Learn more about beautiful, efficient kitchen cabinets. With laminate or wood veneers laid over the existing cabinet boxes, you can change the style, color, wood type—even the associated historical era.
Yes, laminate cabinets can be refaced as long as the cabinet boxes are in good shape. But if the cabinet boxes are weak or damaged, you may need to replace your cabinets altogether.
Depending on the damage, you can either fix the existing laminate or reface the door to fix the problem without installing entirely new units. As a general rule, if there are any cracks in the laminate, the entire piece needs to be replaced; however, if there's only peeling, you can reattach the laminate with adhesive.
Laminate costs an average of $91 per linear foot or $1,000 to $3,000 total. High-quality veneer costs an average of $193 per linear foot or $2,500 to $6,500 total. Real wood veneer costs an average of $454 per linear foot or $6,000 to $14,000 total.
Q: Can I install plastic laminate over a countertop that's already covered with existing laminate material? A: Yes, but the existing surface must be even and smooth. Repair any gouges or loose edges and make sure the existing laminate is glued firmly.
REFINISHING IS MUCH CHEAPER THAN REPLACING OR RESURFACING
But, you'd be surprised how little you'll save when you choose to reface your cabinets instead. You might only save around 30%-50% of the cost of complete replacement by choosing to reface them.
Good-quality wood glue and a clamp to hold the laminate against the core is a good way to repair laminate coating that is peeling. Once the glue has set and dried, you can begin to clean the cabinet doors and drawers.
Using a flattened plastic straw, blow any powdery glue dust out of the crack. Then spread a small amount of wood glue into the crack using a glue-filled syringe (available at craft and hardware stores). Press down on the veneer and release several times to make sure the glue spreads thoroughly.
The least expensive option is painting laminate cabinets. Laminate is not an ideal surface to paint, but it can be done.
Things You'll Need
One of the advantages of laminate is that it allows for a wide range of different decorating choices. On the downside, it can look warn and dingy over time. You can revitalize laminate cabinets without peeling off the old laminate, as long as they're firmly affixed to the frame and in good shape.
Laminate Cabinets
Thermofoil is a vinyl laminate that is heated and pressurized onto an MDF core. This process leaves a completely smooth surface that does not show any seams. The lack of seams around the door's joints can be a clear indication that your cabinet doors are a laminate material.
DON'T PAINT OVER DAMAGED LAMINATE
If laminate is cracked, warped, or peeling, that damage can interfere with the bonding of paint to the cabinet. Ensure that the laminate is in good condition by repairing minor laminate damage or re-facing cabinets before applying paint.
Learning how to install kitchen cabinets might seem like a big task, but with some common tools and general do-it-yourself know-how, you won't need to hire a pro to do the work. Calm any fear of the job by thinking of it as simply attaching some boxes next to each other along your wall and floor.
Price out replacing your kitchen cabinets and painting will look better and better. The cost to paint a kitchen is typically 1/3 to ½ the cost of replacing. The paints applied to cabinets are also very durable and will last just as long as new cabinets in most cases.
Cost of Cabinet Refacing
Typically, most homeowners spend between $4,151 and $9,238 on refacing cabinets. Kitchen cabinet refacing costs are determined by: Materials used: Wood veneers cost $2,500 to $6,000, and you can choose from woods such as oak, birch or walnut.
From contemporary patterns to styles that mimic popular stone looks, laminate is durable, affordable, and you can install it yourself. If installing new sheet laminate over old laminate, material, first thoroughly sand and clean the old surface.
Tile Countertops
Ceramic and porcelain tile are among the most affordable varieties and come in a wide range of colors and patterns, including designs that mimic granite and other stone. Natural stone tiles are pricier than ceramic but are much more affordable than slab granite or marble.
Laminate That Looks Like Wood
Low-maintenance and scratch- and scuff-resistant, laminate comes in a variety of finishes that can look like everything from maple to oak to cherry. These 10 kitchen countertop ideas are everywhere right now.
Yes, you CAN repair MDF cabinet doors (sometimes called laminate cabinet doors, too). And the chunk that I took out of my cabinets was super easy to repair! Did you know, even water-damaged MDF cabinets can be repaired? However, it does take a bit more time and effort, but it's really not hard.