Remodeling Your Kitchen Cabinets
By Ken Marlborough, Fri Dec 9th
While remodeling your kitchen, install only the essentialcabinets, so you can spend on quality rather than quantity. Lookfor durability, and specify plywood panels rather thanparticleboard. Laminate is economical but still can look classyin a patterned finish or trimmed with wood edging. You shouldput your money into the hardest-working and most permanentfeatures of the kitchen, especially the cabinets andcountertops.
There are two basic cabinet styles: European-style (frameless)and face-framed cabinets. Either can be ordered from custom orsemi-custom cabinet-makers or from stock supplies. Each stylehas a variety of door, wood and finish options.
Some cabinet hardware features simulated finishes or surfacesthat look and perform like the real thing. Brass-plated knobscan substitute for solid brass, and some plastic pulls mimic thelook of solid surfacing.
Installing cabinets in a remodeled kitchen require some basicfinish carpentry skills. Before starting any installation, it'sa good idea to mark some level and plumbing reference lines onthe walls so everything lines up properly. Most stock cabinetlayouts won't fit perfectly within a given wall space, butcabinetmakers provide narrow filler pieces to fill in the gapsbetween cabinets.
The most efficient way to start installation is with the wallcabinets, since the base cabinets would get in your way if theywere already in. It is better to put the corner units in first,squaring them and moving toward the center of the wall where youhave more leeway for making adjustments.
If your budget is tight and you want to give a new look to yourkitchen cabinet, you have the option of re-facing, whichinvolves replacing or veneering the parts of the cabinet thatare visible all the time. Therefore, the cabinet boxes -- calledthe cases -- stay in their current layout, but get a new finishwith veneer. Other parts, such as drawer fronts and cabinetdoors, get completely replaced.
About the author:Kitchen RemodelingInfo provides detailed information about kitchen remodelingideas and costs, including small kitchen remodeling ideas,kitchen cabinet remodeling, and more. Kitchen Remodeling Info isthe sister site of Bathroom RemodelingWeb.
