How to Cover Metal Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets set the tone for your cooking space. With their visible placement and expansive square footage, kitchen cabinets make a major impact on the aesthetics of your kitchen design. If your existing metal kitchen cabinets feel outdated or dingy, refacing them with new cabinet covers offers an affordable and convenient update.
Covering metal kitchen cabinets allows you to quickly change the entire look of your kitchen by altering the outward-facing cabinet surfaces. Fresh cabinet covers can lend a more modern, sleek, or rustic aesthetic to your existing cabinet carcasses. Cover options range from replacing cabinet doors only to covering cabinet frames, sides, fronts, and doors for a seamless updated look.
Benefits of Covering Metal Kitchen Cabinets
Covering metal kitchen cabinets offers many advantages over a full cabinet replacement:
- Cost savings. Covering metal cabinets costs a fraction of a full replacement. You can update your entire kitchen for as little as 20-30% of a remodel.
- Convenience. Covering cabinets is a relatively simple DIY project that can be completed over a weekend. No need to remove and dispose of your existing cabinet boxes.
- Customization. Cover your cabinets in almost any material, color, and style for a unique look.
- Sustainability. Refacing reuses your cabinet carcasses, reducing landfill waste.
- Lower mess and disruption. Covering cabinets creates minimal dust and allows you to keep using your kitchen throughout the process.
How to Prepare Your Cabinets for New Covers
Proper prep work ensures your new cabinet covers install smoothly and last. Here are key steps to prep metal kitchen cabinets before adding new covers:
Clean Cabinets Thoroughly
Remove all contents from cabinets and wipe down all interior and exterior surfaces with a degreaser or all-purpose cleaner. Pay close attention to grimy areas around pulls and handles. Rinse with clean water and let cabinets dry completely.
Remove Doors and Hardware
Use a screwdriver to detach hinges and remove all doors, shelves, and hardware from cabinet frames. Remove any adhesive residue from surfaces. Label doors to match each cabinet opening.
Fix Damage
Inspect cabinets closely and repair any issues like peeling veneers, cracks, rot, discoloration or mold. Use wood filler, glue, sanding, or replacement parts as needed.
Install reinforcement blocks
Reinforce cabinet frames with 2″ x 4″ support blocks to provide a secure surface for attaching new covers. Apply adhesive or screws to install blocks. Let dry completely before adding covers.
Lightly sand cabinet surfaces
Use fine 220-grit sandpaper to scuff cabinet frame fronts, sides, tops, and bottoms. This helps covers and adhesives adhere properly. Remove dust with a dry cloth.
How to Cover Metal Kitchen Cabinets
Once your cabinets are prepped, it’s time to install new covers. Here are the key steps for a flawless finished look:
Choose Your Cover Material and Style
Metal kitchen cabinets can be covered in wood, laminate, veneer, Thermfoil, or other materials. Consider factors like budget, ease of installation, durability, and aesthetics. Popular styles include:
- Shaker – Simple flat center doors and clean lines
- Slab – Minimalist, plain slab door fronts
- Traditional – Ornate carved details and decorative moldings
- Contemporary – Sleek, modern look with solid colors
- Rustic – Distressed finishes, visible wood grains
Purchase Cover Panels
Buy cover panels sized to fit each cabinet surface. Self-adhesive veneer sheets offer the easiest installation. For other materials, purchase panels that allow screws or adhesive attachment. Order matching cabinet doors and drawer fronts.
Install Cabinet Sides and Face Frame Covers
Clean the surfaces and apply adhesive, thermal plastic sheets, or veneers directly onto cabinet side panels and frames. Use a roller to smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles. Attach screw-on panels with screws to reinforcement blocks. Cut panels to size with a circular saw if needed.
Install New Doors
Attach new cabinet doors and hardware using the existing hinges or upgrade to soft-close hinges. Make sure doors sit flush and open/close smoothly. Adjust hinges as needed.
Apply Drawer Fronts
Remove existing drawer fronts and clean surfaces. Apply new drawer fronts using adhesive or small finishing nails, making sure fronts sit flush with cabinet frames. Install new drawer pulls.
Install Decorative Trim
Adhere coordinating trim pieces onto edges for a built-in custom appearance. Use caulk to fill any gaps for a seamless look.
Seal and Finish Covers
Use caulk to seal trims, corners, and seams. Fill any imperfections with wood filler and sand smooth. Apply two coats of protective sealant, allowing drying time between coats.
How to Cover Metal Kitchen Cabinet Frames
For a complete makeover, cover the metal frames and sides of your cabinets in addition to doors and drawer fronts. Here’s how:
Remove Cabinet Doors, Shelves, and Hardware
Detach all hardware and remove cabinet doors, shelves, and drawers to access side and face frame surfaces. Label parts so you can reattach later.
Prep Cabinet Boxes
Clean, dry, and sand all side, front, and interior surfaces. Repair any rotted or damaged areas of the cabinet box. Apply wood filler and sand smooth.
Cut Cover Panels to Size
Measure cabinet sides and face frames. Cut plywood, MDF, or other cover material to size with a circular saw or jigsaw for each cabinet surface.
Attach Frame Cover Panels
Position cover panels on cabinet face frames, sides, tops, and bottoms. Drill pilot holes and drive screws into reinforcement blocks every 12”. Trim excess material with a flush cut saw.
Adhere Covering Material
Apply adhesive or veneer to cover panels with a trowel or roller. Smooth surfaces, removing any bubbles or wrinkles in the material as you work.
Replace Doors, Shelves, and Hardware
Reinstall the original or new doors, shelves, drawers, and hardware once covers are installed and adhesive has cured. Attach pulls and rehang doors.
FAQs About Covering Metal Kitchen Cabinets
Can I cover metal cabinets with laminate?
Yes, laminate sheets make an affordable and durable covering for metal kitchen cabinets. Use adhesive to apply laminate directly onto cabinet frames and sides for seamless results.
What adhesive should I use to cover metal cabinets?
Contact cement, liquid nails, or polyurethane adhesive all provide a strong bond for covering metal cabinets. Make sure to use an adhesive formulated for your specific covering material.
Do I need to sand metal cabinets before refacing?
Lightly sanding metal cabinets creates a rough surface that helps new covers and adhesives adhere better. Use 220-grit sandpaper and focus on areas where covers will attach.
Can I install new cabinet doors only?
Yes, you can upgrade just the doors for a budget-friendly update. Remove existing doors, clean hinge locations, then install new doors on the original hinges. Adjust alignment as needed.
How do I cut cover panels to size?
Use a circular saw with a fine-tooth blade to cut cover panels to height and width. For curved cuts, use a jigsaw. Make test cuts in scrap material first to ensure straight lines.
What is the easiest way to cover metal kitchen cabinets?
Self-adhesive cabinet wraps provide the simplest installation for DIYers. Clean cabinet frames, then stick on adhesive-backed vinyl or veneer sheets. Use a roller or plastic smoother to apply the wraps.
How much does it cost to reface metal kitchen cabinets?
The average cost to reface metal kitchen cabinets is $2,000 to $8,000, with the price depending on the size of your kitchen and materials used. Refacing is 60-70% cheaper than full cabinet replacement.
Transform the Look of Your Kitchen
Covering dated or damaged metal kitchen cabinets offers an affordable DIY kitchen makeover. With some simple preparation work, new cabinet covers can be installed directly onto your existing cabinet frames for a completely updated look.
Choose cover materials like wood, laminate, or veneer to achieve your desired aesthetic, whether modern, rustic, or traditional. And take advantage of the design flexibility to customize your new cabinet fronts, sides, and faces.
With strategic use of wraps, panels, trim, and moulding, you can give your kitchen a fresh facelift at a fraction of the cost of brand new custom cabinetry. Just follow important steps like proper cleaning, sanding, measurement, and use of adhesives.
In a short time, you can transform the heart of your home with beautiful new cabinet covers that suit your style and revitalize your cooking space. So don’t languish in a dreary outdated kitchen – covering your metal cabinets offers an easy upgrade that makes an amazing difference.
