This is not intended as a complete guide by any means; it is simply an overview.

1. Order Doors/Fronts. Order new cabinet doors and drawer fronts from a supplier. Companies such as Advantage Cabinet Doors let you order the right size, as well as the desired finish and wood species, for your new cabinet doors.
2. Remove Stuff. Take everything out: all plates, bowls, knick-knacks, shelves, etc. Everything goes.
3. Remove Doors/Fronts. Take out all existing cabinet doors and drawer fronts.
4. Remove Cabinet/Drawer Pulls and Knobs.. Remove hardware from doors and drawer fronts, if you intend to keep this hardware. If not, don't worry about removal.
5. Junk Yard Run. Dispose of old doors, drawer fronts, and hardware.
6. Sanding. Lightly sand down surfaces that will receive the veneer with fine-grit sandpaper.
7. Cleaning, Part 1. Clean with tack cloth.
8. Cleaning, Part 2. Thoroughly wipe down all cabinet boxes (frames and all) with TSP.
9. Veneering. Apply wood veneer to cabinet boxes. Rockler Woodworking and Hardware sells pressure-sensitive wood veneer sheets as well as wood veneer edge banding.
10. Re-Install Doors/Fronts. Install new cabinet doors and drawer fronts.
11. Hardware. Install cabinet hardware.

Veneering is the tricky part in this refacing project; it's not a job to take on lightly. For one, veneering is an exacting process. For another, wood veneer is so expensive, that you cannot afford to make mistakes.

Resources for do it yourself cabinet refacing are few and far between. One site, Reface Depot, has supplies and instructions for DIY cabinet refacing.