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Should I Update or Replace My Kitchen Cabinets? First Step: Assessing Your Update Needs Updating your kitchen can be easy, and Rockler wants to help make it a fun and pleasurable experience for you. The vast majority of today's homeowners can update their kitchens with a few simple procedures such as adding some hinges and hardware, new cabinet doors and drawer fronts, or by refacing existing cabinetry and casework. So, before you begin, it's a good idea to decide on the scope and magnitude of the update you want. There's no sense in doing a complete makeover when a few dollars and a couple of hours can accomplish what you want. We'll help you through all the steps, from adding new knobs and pulls, to adding new doors and drawers, to refacing your existing cabinetry. Replace Your Cabinets or Update Them? Functionality should dictate the form of your kitchen. If you want to make changes or improvements in the functionality of your kitchen space, or change the location of your cabinetry, then replacing it may be preferable. If you're happy with the existing layout and workability of your kitchen, updating your current cabinetry and adding some functional accessories is better. (Don't worry or fret, updating your current cabinetry can transform your kitchen into a showcase. You can reface your cabinets, for example, and everyone will believe that you've installed completely new ones!) Making your own cabinetry is an alternative but it is a major undertaking. Although the project can be a rewarding experience for the intermediate or advanced woodworker or handy man or woman (we don't recommend this project for the beginner), it can be disruptive to family lifestyle. Even the best-planned construction project can obstruct the normal use of your kitchen for 6 months or more. Testy and unfavorable conditions even for the tolerant and patient kitchen boss. Buying ready-made or prefabricated cabinetry can be just as challenging. Here are some of the benefits to updating your cabinetry versus replacing it: * Old cabinets are often of better quality construction than those
made by today's standards. (That's unless you make them yourself, of
course.) New Cabinetry If installing new cabinetry is your choice, you must decide whether to buy ready-made or to make your own. Making New Cabinets If making new cabinetry is an option for you, check your local hardware store to make sure they carry a full range of cabinetry building supplies from drawer building supplies to screws and fasteners to custom door and drawer programs to help you complete the project. Making new cabinetry is a rewarding and fruitful experience for woodworkers, but it can be a challenging and complicated project. It can elevate the pride of home ownership to heavenly new levels, or end in nightmarish disaster. It is not a project for the beginning woodworker and is challenging enough to tax even the intermediate woodworker or handy- man or woman’s skills and tool availability. Buying Ready Made Cabinets If you are not prepared for the challenges and expense of making your own cabinetry, you’ll want to consider buying ready-made. Most manufacturers offer several quality grades and lines of cabinetry that are easy to maintain. Modern prefabricated cabinets are engineered to be storage-intensive and you can choose from dozens of storage options, including slide-out shelves, bins, and drawers to fit your specific needs. You can further embellish ready-made cabinetry by adding your own crown or dentil moldings or other decorative elements. If purchasing ready-made cabinetry is your choice, there are some very important considerations you’ll want to keep in mind. New Hardware Whether you make your own new cabinetry or buy ready-made, it’s the addition of unique hardware - knobs, pulls, hinges, and accessories - that is the secret to achieving a stunning appearance. The addition of sparkling new hardware adds the glow that will make your new kitchen cabinetry shimmer. You’ll be amazed at the dramatic new presentation of your newly installed casework. Accessories Significantly enhance the look of your new cabinetry by adding classy and easy to install accessories and architectural moldings using a wide selection of trimmings. Friends and family will be astonished at the sensational appearance that you can create on your new cabinetry with only a few feet of crown molding or dentil molding. If a more exciting presentation is your preference, consider split rope topper molding, fluted and beaded molding with rosettes, or other carvings. And there are lots of awesome accessories to choose from, including pantry slides, corner shelves, drawer organizers, pullout trash bins, and appliance garages. The proper accessories can add a touch of elegance. Making Your
Own Cabinetry Although making your own cabinetry can be rewarding and fruitful, it is an advanced project that is beyond the scope of this series of articles. It is a time consuming and challenging operation that can elevate the pride of home ownership to heavenly new levels, or end in nightmarish disaster. It is not a project for the beginning woodworker and is challenging enough to tax even the intermediate woodworker or handy- man or woman’s skills and tool availability. Because of its complexity, this vendor recommends one of the Updating Your Cabinetry options that is listed in this series of articles as a time and money saving alternative. Nonetheless, in this article we’ll take a quick look at the basic considerations for making your own cabinetry. Make an Assessment"Know yourself before deciding to install your own kitchen," recommends Kitchen Man of kitchenman.com. "Are you all thumbs? Do you lack visual acuity? Are you impatient?" they ask. Making an accurate assessment of your skills and tool availability is an important prerequisite to making your own cabinetry. If you’re a dedicated woodworker and confidant in your skills, you may decide to move ahead with this formidable and ambitious project. You can make your own cabinets from scratch, including your doors, drawers and drawer fronts, or you could simplify the job with the help of This vendor's custom door, drawer and drawer front program. An affordable option that can save you lots of time, effort, and money. The option of painting, refinishing or refacing your cabinetry may also be a great alternative for rejuvenating your existing cabinetry and casework. HingesBefore starting your new cabinetry construction project, you’ll
want to make yourself "hinge wise" by reading our page on Hinges.
Adding new hardware and hinges is the secret to spectacular new cabinetry.
The style of hinge you choose, however, is dependent upon the type and
style of cabinet you construct. To fit your exact need, this vendor has
a large and dynamic selection of styles from which to choose. They
can
help
you add a dazzling and impressive touch to your
newly built kitchen cabinetry. Back to Top New door and drawer opening hardware puts a stylish exclamation on your home crafted cabinetry. Rockler has an exciting array of knobs and pulls available to suite every style and whim, from traditional to Shaker to Euro-style, decorator or Restoration. For the distinguished look that can only come from custom crafted handiwork, consider adding carved hardwood pulls or antique finished pulls from this vendor’s Premier Collection. Or perhaps some Ivy Green Leaf pulls and Knobs from this vendor's special designer collection. Now is the time to cut loose and have some fun. There are dozens of additional types and styles available including: * Brass Knobs and Pulls Accessories Making your own cabinetry offers a perfect opportunity to customize
your kitchen with interesting and up-to-date accessories. Whether it’s
shelving accessories, low-voltage under cabinet lighting systems, pantry
organizers, tambour appliance garages, lazy susan's, kitchen rail systems,
or reverse-a-racks, all can be perfect solutions to old storage problems.
Hanging racks, glass molding, or plate rack dowels can create storage
from otherwise useless space. Whether it’s the addition of split
rope topper molding, lattice panels, brass grilles or glass etchings,
you can make your custom kitchen a place of distinction and efficiency
with simple and easy to install extras. Consider what can be accomplished
with just a few feet of wineglass molding, fluted rosettes, or bun feet
added to your custom made cabinetry. Over sink trays, shelf lift mechanisms,
and pullout trash bins can add convenience and organization to please
the most discriminating kitchen boss. Refacing Your Cabinetry A Simple Job Refacing your cabinetry typically involves the replacement of doors and drawer fronts and the resurfacing of your cabinet faces to match. It's a simple process that can breathe a fresh new life into tired, old and outdated kitchens. This vendor's cabinet refacing program makes refacing a quick and simple job with the following three-step method. Before You Begin! Choose your hinges before you order or make new doors for your cabinets. The style of hinge that you choose will determine the size of doors you will need. Step #1: Choose Your New Door, Drawer Fronts & End Panels Update your cabinetry by adding doors and drawer fronts that match the fit and finish of your existing cabinetry. You can make your own doors and drawer fronts, or have them custom-made through by a professional. Old, broken down drawers can also be replaced entirely. With plenty of styles to choose from, buying them ready-made is an affordable alternative that can save lots of time and energy. If new doors and drawer fronts alone won't complete the job to your satisfaction, the option of refacing your existing surfaces' end panels and face frames is a great way to coordinate existing casework with your new doors and drawer fronts. Note: Drawers that are in good condition may need only to have their drawer slides replaced. Step #2: Choose Your Refacing Alternative Once you've selected your new door and drawer front styles, you can decide on a refacing alternative to match. Veneer and wood surfaces or Rigid Thermo Foil (RTF) laminate are our suggested refacing methods. For the look and feel of a wood surface, we recommend Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) wood veneer and 3/16" plywood end panels. Door and drawer fronts of solid wood or matching PSA veneers are available in red oak, cherry, maple, ash, and hickory. Or, a matte white finish is also available in a durable RTF laminate on a solid MDF core. The advantages of each are listed below. Advantages of Wood Wood offers the beauty, elegance, depth and texture that can only come from a natural wooden surface. Wood covering can be easily installed with a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) wood veneer that perfectly matches your doors and drawer fronts. PSA Veneers are self-adhering and offer "peel and stick" simplicity. Clean up goes fast because there are no messy glues or cements required. For extra durability around corners, solid wood are available. However, solid wood will require more work and expense. Plywood panel doors are a select grade with solid wood frames for a durable and lasting emplacement. Advantages of RTF RTF technology is a flexible and durable vinyl foil laminate that is pressure molded over a lasting substrate. A state-of-the-art laminating process creates a surface that is many times more rugged and hardier than paint or finish. It can be molded into a wide range of styles such as raised panel or cathedral arches. This is an excellent alternative for a durable and washable matte finish. Step #3: The Refacing Process Once you've completed the most difficult part of the project - that is, choosing the style of replacement doors and drawers want, measuring them and placing an order, the installation process can begin. Back to Top |