Remodeling Your
Kitchen Cabinets
While
remodeling your
kitchen, install
only the essential
cabinets, so you can
spend on quality
rather than
quantity. Look for
durability, and
specify plywood
panels rather than
particleboard.
Laminate is
economical but still
can look classy in a
patterned finish or
trimmed with wood
edging. You should
put your money into
the hardest-working
and most permanent
features of the
kitchen, especially
the cabinets and
countertops.
There are two basic
cabinet styles:
European-style
(frameless) and
face-framed
cabinets. Either can
be ordered from
custom or
semi-custom
cabinet-makers or
from stock supplies.
Each style has a
variety of door,
wood and finish
options.
Some cabinet
hardware features
simulated finishes
or surfaces that
look and perform
like the real thing.
Brass-plated knobs
can substitute for
solid brass, and
some plastic pulls
mimic the look of
solid surfacing.
Installing cabinets
in a
remodeled kitchen
require some basic
finish carpentry
skills. Before
starting any
installation, it's a
good idea to mark
some level and
plumbing reference
lines on the walls
so everything lines
up properly. Most
stock cabinet
layouts won't fit
perfectly within a
given wall space,
but cabinetmakers
provide narrow
filler pieces to
fill in the gaps
between cabinets.
The most efficient
way to start
installation is with
the wall cabinets,
since the base
cabinets would get
in your way if they
were already in. It
is better to put the
corner units in
first, squaring them
and moving toward
the center of the
wall where you have
more leeway for
making adjustments.
If your budget is
tight and you want
to give a new look
to your kitchen
cabinet, you have
the option of
re-facing, which
involves replacing
or veneering the
parts of the cabinet
that are visible all
the time. Therefore,
the cabinet boxes --
called the cases --
stay in their
current layout, but
get a new finish
with veneer. Other
parts, such as
drawer fronts and
cabinet doors, get
completely replaced.
About the Author:
Kitchen Remodeling
provides detailed
information about
kitchen remodeling
ideas and costs,
including small
kitchen remodeling
ideas, kitchen
cabinet remodeling,
and more. For more
information go to
http://www.e-kitchenremodeling.com
and/or visit its
sister site at
http://www.e-bathroomremodeling.com
for related
information.
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