Refaced Cabinets Coming Loose - What Should I Do?

Margie asks,

I had my cabinets refaced about 8 years ago and now the glue has come loose. I’ve talked with new cabinet refacing companies who claim refacing has been improved and this won’t happen again. (The contractor through Home Depot only guarantees them for 5 years.) Would you recommend refacing or is there a better option?

Our Answer

Refacing cabinets is a process that is often half the cost of replacing your cabinets. Not only that, but you’re stuck with your current layout; if you ever want to add cabinets, they will have to be built from scratch and then refaced to match the others. For this reason, we usually recommend looking into other options that give you a great look but are not as pricey.

You’ll first have to take a look at your cabinets. If they were installed in the 70’s or later, they were likely installed with solid fronts and paper-thin veneers that you won’t be able to sand or stain. Your best option there will be painting which can be done using these helpful painting tips!

Painting is a great option even for older, solid-wood cabinets. You’ll want to clean them out and remove all doors/drawers/hardware. Then, prepare them further by sanding. You can do this by hand or with a liquid sandpaper product. Then, prime the surfaces with an oil-based primer and get started on painting! In order to provide a better wear protection, we recommend painting with an oil-based glossy paint for the finish coat.

Overall, the fact that the veneer is not sticking is unusual. If you decide to go with refacing, make sure you carefully research the contractor. Ask if he will supply a list of past clients, and spend time talking to customers he worked with years ago to see how the cabinets held up. If he will not supply a list, it might be a good sign you should move down the list.