Leave Kitchen Cabinet Refacing to the Pros

by Kirk Bangstad
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

Few people have the woodworking skills needed to take on large kitchen remodeling projects by themselves. If you're thinking about taking on a kitchen cabinet refacing project, you'll probably want to hire a professional contractor to help you out. The Ledger Independent out of Kentucky recently released an article about a retired mechanic that spends all his free time woodworking. Along with building kitchen cabinets and other furniture for his friends, he makes intricate miniature replicas of tractors and cars, complete with working wooden parts. This is the type of guy who could probably attempt a cabinet refacing job on his own.

Cabinet Refacing is a Multi-Step Process

Kitchen cabinet refacing may be an inexpensive way to remodel your kitchen, but it certainly isn't easy to get perfect. Cabinet refacing involves measuring and cutting hardwood or laminate veneer, gluing the veneer to cabinet surfaces, sanding where necessary, and applying a stain to cabinets in order to match colors. This type of work involves a lot of details that can fall through the cracks if performed by amateurs. Getting all of these steps right the first time takes skill and experience.

Even with Labor Costs, Cabinet Refacing is a Deal

Don't worry about paying a lot for a contractor to finish your kitchen cabinet refacing project. The cost of his labor and the cabinet refacing materials should still amount to about a third of the cost of buying a whole new set of wooden kitchen cabinets.

So unless you're comfortable building a miniature model of a John Deere Tractor out of wood, leave your kitchen cabinet refacing project to the pros.

Sources:

• Mechanic Turned Woodworker

About the Author
Kirk Bangstad is an artist manager and singer working in Chicago, IL. His previous experience includes consulting for technology companies in the Silicon Valley and serving as a field director and publicist for a statewide political campaign. Kirk holds a B.A. in government from Harvard University.