CustomCabinets

Cabinets Refacing

Cabinets refacing is something that doesn't have to take several days if you plan ahead properly. In fact, if you hire a professional team, you can probably have this done in a few hours. For those customers who want to tackle the project themselves, it can be a one-day task. The key is to get everything you need together and have it in one place. Then, you won't have to worry about missing or forgetting something important. Once you have identified what your refacing objective is in terms of colors and desired texture look, then you can decide how much you're going to spend on the entire cabinets refacing project. It's best if you set down a concrete number from the beginning so you don't end up overspending later. Make the decisions based on how well particular choices fit into your proposed numbers.

Consulting with an Expert

One of the best ways to begin something like this is to talk to a cabinets refacing expert. They can give you some ideas on things to watch out for and how to make the most of your refacing project time. In fact, they might even be able to give you some shortcut advice that would normally be unavailable to you. If you are trying to cut down the time it takes to finish the cabinets refacing job, then this will be a welcome addition to the other information you have received or obtained. Make sure you take pictures before you start so you have a complete project timeline from start to finish. This will also give you something to compare when you're done so you can show others how much work was actually involved. If you're renovating a home, this can be a fun addition to the scrapbook for later.

Of course, measuring your wood cabinets that are going to need refacing is important because you may choose to use veneer instead of paint. This self-stick option can be a little less messy but you need to know exactly how much you need to purchase. One of the benefits of using veneer is that there are so many looks possible without having to mix paints or know any specialty techniques. Rather, you can just purchase the one you like and apply it to your cabinets that are getting the refacing completed. When you first remove the cabinets, make sure you mark which one goes where. This will help eliminate any confusion later or any problems with doors that aren't quite fitting correctly. If you use a small pencil mark on the back of each one with an identifying number or letter, this will remove several of those cabinets refacing issues.

Sanding & Painting Outdoors

When you sand for cabinets refacing, it's best if you do this outside. Because of the fine dust that sanding releases into the air, it can be bad for allergies, breathing problems and just plain makes a huge mess. It gets into everything and you may find that your cleanup time is tripled if you decide to do this part of the job indoors. Outside job sites can be hosed down or swept up easily without creating all those other related problems you would have to take care of. Make sure you also wear a mask while you're sanding for the cabinets refacing so you're not exposed to unnecessary amounts of dust in your lungs. It might not seem like an issue but some woods are more potent than others and can make it very difficult to breathe.

If you're painting to finish the cabinets refacing, then once again, you'll want to continue working outside. No matter whether you're using a stain or a paint, they both need ventilated areas to dry and cure. This will give you the benefit of outside air to dry the wood that much faster so you don't have to wait as long. Of course, you might want to keep a tarp over everything while you're working so the sun doesn't create any hot spots or unwanted visual effects. The safety measures involved with brushing or spraying paint and stain should always be used in a refacing cabinets project to keep everyone safe.

Keep in mind that when you're putting the cabinets back after the refacing products have dried, you want to make sure that all the screws are in correctly. Don't tighten them too much or you may strip it out and then spend more money purchasing those items. Just be sure it's secure and sitting in place nicely so your cabinets will be lined up. Then, you can see whether any cabinets refacing adjustments need to be made in terms of whether they are hanging correctly and not putting unnecessary strain on the pins.