Anyone have any experience resurfacing cabinets?

Question

I want to resurface my cabinet. Replace the doors and new laminate to match, anyone ever do this? What am I getting myself in to?

Answer 1

Hold up... Yes this can be an easy DIY project, and yes you can get in over your head. It comes down to how much you know and how much you want to spend.

To get new cabinet door and drawer fronts call around with local home builders and ask then who they get theirs from. You will save any where from 15-25% compared to the home centers. The folks that make your new doors and drawers will be more that happy to give you instruction on how to install them.

To strip your face frames (Cabinets with out doors/drawers) you can sand them with a powered sander or chemical followed by sanding.

You can hand paint with latex (more user friendly) using small foam rollers, does not leave brush marks. You will need to coat the latex with a protective coating. Forgive me but their is a product that is made for this but I cant remember the name. For this go to a real paint store that can give you directions for this. The coating I'm talking about is very durable, non-toxic, and comes in several finishes.

I'm not sure at this point if you want to laminate the cabinets or the counter tops. If the counter tops it to get be a weekend project. The guys down at the home center can help with this.

Answer 2

Yes I have & your not getting yourself into trouble. It is not real tough replacing your cabinet doors but if you are going to refinish the doors you have and put them back on, that's a little more work. Be carefull, if you do refinish the doors, you do not want to take off the decorative edge. Laminate is easy to do as well. The toughest part about that is cutting it so you do not chip the laminate. It does require an adhesive that you can get at any Home Depot or Lowe's. Keep in mind though, laminate does not bend. So if you have rounded corners, you are not going to be able to round the laminate.

Answer 3

Sorry but, I don't agree with Michael. It's a lot of work, especially if you don't know what your doing, have the experience or, have the right tools.

Just replacing the doors could mean a lot of work. You have to do a lot of planing and fuguring to do this type of work, there can be no mistakes or you'll pay for it.

I'm a wood-worker, have a large shop in my basement and retired carpenter/contractor.
First, make a plan, what do you want, figure it all out on paper. Then check around for prices, any deals from local shops like Home Depot or Lowes, sometimes Summer specials.
After you buy the doors and hardware, you'll want to match the cabinets.
I took all mine down, it's easier to work on them. I removed all the paint and stain from the following years, lot's of it. Right down to the bare wood.
Then I sanded with a palm sander, lots of it, do a good job. I then sealed the wood with "Kilz" sealer, then sanded again. I did this three times until the wood was like a babies behind and shiny.

I then sprayed the enamel on, behind each coat, I sanded with a very fine paper and palm sander. I put on three coats, at the finish I sprayed a non-yellowing polyvarnish, be careful here and get a non-yellowing for a white cabinet.

When they were hung, they were like new again. I spent some time on them but saved perhaps, thousands of dollars in renwel. Yes, it takes time but, what have you got, but time.