Getting Started

• The best way to tackle the refacing job is to have all of your tools ready and available. Some stores and woodworking shops sell refacing kits that will provide you with all of the materials you need, such as the wood fronts of your choice, hinges, adhesives and more.
  
  You'll also need a number of basic hand tools to help you take apart your cabinets, revitalize the look of your cabinets and install the new faces.
  
  

Taking Down the Old

• Start by removing all of the cabinet doors, including hinges and any hardware. Take a look at the cabinets and determine where there are any holes in the wood or loose finish. Fix this by using a latex wood patch and then let it dry. After it has dried, smooth these areas of the cabinets with a sandpaper block.
  
  Now you will hang the veneer from your refacing kit. The veneer goes all around the outside portion where the cabinet door is placed. This veneer should match the wood color that you have chosen for your new cabinet doors.
  
  Take the veneer and measure it to the length of your doors. Use a straight edge and a utility knife to cut out the strips. The back of the veneer will have paper that will peel off to reveal an adhesive that will adhere to the cabinets. Apply it to the vertical portion of the cabinet making sure there are no bubbles in the veneer. After the vertical is installed, measure out the correct length to finish the horizontal portion of the front of the cabinet.
  
  Make sure the bond is secure by using a wall-covering roller over the cabinets.
  
  

Cabinet Doors

• If you purchased your cabinet faces already sanded and stained, you can move on to installation. However, staining the cabinets yourself will also save money. Stain the cabinets using the color and shade of your choice. Most stains will take about three coats of polyurethane finish. Gently sand the faces between each coat.
  
  Next, install the hardware for the cabinets. To add the hinges, take the hinge and place it 2 inches above the bottom of the door. Secure it by drilling in pilot holes. Then secure the door and hinge to the cabinet wall, making sure that the hinge for each cabinet is identical in placement. Do this with each of the cabinet faces and you will have a new look for your kitchen.