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Best Face Forward: Inexpensive Cabinet Refacing Options by Karl Fendelander Refacing your cabinets is the fastest, easiest way to give your kitchen a new look. Let's start from the beginning: Step One: Clean 'Em Off How much actual disassembling you need to do depends on how major your resurfacing project is going to be. Whether you plan on just adding a fresh coat of colorful paint or completely refacing your cabinets, you need to clean them thoroughly. Neither paint, nor veneers stick to dirty cabinets. Step Two: Assess Now that everything is all cleaned off, it's time to figure out exactly how far you want to go. Think about: - Hardware: The hinges, handles, and knobs on drawers and cabinets are easy to switch out. You are probably going to have to remove them to resurface, which means this is the perfect time to get new ones.
- Color: The color of paint or the tone of the wood, either way you go, should match and accentuate the rest of your kitchen.
- Style: Avoid painting over nice, wooden cabinets. A quick sanding and some stain can add more than you might think. You should also consider adding veneer or glass paneling, if your wooden doors aren't as nice as you'd like them to be.
Step Three: Act Do it now! Many home improvement and remodeling projects end up taking months to complete because they get postponed. Cabinet refacing, depending on how far you want to take it, can be done in a weekend or over the course of a few nights. Once you've decided, check out local hardware stores for deals. Don't be afraid to make a few compromises to cut costs. If you've already settled on resurfacing, refinishing, or remodeling, chances are that anything new is going to look better than what you've got. If you find yourself getting in over your head, call a contractor. A little help can go a long way and prevent you from having to do it all over again, which costs more in the long run. Source |
