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A cabinets resurfacing job will enhance your kitchen and is an inexpensive way of giving a fresh new look, while increasing the value of your home. If you are planning on flipping your house for profit, then resurfacing will provide a good return on your investment. Refacing only costs fractions of installing and purchasing new cabinets and can often be finished in one weekend. If you opt to paint for the cabinets resurfacing, it is even easier and cheaper than refacing and can possibly take one day to finish.

If you like your existing layout and the cabinets have a good structural shape; you are a good refacing candidate. Cabinets built before 1980 are made better than what you would find at home renovation centers. Refacing cabinets means replacing drawer fronts, doors, and hardware, covering framework and sides with glued-on plywood, or stick-on veneer. You avoid the inconvenience and mess of the complete replacement and removal of existing cabinets.

The following steps will help you get started refacing:

1. Research options. Go to the internet and find hundreds of stores that sell refacing materials. Because of the many styles, too numerous to keep in stock, some major stores sell by special order. In researching, decide on using plywood or a self- adhesive veneer for end frames and panels. Plywood is sold in precut slabs to be glued to exposed sides of the box.

2. Measure cabinets. Accurate measurements are needed, once you have researched and determined your choices, to order the materials. Make a rough sketch of your cabinet and label each section to keep things in order. Measure drawer fronts and doors and record widths and lengths on the diagram.

3. Remove hardware, doors, and drawer fronts. Remove the hinges, fronts, doors, and hardware using a screwdriver and save hardware and hinges if planning on reusing them. Next, you will need 150-grit paper to lightly sand by hand all the end panels and box surfaces. A power sander digs into the wood too much, so simply scuff surfaces allowing for best adhesion of veneer or plywood. Clean surfaces after sanding with a tack cloth and wash with soapy water.

4. Begin with the end panels. Use high quality glue for wood; make an S pattern on panel back, an inch from the edge. Line up and press firmly, securing panel with finishing nails.

5. Add the veneer. Apply veneer to fronts of boxes and trim excess with a utility knife from the stiles and rails. Finish one before going on to the next one.

6. Replace the hardware. Simply attach to existing holes if you want to use the same screws and hardware. If buying new, it will be easier to take an old piece to compare size. Finally, attach drawer fronts and doors. Now you can marvel at your resurfaced new kitchen cabinets!