Refacing laminate cabinets?

Question

I have a kitchen with 70's laminate custom cabinets. It seems worth exploring new doors and refacing the carcasses rather than ripping it all out or just leaving it. Anyone have experience with this kind of job? What does it cost? I bet I could just buy doors at Ikea. Is it possible to paint the carcasses? I've always believed laminate and paint never really works, it'll always start chipping at the corners. If I did this I'd put in granite slab and a tile backsplash. 15 years ago when I bought the place I put new hardware on the cabs and called it a day.

Once you start ripping these cabinets, you start creating a whole lot of work with the soffits etc. The floor however needs to go, it was badly laid right on top of ply and is constantly coming up. The outgoing tenants were paying $1850, it's about 1000 ft with free shared laundry and a patio in a rapidly gentrifying area.

Once you start ripping these cabinets, you start creating a whole lot of work with the soffits etc. The floor however needs to go, it was badly laid right on top of ply and is constantly coming up.  The outgoing tenants were paying $1850, it's about 1000 ft with free shared laundry and a patio in a rapidly gentrifying area.

Johann Jells · Answer

I have the skill, but I'm not sure I want to put in that kind of time. I built this closet below of birch ply then veneered it with cherry and installed custom made doors from Walzcraft.

As for replacing the cabs, I have not taken careful measurements, but I assume that with those soffits and other details it would not be a 'hang and walk away' job, there would be a ton of fill strips and other nonsense. Not to mention there being a chimney flue behind the cooktop.

Johann Jells · Answer

Reassuring hearing a voice of sanity from another hands-on guy recognizing that something isn't as easy as it looks at first glance. How awful would new white thermofoil doors be on the green frames? And I Already replaced all the old hardware with modern brushed nickel when I bought the place 16 years ago. Wow, time flies!

Dennis Cosgrave · Answer

It seems that the cabinets are in good shape. I would replace the doors with something more contemporary.  If you go for wood, you can also replace the edges with veneer that matches the wood doors. I have done that several times. The money you will save will cover the cost of granite counters and new back splash which will provide a better return.

Account Closed · Answer

@Johann Jells

Actually it does. And it says doesn’t require priming but I have seen better results with priming first.

Account Closed · Answer

@Johann Jells

Spray them. Insl-X cabinet coat is near foolproof. Some great YouTube vids on how to do it. Add some 5-7” brushed stainless pulls to make them more modern looking. It’s all about the prep when you’re painting cabs.

Johann Jells · Answer

If I replace the cabs a standard range is a no-brainer. I have no idea what the previous owners were thinking with the cooktop/wall oven arrangement. I had to update those in the unit upstairs and couldn't believe that wall oven costs more than a range!  Managed to pick up a used one at a decent price. But ripping all that out opens a huge can of worms. I may test the paint idea of @Kris H. on some scrap.

What was going on in the 70's and what are we doing today that will look so bad? I think travertine baths are a good candidate. But they won't look as bad as this below! It looks like a crappy motel. The temptation to gut here is strong, there's tile issues in the tub surround. Upstairs I had to gut a surround that was laid on greenboard. There was literally nearly 3" of tile, drywall, horsehair plaster and lath between the tile surface and the studs! OMG. That was one job I regretted rejecting a contractor's price I thought high and doing it myself.

Johann Jells · Answer

Sounds like interesting stuff, but does NOT say specifically it's good over laminate. It's that hard surface and corners that make painting laminate so difficult. But it does say metal, which can be as hard. Hmmm.Recommended ForCabinets, Metal, New & Previously Painted Wood, Furniture,Woodwork, Doors Trim.

Jim K. · Answer

Sounds exactly right on the soffits and design issues. Looks like damned if you try refacing, damned if you go with replacement. It would be nice if it was a smaller, easier project to learn on. I'd probably just let this go if I were you. They are good-looking, high-end cabinets, after all.

Jim K. · Answer

https://www.cabinetdoorsdepot.com/doorbuild.php

Johann,Completely agree with you about painting cabinets.

This isn't the DIY kiddie pool. You can measure and buy doors online cheapest, either drilled or not for cup hinges. No custom cabinet guy can compete with the prices on those, they all buy them, too. But refacing the frames -- you're going to need to know a few things about working with wood veneer, develop a new skill, adapt to new tools, etc. I'm NOT good at this. The farthest I've gone is cutting, gluing, and trimming peel-and-stick veneer panels to size on edge pieces with a small router. It's a whole new realm of woodworking for me, I'm going to be getting into it the renovation after next.

I buy the panels on Amazon and you can also get all kinds of wood veneers, tape, and veneering supplies there much cheaper than at Rockler.

This is one of those things I would never trust someone else to do well without knowing exactly how to do it myself.

Refacing laminate cabinets?

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