How to Put Wainscot on Cabinets

Old kitchen cabinets that look worn can be given new life with a fresh coat of paint, laminate sheeting or even wainscot. Though wainscot is traditionally attached to interior walls, you can use it to reface cabinetry. This will give the cabinets a new, distinct look and extend their life significantly. To get the custom look, you can put wainscot on the cabinets with some common carpentry tools. Enlist the help of a friend or family member to make the project easier.

Screwdriver
Tape measure
Pencil
Safety glasses
Circular saw
Miter saw
Medium-grit sandpaper
Panel adhesive
Caulk gun
Panel nails
Nail gun
Cap molding
Screws
Pliers

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the knobs or handles from the cabinets with a screwdriver.
- 2
  Measure the cabinet's size with a tape measure and write down the dimensions of each cabinet.
- 3
  Mark the wainscot to fit the measurements using a tape measure and pencil.
- 4
  Put on safety glasses and cut the wainscot to fit the cabinets using a circular saw. If you need to make any angle cuts, use a miter saw. Leave enough room to install cap molding on the top and bottom of the wainscot.
- 5
  Sand the edges of the wainscot with medium-grit sandpaper to smooth and rid the wainscot of any splinters.
- 6
  Put a tube of panel adhesive into a caulk gun and spread a bead of panel adhesive around the borders of the cabinets, then make a "Z" shape in the middle of the cabinet with the glue.
- 7
  Press the wainscot against the cabinet, sticking it to the adhesive, then nail around the edges using panel nails and a nail gun.
- 8
  Measure and cut cap molding to go over the top and bottom of the wainscot. Fasten it to the cabinets, abutting the top and bottom, using panel adhesive and panel nails.
- 9
  Fasten the knobs to the wainscot through the cabinet face using a screwdriver and screws or simply drive the knob into the wainscot by hand or with pliers, whichever is applicable.

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