DIY Cabinet Refacing — Create a Brand-New Kitchen in Just Days!

Most kitchen cabinets are built to last. However, styles change. If your cabinet boxes are still in good shape, refacing lets you keep the parts that work and replace only what you see. You can simply swap out the cabinet doors and drawer fronts and upgrade the hardware, leaving the rest of the cabinet intact. A well-done reface will give you the look of a new kitchen at a fraction of the cost.

What Is Cabinet Refacing?

With cabinet refacing, you can refresh the outside of your cabinets while keeping the existing cabinet boxes in place. The structural components of your cabinet boxes — the part that attaches to the wall — will stay in their current location, as well as your plumbing, electrical and overall layout. The only elements that will be updated are the visible aspects of your cabinets — doors, drawer fronts, hinges and hardware.

To check whether your cabinets are suitable for resurfacing, simply open some of the doors on your cabinets and take a look at the interior box. Is it solid and square? Are the shelves even and sitting flat? If both of these conditions are met, then resurfacing is a viable option. However, if you notice water damage, warping or soft spots in any area of the cabinet, you'll need to resolve these before attempting to reface. 

Benefits of DIY Cabinet Refacing

Refacing is ideal for those who have a great working cabinet layout, strong cabinet boxes that are in good condition, and want to avoid the expense and mess associated with a full renovation.

Refacing has many practical benefits, including:

1. Costs: Refacing often costs half the amount to replace your entire cabinet set.
2. Speed: Most projects can be completed in three to seven days.
3. Convenience:Most of your kitchen stays undisturbed during the process.
4. Options: A variety of styles, colors and materials are available.
5. Environmentally friendly: You reuse the cabinet structure.
6. Labor costs: No need for professional installations.

What Tools and Cabinet Refacing Materials Do You Need?

You probably have all the basic tools in your home — a drill, a screwdriver, a tape measure, a pencil and a level. Don't forget to add in some work gloves and safety glasses, too.

As for materials, you will need cabinet doors and drawer fronts made to fit your cabinet dimensions, hinges, pulls or knobs, and veneer if you want to cover up any exposed sides of the cabinets. It's a good idea to purchase your hinges before you receive your cabinet doors, so you can test them on your current cabinets first to ensure they will work with the frames.

Step-by-Step: How to Reface Your Cabinets

Here's a simple breakdown to help you start your project with confidence.

1. Take Accurate Measurements

Cabinet doors are one of the most important elements to get right. To measure correctly, you must measure the actual size of the door, not the opening. Record your measurements as width followed by height. It's a good idea to take three readings across the top, middle and bottom of the door and use the narrowest reading to ensure your new door will fit into the space. 

Measure your individual drawer front panels using the same method. Check whether your drawer front is an overlay or an inset type, and measure accordingly.

2. Dismantle the Existing Components

Next, remove all cabinet doors, drawer fronts and existing hardware. Remove the hinges and handles, label each component, and store them safely. Use painter's tape and label the interior of each cabinet box to match where components were located.

If you plan to update your hardware, now is the perfect time to completely disassemble the old hinges and prepare the surface for the new ones. Also, inspect your cabinet boxes for any potential hidden damage you wish to repair before going further.

Take your time through this step of the project. A thorough and organized removal process will reduce the amount of time spent on installation. 

3. Clean and Repair Your Cabinet Boxes

Once you've removed all items from your cabinets, give each box a good cleaning using a degreaser, particularly around the handles and near the stove. While you're cleaning the cabinet boxes, also look for any minor dents or scratches that you can fix with wood filler. Fixing a few minor problems now will make it much easier to get an excellent finish. 

4. Install the Hinges and New Doors

Install the hinges for your new doors now if you haven't already. Use the marks you made earlier to put them in their proper locations. 

Check with a level to ensure your doors are hanging straight and the front edges are lined up evenly. To adjust the placement, make small adjustments as needed to allow for an exact fit. Make sure to leave the hinge screws loose until you've aligned all the cabinets properly. 

5. Install the New Drawer Fronts 

Mark the center of each of the new drawer fronts and their respective boxes so you can line them up properly. You can use painter's tape or a small spacer block to keep the drawer fronts spaced evenly on each side. Clamp the new drawer front in place, drill pilot holes through the inside of the box to avoid splitting the wood, and secure with screws. Check again to make sure the drawers are perfectly aligned. 

6. Finishing Touches

You may find that some of the exposed edges on your cabinet boxes don't match your newly installed doors. If this is the case, you'll need to finish off the edges using either a veneer or paint to match the rest of your kitchen.

To finish off the edges using a veneer, start by measuring the correct length for your veneer panel. Then apply adhesive to both surfaces and press the veneer firmly against the edge of the cabinet box. Using a roller can also help you eliminate any air bubbles from between the veneer and the cabinet box. 

If you choose to paint instead of using a veneer, start by applying a high-quality primer and then a layer of paint that matches the color of your new finishes. Remember to allow the paint to dry before applying additional coats. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are a few things you should be mindful of before starting the project:

• Measuring incorrectly: A slight error in measuring can result in poorly fitting doors and drawer fronts.
• Not updating the hardware: Changing the new handles and hinges can have a substantial visual impact.
• Not labelling parts when removing:Label all components so you can easily identify them when reinstalling.
• Rushing through the process: Taking your time ensures you don't skip any steps and get clean, professional results.
• Not addressing the cabinet box: Paint or touch-up the exposed areas for a finished appearance.

Choose Your New Cabinet Doors From Cabinet Doors 'N' More

Cabinet Doors 'N' More offers a wide variety of door and drawer front styles, including raised panel, Shaker and slab. We also offer many different types of cabinet refacing supplies and materials, including solid wood options like maple, cherry and oak, as well as rigid thermofoil (RTF), a cost-effective way to achieve a new look. Whether you're looking for something contemporary or traditional, we can provide you with affordable materials and custom sizes to meet your needs.

We offer free shipping, fast turnaround times and five-star services so you can receive expert help every step of the way. Simply place an order online, or contact our team for more information.