How to Face Cabinets With Laminates

Remove the cabinet doors with a screwdriver or power drill. Place hinges, screws and hardware in a small container so that you can easily access them if you plan to reinstall them.

Fill any holes or depressions in the cabinets with wood putty. When the wood putty dries, sand it until the area is smooth and flush with the cabinet.

Dampen a soft cloth with 1 part trisodium phosphate to 4 parts water, or alternatively use a soapy solution of dishwashing liquid and water. Wipe down the cabinets, and then rinse with another rag dampened with clear water. Dampen another cloth with ammonia to clean off any greasy areas. Do not saturate the cloths. Allow the cabinets to dry.

Lightly sand the entire surface of the cabinets. Sanding roughens the surface, which creates a stronger bond between the laminate and the cabinets. Use a tack cloth to remove all loose particles.

Measure the length and width of the sides of the cabinets, and then cut the laminate to fit.

Apply contact cement to the back of the laminate sheets, and apply them to the sides of the cabinet framing. Starting at the top, position the laminate so that it is flush with the top, and then press it down along the length of the frame. Use a block of wood or scraper to smooth the laminate.

Measure the stiles and rails of the cabinet framing. The stiles are the pieces of the frame that are vertical. The rails are the tops and bottoms of the cabinets that are horizontal. Cut a sufficient number of laminate strips an inch wider and longer than the measurements. Take care to rotate the laminate as necessary before cutting so that your pieces are placed along the grain when applied.

Apply adhesive to a laminate strip, and then apply it in the same manner as you applied the laminate to the sides of the cabinet by starting at the top and smoothing the laminate strip down as you go.

Trim the overage with a sharp utility knife. Place the knife so that the blade rests against the frame, and slowly cut down so that the laminate is flush with the face frame.

Repeat the step with the top and bottom edges of the cabinet frame, cutting off the overage from left to right.

Smooth the raw edges with a fine-toothed file using long smooth strokes. Hold the file at a slight angle. Use a light touch, as pressing too hard may scratch or crack the laminate.

Use a smoothing tool or block of wood to smooth the laminate against the cabinet framing. Clean off any excess glue with a rag dampened in mineral spirits.