Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Saves Money
The purchase of a home can be an exciting and fun time and, of course, is one of just a few completely life changing moments throughout the course of a lifetime. Many of us choose for what ever reason to purchase an existing home and along with this type of purchase always comes some type of remodeling project. Many times there are several remodeling projects and none more costly than the upgrading of an old and outdated kitchen. The largest expense in kitchen remodeling usually comes from the replacement of cabinets and counter tops. However, if the cabinet configuration fits your needs, the cabinets are in good shape and you are up for a little manual labor you can save some serious bucks with a simple do it yourself cabinet refacing.
Refacing your cabinets is really a pretty straight forward process. I usually begin by removing the cabinet doors as I have found they are much easier to work with when they are lying on a flat surface. I will normally dispose of any old hardware, especially hinges, unless they have some sentimental value or value as antiques. New hardware just seems to be the crowning touch in the transformation that is a cabinet refacing. Also, the hinges on most cabinets are self closing and the springs in these hinges usually weaken over time due to excessive use so consider replacing the hinges at the minimum.
Now that the doors and hardware are removed, a good cleaning with a heavy duty cleaner and a light sanding is all the prep work that is needed to prepare the surface for the new finish. The exception to this would be if you choose to apply a wood stain finish to the cabinets. If this is the case, then the cabinets will need to be stripped down to the bare wood. Otherwise, the light sanding will suffice.
With the cabinets now prepared for the finish, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the following. Never, and I mean never, scrimp on cabinet primer or paint. Purchase only the highest quality primer and high quality paint designed specifically for cabinets and trim. This will be the difference in a great finished product and an okay finished product. Apply two coats each of the primer and finish paint, allowing twenty four hours of drying time between each coat, and also lightly sanding between each coat.
By considering the condition of your existing cabinets and paying attention to some minor details, you should complete this project with results that will truly amaze you. You will be provided with a quality finish that will not only look beautiful but will hold up for many years to come.