Cabinet Refacing: 2 Mistakes You Don't Want To Make

Cabinet refacing can be a great way to update your kitchen without spending a lot of money. However, there are some mistakes that you don't want to make if you're doing it yourself. Here are a few of the most common cabinet refacing mistakes and how to avoid them.

Not Taking Measurements Carefully 

Before refacing your cabinets, you need to accurately measure your cabinet interior. This way, you can ensure your cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and other components fit properly. Measure the cabinet walls from left to right and front to back. Record the measurements and compare them to the sizes of cabinet components that you plan on purchasing.

When measuring, consider the cabinet's depth, height, and width. Any discrepancies between your cabinet measurements and the purchased cabinet components can cause a poor fit or even damage your cabinet. If your cabinet doors and drawers don't fit the cabinet frame, it can be a real headache to fix. So, take time to measure and double-check the measurements before refacing your cabinets. You don't want to end up having to cut the cabinet doors and drawers because they don't fit.

When measuring cabinet depth, measure from the front of the cabinet to the wall and not from the cabinet frame. Cabinet frames may be slightly recessed, which can give you an inaccurate cabinet depth measurement.

Not Preparing the Surface Properly

Among the biggest cabinet refacing mistakes is not preparing the cabinet surface properly. Sanding, priming, and painting are critical steps to cabinet refacing that you don't want to skip.

Start the cabinet preparation process by cleaning the cabinet surfaces with a degreaser. In doing so, you'll remove any grease and oil buildup on the cabinet surfaces that could prevent paint from adhering properly. Then, use a power sander to smooth the cabinet surface and remove any bumps, ridges, or imperfections. Once you've done this, use a cabinet cleaner and degreaser to thoroughly clean the cabinet surface. Finally, apply a cabinet primer specially formulated for cabinet refinishing projects. This will provide a durable surface for cabinet paints and glazes.

Preparing your cabinet surfaces is a critical part of cabinet refacing. Skipping this step can lead to cabinet surfaces that look unfinished and lack a professional finish.

Cabinet refacing can be a great way to give your cabinet a makeover without spending too much money. However, cabinet refacing mistakes can be costly if you don't take the proper precautions. Measure cabinet walls carefully and prepare cabinet surfaces before refacing to ensure a professional-looking cabinet makeover. Following these steps will help you achieve cabinet refacing success.

Contact a local cabinet service, such as Copperleaf Cabinets LLC, to learn more.