How to Cover Cabinets

Old cabinets that are structurally sound but have a surface that is worn or dated can be salvaged by covering them with a new surface. One of the most popular choices for this kind of coverage is wood veneer. Wood veneer is actual wood that has been sliced into paper-thin sheets, which can be affixed over the existing surface to give it a look of solid wood. You can get veneer that has to be applied with separate adhesive, but an easier solution is self-stick veneer.

Screwdriver
Vibrating hand-sander
Tape measure
Carpenter's square
Pencil
Wood veneer (self-stick)
Utility knife
Block of wood, two or three on a side
Small towel

Instructions

- 1
  Disassemble the cabinets with your screwdriver, taking off all the hardware and laying out the parts on a work area.
- 2
  Run a hand-sander over the each part of the surface that you want to cover with veneer, getting the surface flat and dull.
- 3
  Measure the length and width of the first area you want to cover. Mark out those measurements on a piece of veneer with a carpenter's square and pencil, adding one inch all around.
- 4
  Cut out the veneer piece with your utility knife along the marked lines.
- 5
  Pull the wax paper off the back of the piece of veneer. Press the piece of veneer onto the surface with a one-inch overhand all around.
- 6
  Cut off the excess veneer from the edges of the space, running your utility knife along the edges.
- 7
  Wrap an old towel around a block of wood, so it doesn't scratch the veneer. Scrape it over the surface, pressing firmly, to get the veneer firmly set and free of air bubbles.
- 8
  Repeat for each section of the cabinets. Put the cabinets back together.

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