Facing the decision to replace existing cabinets or reface cabinets, many homeowners are likely to choose the latter.  Kitchen cabinet refacing is a less expensive and viable option when the basic cabinet structure is solid.  It is also a job that homeowners can do on their own or using professionals in a just a couple of days.  For a fraction of the thousands one would spend on replacing the cabinets, they can be refaced with a solid wood veneer, or a decorative laminate veneer.

If you are planning to do the job yourself, the tools and the steps are straightforward, and only require someone dedicated to the job:

-Hammer, nail set.

-Veneer roller (better to get a veneer specific roller for tight spaces.)

-Drill

-Glue

-Tack cloth and drop cloths

-Sandpaper (medium grit.)

-Utility knife

-Tri-square.

-A veneer straight edge smoothing blade (for pushing out air bubbles.)

With these tools in hand, and your chosen refacing material, follow these steps:

-Remove the cabinet doors. Mark the doors location for re-hanging.

-Clean the cabinets to remove the build-up of cooking oils and grease.

-Scuff the doors with the sandpaper and wipe down with a clean tack cloth.

-Apply the veneer stiles and rails, pulling the paper backing as you go (use the tri-square when it comes time to overlap the joint where the stile and rail pieces meet.)

-Press down using the veneer roller to ensure smooth fit.

-Apply pre-measured and cut plywood end panels to exposed ends with carpenter's glue.

-Apply veneer to cabinet doors.

-Trim veneer.

-Rehang doors; test them for true fit before tightening down.

-Use a template and power drill to install knobs or pulls.

As a final note when working with veneer, remember to always press down over the whole piece and to smooth with the wood grain.