| 1. Remove old doors and hinges from old cabinets. | | | | to cabinet. Trim excess material using utility knife or |
| 2. Remove drawer fronts from each drawer. Set | | | | router. |
| drawers aside. There are two types of drawer | | | | 3. Next laminate returns of cabinets, using the same |
| fronts. The type that is merely attached to the | | | | process described above. |
| drawer box can be removed by the removal of the | | | | 4. Cut cabinet refacing skin into strips for stiles and |
| attaching drawer pulls, screws or staples. The front | | | | rails with grain running the length of the strip. Again, |
| that is an integral part of the drawer box must be | | | | cut strips 1/4" larger than needed. |
| cut or sawed off, making sure that the cut is square | | | | 5. Laminate cabinet fronts. Apply cabinet refacing skin |
| with the top, bottom and sides of the box. | | | | strips exactly as cabinet is stilled. Laminate vertical |
| 3. Cabinet preparation: Old screw holes or gaps in the | | | | stiles first, then horizontal rails. Keep all seams as tight |
| frame work should be filled with either auto body | | | | as possible. |
| filler or wood filler and, when dry, sanded smooth. All | | | | 6. Rather than proceeding according to directions 4' |
| surfaces to be refaced with any type of cabinet | | | | and 5 above, you may use full sheets of laminate. |
| refacing material must be scraped clean of chipping | | | | Apply to cabinet fronts, then break through with |
| paint, grease or varnish. To accomplish this you can | | | | trimmer and router to trim opening. Both methods |
| use on automatic belt sander or a hard paint scraper. | | | | are acceptable. Using strips will, of course, save on |
| A propane torch can be used on troublesome spots | | | | materials; covering the entire front of the cabinet |
| to "lift" the substance from the framework (use with | | | | with a full sheet will save on labor and result in a |
| caution). | | | | better lamination since no seams will show on stiles |
| 4. Should you have a corner cabinet situation, it may | | | | and rails. |
| be necessary to add a filler strip. If you have decided | | | | 7. Regardless of the manner employed in refacing the |
| that an opening is slightly too large and you wish to | | | | front of the cabinets, left cabinet refacing skin |
| add a filler strip, do it after you scrape that surface. | | | | overhang whenever possible. |
| Use a piece of clear pine cut to size. Secure it with | | | | 8. Remove any excess oak skin from cabinets with a |
| nails or screws. Fill in any seams with filler and sand | | | | utility knife or router. |
| smooth. At times you will need to square off | | | | 9. Cabinet lamination is now completed. |
| surfaces using 1/4" core (i.e., cabinet bottoms). | | | | Hardware Application |
| Reveals at side returns should be shaved off or area | | | | To install new doors effectively the installer must plan |
| filled in with 1/8" or 1/4" luan skin or plywood so that | | | | and organize the entire job. Place new doors face |
| surface is smooth for lamination. | | | | down on a soft work area. Measure equal distances |
| Lamination | | | | from top and bottom (usually between 1" and 3") |
| 1. When all framework is prepared and free of | | | | and place hinges at these locations. The aid of a |
| foreign matter, the cabinet refacing laminate, wood | | | | hinge marking jig can save time that is expensive. |
| veneer or thermo-foil skins can be applied. If working | | | | Start holes for flat head screws by first using a pilot |
| from a full sheet of 2' x 8' skin cut the material for | | | | drill bit. Screw on hinges using electric or manual |
| cabinet bottoms and returns 1/4" larger than needed. | | | | screwdriver. |
| Make sure grain on under side of wall cabinets run all | | | | Make sure that hinges on all doors are the same |
| the same way. Grain on cabinet returns should run | | | | distances from top and bottom. When installing hinges |
| vertically. | | | | do not over-tighten screws in order to prevent |
| 2. Laminate underside of wall cabinets first. Apply the | | | | stripping of screw holes. |
| manufacturer recommended adhesive on both | | | | Now attach new doors to framework by having |
| cabinet and cabinet refacing skins. Use a roller or | | | | someone hold the door in proper place (use human |
| brush, where needed. Let the adhesive dry to the | | | | eye to level). Screw hinges to framework, do not |
| touch. Apply cabinet refacing skin to cabinet surface. | | | | over-tighten screws and again use starter holes. |
| Remember that once material is applied to the | | | | Finally, install knick-knock shelves, desired molding, |
| cabinet it cannot be realigned. Use good judgment | | | | toe-kicks, etc. |
| and a hand roller or block of wood to press laminate | | | | |