Cabinet Crafts: How to Reface
- 1). Remove the screws from the hinges attaching the cabinet doors to the cabinets. Remove the doors. Clean both sides of the cabinet doors, the faces and the sides of the cabinet with wood cleaner. Lightly sand all of the same areas with 150 grit sandpaper. Wipe away the sanding debris with a tack cloth.
- 2). Measure the exposed sides of the cabinet. Measure and cut plywood panels to fit the exposed sides. Apply wood glue to the backside of the cut plywood. Attach the plywood panel to the side of the cabinet with finishing nails around the perimeter. Use a nail-set to sink the heads of the finishing nails. Fill the openings on top of the nail heads with wood filler. You can also reface the exposed sides of the cabinet with decorative metal tiles, colored acrylic strips and mosaic tiles.
- 3). Measure the cabinet stiles and rails. The stiles are the vertical wood strips that make up the frame; the rails are the horizontal wood strips that make up the frame. Cut self-adhesive wood veneer strips measuring 2 inches longer and 1/2 inch wider than the dimensions of the stiles and rails. Use a utility knife to cut the veneer; the wood grain should run lengthwise on the strips.
- 4). Peel the protective backing from the end of one veneer strip. Press the strip against the top of one cabinet stile so that the veneer strip overlaps all of the edges. Peel the backing along the strip while pressing the veneer into place over the stile. Press a wood block down the length of the stile to remove any air bubbles and to ensure adhesion. Trim the excess veneer with a utility knife.
- 5). Repeat Step 4 to reface all of the cabinet stiles. Use the same technique to reface all of the rails. When you place the rail veneers, overlap the ends onto the stiles. Use a straight edge to cut a clean line through the overlapped veneer. Lift up the rail veneer and remove the excess strip of stile veneer beneath the rail veneer.
- 6). Stain the veneer strips and the plywood on the cabinet using a stain/polyurethane combination and a sponge. Apply stain in the direction of the wood grain, then wipe off the excess. Allow the stain to dry according to the manufacturer's directions before applying a second coat.
- 7). Stain the front and back of each cabinet door and let the finish dry. Reattach the doors.
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