Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets: An Affordable and Easy Do-It-Yourself Project

By Leslie A.M.
RefacingCabinet.com Columnist

Perhaps your kitchen cabinets look like they were never finished in the first place. All the more reason to start refinishing them for a clean, new look for your kitchen.

What is Cabinet Refacing?

Cabinet refacing is simply giving your cabinets a new look without replacing them. You can do this using paint, stain, or new veneers on the front of your cabinets. This is one of the easiest kitchen renovations that you can do yourself with very little skill. Not only is it easy, it's affordable.

Cabinet Refacing Supplies

Regardless of the finish you desire, the supplies are pretty basic. You need a screwdriver to remove the cabinet doors from the hinges and to remove the handles from the door fronts. A grease-cutting household cleaner is a helpful starting supply, too. Sandpaper is a must to remove existing finish and to smooth out any blemishes in the wood. Have a tack cloth ready to remove any grit left behind from the sandpaper. Choose good quality brushes to apply paint or stain.

Have some masking table available to label each cabinet door so it returns to the right location.

Cabinet Refacing Prices

Refinishing kitchen cabinets is a far more economical option than replacement kitchen cabinet doors, and a fraction of the cost of even the most inexpensive new kitchen cabinets.

Refinishing kitchen cabinets is a simple do-it-yourself job that you can complete for around $100 for an average-sized kitchen. If you hire cabinet refacers, you can expect to pay a bit more but even with a professional, cabinet refacing costs are still lower than new cabinets.

About The Author

Leslie A.M. Smith is a freelance writer who desperately needs a new kitchen. Until she can afford it, she has her eye on refacing her cabinets.