Expert: Jamie Yocono - 8/25/2008

Question
QUESTION: I had oak cabinets installed 16 yrs. ago.  Recently, I had my kitchen remodeled.  This is my situation:

1.  Some shelves were removed from the sides of the cabinets.
2.  I am in need of a 'covering' (either the skins or the veneers) to cover the 'blemished' areas where the oak shelves had been.  In some cases, the upper part of the cabinets have crown moulding.

Questions:

1.  Should I purchase skins (have peel-off backs) or veneers (which would be attached via liquid nails)?

2.  Lowe's is charging nearly $600 for 5 sheets of skins; the veneers are a little more. Is there an Internet site where I could order the oak skins or veneers at a lesser price?

Thank you in advance for your guidance.

Marilyn





ANSWER: Marilyn,

Try looking at this site: http://www.certainlywood.com.

Many years ago, I bought some peel and stick veneer from them, their prices were reasonable, and the product was great.

I would not use Liquid Nails for attaching skins. It's too thick. I'm not sure what to use, contact cement, possibly, but that isn't perfect, either. I'd look for a peel and stick product, like the ones the site above sells.

I think Lowe's prices are ridiculous. You'd be better off buying some 1/8" plywood, possibly cabinet grade, and having someone rip it down to size. I'm just guessing, but let's just say a sheet of 1/8" Oak plywood is $50 a sheet. You could get 2 -24" (lower cabinet skins) out of it, or 4 - 12" skins out of it, which would cover the upper cabinets. So look for a plywood dealer in your area.

Try contacting a small cabinet shop in your area, and ask them if they'd be willing to order a sheet for you, and cut it up, too. I've done that for people a few times. But honestly, you're going to need to call a small shop, not a big one, or they'll tell you they won't do it.

If you write back with your city and state, I'll try to locate a woodworker in your area. I belong to woodworking society, and can look up your area in my membership directory.

Good luck, write back if you need more help,

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you SO VERY MUCH, Jamie. Yes, would you please let me know of a woodworker in my area?  I live in Tampa, FL.

Marilyn

Answer
Marilyn,

Found three woodworkers in your area, don't know anything about them, but if you tell them a fellow Furniture Society member gave you their name, it might help.

Environstudio, Inc.
Robert Ballard, Jr.
Sarah Howard
813-231-2507
(www.environstudio.com)

Carl Johnson
carljohnson@ij.net

Allison Swann-Ingram
Swann Woodwork
813-503-7061
www.swannwoodwork.com

I hope one of these people can help out, or give you a name of someone who can. Like I said, I think since this is a small job, a small company would be willing to do it. It's been my experience that bigger companies wouldn't regard this as something they could make a profit on, so they would probably take a pass on it.

Good luck,

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
My woodworking blog: www.wooditis.blogspot.com