How To Cut & Glue Veneers to Cabinets

Remove the hardware from the cabinets. Set the hardware aside in a secure place so you can reinstall it once you finish the project.

Use a wood chisel to loosen the edge of the trim, and slide the blade down the length of the trim to loosen the nails. Pull the trim carefully from the cabinet. Sand rough spots and wipe the cabinets clean.

Apply wood putty to the surface of the cabinets to make an even surface for the veneer. Use a wide putty knife to smooth the putty to a thin coating. Work the putty into cracks so the entire surface is uniformly smooth. Allow the putty to dry, then sand the surface to remove any bumps or bulges. Wipe clean with a tack cloth.

Measure the cabinet surface's width and height. Determine the direction of the wood grain on the veneer. Transfer the measurements to the veneer and mark the cut lines with a pencil.

Score the veneer with a utility knife along the cut lines. Use light pressure on the utility knife, and repeat the scoring until the knife cuts through the veneer. This keeps the veneer from chipping as you cut it.

Apply the bonding cement to the back of the veneer and the cabinet surface, according to manufacturer's directions. Press the veneer to the cabinet surface at the time recommended on the bonding cement package. Smooth the veneer with a wooden block, working from the center to the edges. Trim off any excess veneer and allow the bonding cement to dry.

Sand rough edges with a fine sandpaper. Apply the desired finish to the veneer. Reinstall the cabinets' hardware.