Tag Archives: cabinets

Replace or Reface? Easy Ways to Update your Kitchen

Posted on by
Reply
Kitchen refacing project in Tafisa Stargazer

Considering a remodel of your kitchen? On average, a complete redo to update your kitchen will cost between $12,000 and $35,000. Plus, it can takes months to complete. Additionally you will not get back what you spent in total if you should sell.

So perhaps there is a better way….

If you are happy with the layout and condition of your existing cabinets, you can reface them and order new cabinet doors and drawer fronts. This process can be completed in weeks versus months and at a fraction of the cost of replacing cabinets.

What is Refacing?

Cabinet refacing is a process in which you cover the sides and front edges of your existing cabinet box with high pressure laminate. Then, you order cabinet doors and drawer fronts in that same laminate color and “voila!”, you have a whole new kitchen. Our custom door and drawer front program at Woodworker Express features over 40 designer colors and 7 different door/drawer profiles from traditional to contemporary. Plus, our super easy and intuitive doors and drawer fronts configurator walks you through each step of the process of choosing your new doors and drawer fronts. We also carry all of the supplies for your refacing project including the laminate, tools and adhesives. We help you update your kitchen.

Cabinet Drawer Boxes to Update Your Kitchen

Another fast and easy upgrade for your kitchen are new cabinet drawer boxes. Woodworker Express can provide you with custom drawer boxes in white, plywood, solid maple or aspen. Because they are custom, they are built to your exact specifications. We have provided another drawer box configurator and videos to walk you through the process of choosing the correct sizes for your cabinet and drawer slides.

These are two great ways of creating a fabulous new kitchen without major construction and an astronomical price tag.

Download a copy of our new Kitchen Upgrade Lookbook for more information by clicking the cover image below.

Kitchen Upgrade Lookbook cover image link to open PDF in new tab.

How to Know if You Should Repair or Replace Kitchen Cabinets

Posted on by
Reply
Image of man measuring height of cabinets in kitchen.

Kitchen cabinets are quite an investment and can often be repaired rather than replaced. Quality, age, and style help determine which path to take.

When updating a kitchen or just trying to make it function better, improving things without over-spending can be tough. Cabinets, which include all cabinet bases, doors, drawers, and hardware, play a major role in kitchen design and function. It’s helpful to take inventory of factors such as quality, cost, and style, as these elements play an important role in deciding if you should repair or replace kitchen cabinets.

Quality Matters

The main thing to consider is the quality of the cabinetry. Is it worth saving?

If the cabinets are solid hardwood and have stood the test of time, refinishing and fixing them up might be worth the work and cost savings. If you are going to put in the time for repairs but will have to repeat the repairs regularly because of poor quality, replacing may be a better option.

Damaged Drawers, Cabinet Bases, and Doors

Even a well-maintained and high-quality set of kitchen cabinets can see its fair share of damage through the years. Too many deep scratches on doors, drawers with faces that are falling off, or cabinet bases with corners nearly gone from years of wood chipping away are sometimes beyond repair.

On the other hand, with the right skills, some repairs can go a long way. Maybe that crooked drawer just needs a new undermount slide, or perhaps you could make the scratched drawer look like new with some wood filler, sanding, and fresh paint.

When deciding if you should repair or replace kitchen cabinets, check every area to see if the damage is extensive enough to warrant replacing rather than repairing.

The Layout Isn’t Working

Repairs can’t do much for the kitchen if you don’t like the layout of the cabinets. In this case, a complete remodel may need to take place rather than fixing up what you currently have.

Style

Style is another tough factor to consider but, sometimes, it’s possible to repair and upgrade an outdated style rather than replace it entirely. If you have old metal cabinets and want to swap them with wood then, by all means, replace the cabinets. However, if the style issue is simply the color of your cabinets, it will be far less expensive to paint the cabinets than replace them.

Decide what your style is, and go from there. Get creative, and you may see ways you can incorporate your new style into your old cabinets.

Hardware

The easiest thing to replace on kitchen cabinets and drawers is the hardware. There is no need to replace cabinets if the hardware is the only issue. You can easily install new drawer pulls, cabinet knobs, and even undermount drawer glides, replacing old, worn-out ones. Even if the old hardware is in great shape, you can replace it with a more updated look. Woodworker Express has everything you need for kitchen cabinet and drawer repairs, along with many other options for improving the style, storage, and function of your kitchen

What Causes Cabinet Door Hinges To Bind

Posted on by
Reply

It is frustrating to have a cabinet door that does not close smoothly or hang properly. Understanding why hinges bind is the first step in repairing them.

We have all experienced the cabinet door in our home that will not shut properly or constantly springs back open. In most cases, a hinge has become bound and is causing the problem. Understanding what causes door hinges to bind makes it easier to figure out the issue and get it fixed.

What Is a Bound Hinge?

The phrase “bound hinge” simply means the door is being difficult in the way it is not easy to close or it springs back open. There are a few reasons why the hinge might be bound.

Screws Are Askew

It is possible that when the hinges were attached, the head of the screws were too big. If this is the case, they will not lay flush and therefore cause binding and create a door that is difficult to close or easily bounces back open.

The solution here is an easy one — simply replace the screws with a smaller head screw for a flush finish.

Hinges Are Not Placed Correctly

When hinges are not placed correctly in the first place, binding is bound to happen and lead to doors that don’t operate smoothly.

The flaps of a hinge should be flush with the surface of the wood. Sometimes the recesses where the hinges are placed have been cut in too deeply. This results in a lack of flushness between the hinge and the surface of the door or doorframe.

Replace Hardware

As hinge repairs are made, be sure you are working with hinges that are worth reinstalling. They are often damaged and bent out of shape after a cabinet door has not been functioning properly. At that point, it is better to purchase new cabinet hinges for sale to give the door a fresh start.

Avoiding what causes door hinges to bind in the first place is your best bet for a smooth operating door. Thankfully, if it does happen, the repairs are simple.

A Guide To Effectively Organizing Your Kitchen

Posted on by
Reply
Image of organized kitchen drawers

Spring cleaning is right around the corner, but you don’t have to wait until spring to organize your kitchen! Any day is a great day to start creating a kitchen that is easy and fun to work in. This guide to effectively organizing your kitchen will help you get started with simple ideas that will get your creative juices flowing and your kitchen feeling like new!

Clean It All Out

It’s not a lot of fun, but cleaning out all the cabinets, drawers, and pantry shelves is the best way to see what you have, what you can get rid of, and what you need to keep. Once everything is empty and you have gone through what can be ditched, give the cabinets, shelving, and drawers a good cleaning. If you are going through the trouble of organizing, you might as well have a clean slate.

Once you have cleaned everything out, you can start making a list of which areas need better organization. As you think about it, start considering what you can do to make that organization work.

Search for Helpful Organizers

You can begin by looking around your house for containers, such as small and medium plastic boxes or baskets, to see if they can fit into your organizing solution. To get the most out of organizing, you might also want to consider adding some things to cabinets and drawers to help you stay organized. Things such as a base cabinet pullout organizer are helpful in keeping cabinets tidy. You can also use small drawer organizers to keep small items separate.

The options are endless when it comes to finding what you need to make your kitchen work better for you. You can install shelving, drawer inserts, and pullouts to instantly improve your organization.

Everything Has a Place

Just like your mother used to say: put things back where they belong! Once you spend the time and money to organize your kitchen, don’t let it go back to how it was! It is much easier to put everything back in its place rather than letting it spin out of control again and having to start all over. For example, if you organize your spices alphabetically, then by all means, put the cinnamon back on the “C” shelf.

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Make the heart function at its best by following our guide to effectively organizing your kitchen. Woodworker Express is here to help you along the way.

What To Know About Concealed Hinges

Posted on by
Reply

Image of concealed hinge in cabinet

Concealed hinges, also called European hinges, offer a clean finish and are often preferred for a more minimalist or modern type look. Choosing the right type of hinge will depend on what type of cabinet or door you have and what kind of look you prefer. Here is what you need to know about concealed hinges.

When To Use a Concealed Hinge

If you prefer hinges not to show at all from the outside of a cabinet or door, concealed hinges are what you are looking for. They can be used with any type of door and give you that simplified look you are trying to achieve.

Easy To Install

You can install concealed hinges on any door, whether a cabinet or just a door in the hallway. Talk with knowledgeable people when looking for cabinet hinges for sale.

If you are going to install the hinges yourself, be sure to prepare the proper hinges and materials you’ll need. You’ll also need a tape measure and a drill. The installation process only takes some measuring, drilling, and screwing, and you’ll be done. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to complete your project.

The great thing about concealed hinges is that they are hard to mess up. The way they are installed won’t leave drill holes that are visible, so if you make a mistake, no one will ever know. Also, with the turn of a screwdriver, you can move the doors up and down or side to side for adjustment, unlike with traditional hinges, which require sanding or planing the doors for adjustments.

Repairing a Broken Concealed Hinge

Since we actually live in our homes, things are going to break once in a while. The daily use of cabinet doors especially can take its toll. Thankfully, a concealed hinge is an easy fix.
If the hinge has completely snapped or is beyond repair, then replacement is probably necessary. If you learned how to install the hinge the first time, then this will be an easy fix.

A common issue with cabinet doors is a stripped screw hole. You go to tighten up the screw because it has come loose, only to find that it turns and won’t tighten. Grab some toothpicks, dip a few in wood glue, and fill the loosened hole with toothpicks until you can’t fit anymore. Cut off the tips of the toothpicks, and you should be able to drill a new screw into the hole.
Woodworker Express is here to help you with what you need to know about concealed hinges, as well as all other door and cabinetry questions.