The molding will add value to your ordinary cabinet doors. When the molding is properly applied then it appears to be a part of your door instead of an afterthought. This is done through the use of the molding that fits the design of your cabinet door. Commonly small, thin moldings look better than large, wide moldings on your cabinet doors. Install this molding with a space around the perimeter to dress up your cabinet doors for the best results and impart the presence of raised or inset panel doors that commonly cost thousands more.
Steps And Items Needed To Dress Up Plain Cabinet Doors
If you are going to dress up your cabinet door then you need to first collect the given items and then follow the mentioned steps carefully:
Things Needed For This Project
- Drill/Driver
- Plywood Strips, 1/4-By-2-By-48-Inch
- Miter Saw & Clamps
- Bullnose Molding, 1/4-By-1/2-By-48-Inch
- Pin Nailer
- Pin Nails, 1-Inch
- Wood Putty, Putty Knife & Putty Crayon
Steps For This Process
- First of all, you need to unscrew the hinges from your cabinet doors, using a drill/driver & remove the cabinet doors.
- The next thing to do is to start measuring the length of your doors. Now you need to cut one piece of 1/4-by-2-inch-wide plywood to the measurement for each vertical side of your cabinet door by using a miter saw. Then clamp one piece of plywood flush to both sides of your door.
- Next you need to measure the distance betwixt the 2 pieces of plywood at the top & bottom. Next, cut 2 pieces of 1/4-by-2-inch plywood to fit betwixt the two side pieces and now clamp them in place horizontally, flush at the top & bottom to form a 2-inch perimeter frame around your door.
- After that, you need to measure from corner to corner at the top, bottom & sides around the inside perimeter of your 1/4-inch plywood frame. Simply set the miter saw at 45-degrees and then cut 1 piece of 1/4-by-1/2-inch bullnose molding for each vertical side & 1 piece for the top & bottom. Cut 1 left and 1 right-hand 45-degree miter on each piece.
- Now you need to add a thin line of glue to the flat bottom of each piece of the molding. Press each piece in its respective place into your frame by joining the mitered corners together. Now you need to shoot four 1-inch pin nails, evenly spaced, through with the top of the molding to secure it to your door. Remove your clamps & the 1/4-inch plywood.
- Next, you need to fill all the nail holes with wood putty by using a putty knife if your molding is unfinished. Fill your nail holes with the help of a putty crayon if your molding has been previously finished.
- Finally you need to sand your molding smooth by using 120-grit sandpaper if your molding is unfinished. Wipe the extra putty crayon off with the help of a soft cloth if your molding has been previously finished. Install the doors back on your cabinets.
Warnings & Tips
- Always try to wear eye protection when working with wood or woodworking tools.
- Some of your cabinets doors are presumed to be the same length or even in the same size. Do this as many similar sizes as possible before cutting more 1/4-inch plywood.
- The bullnose molding is mentioned as an example. You can use any type of molding, you desire. Measure the length of your doors & cut 1 piece of 1/4-by-2-inch-wide plywood to the measurement for each vertical side of the door using a miter saw. Clamp 1 piece of plywood flush to both sides of your door.