Give kitchen cabinets a facelift without replacing them

We're all trying to save money these days, and if you can recycle old things to do it, even better! If you are tired of your old kitchen cabinets but can't afford to upgrade, you might consider painting your old ones. It's the least expensive way to "remodel."

Bring paint samples home, tape them to the cabinet doors and watch them for a few days. A color that looks one way in the store may look completely different in your kitchen.

It's really best to remove the cabinet doors and drawers. Number each cabinet and its matching door the same so it will be easier to reassemble them. If you have the cash, you can replace the hardware as well.

Start by cleaning the doors, drawer fronts and cabinet facings. Mineral spirits paint thinner followed by trisodium phosphate is your best bet.

Mask off any areas you don't want painted.

Now scuff-sand or apply a chemical deglosser to all surfaces to be painted. This will help with paint adhesion.

Apply a primer/sealer to the surfaces and let it set up. Then apply your topcoat. It may take two coats to get the desired finish. Use a paint that is designed for kitchen cabinets, as it probably will be easier to clean and maintain.

Rehang the doors and install the drawers. You can do this in a weekend and be ready for work on Monday if you plan ahead. Have some fun recycling!

A trowel is just the thing

For roof repairs, you need to be as gentle as you can when it comes to lifting up a composition shingle to put a dab of roofing patch under it. One of the best tools we've ever tried is a pointed trowel. These normally are used with concrete or mortar, but the thin, pointed blade is great for lifting up shingles. The handle is mounted above the blade, so your hands don't get in the way. They also are easy to clean if you get some of the roofing tar on them. Give it a shot the next time you are making simple roof repairs.

Pegboard storage

Pegboard has perforations across the surface that are used to hang hooks and other assorted hardware to help organize your workshop. But the scraps can be used for lots of other storage solutions in the workshop, so don't throw them away. For example, set the pegboard down flat over a couple of short "feet" and stick router bits into it. The shafts of the bits fit perfectly inside the holes and won't get knocked over or fall out easily. You can set your storage shelf on your workbench, inside a drawer or toolbox, or wherever you have some extra storage space.

Super hints

• If you wax your own car or boat, use those wax-filled rags to shine up your metal tools. It also will help protect them from moisture damage and rust.

• Cleaning a concrete surface can take a lot of time. Once you finally get it clean, keep it protected with a coating of water sealer. Applied once a year, it can keep your concrete surfaces looking great and lasting longer.

• Scrapping an old appliance can be hard. After all, you've probably had it for years. But you can keep parts of it. For example, metal drawers like you might have in a refrigerator are great in the shop or greenhouse. And oven racks are handy for outdoor grills and the garden. It's OK to take a second look at what you throw away and try to salvage some things.

Q. My front steps and porch are newly installed and made of pressure-treated lumber. I want to paint them but was told to let them "age" first. When can I paint them?

A. Try dropping a few drops of water on the surface. If the water drops soak in, it's OK to paint. Use a primer first. Your paint will go on smoother and stay on longer.

Q. Our concrete patio has several stains on it. We would like to paint just the surface but are unsure if we can find anything that will last, especially outdoors. Got any ideas?

A. There are concrete stains and concrete paint. Colors that penetrate the surface will last longer and show less wear. There are complete resurfacing methods too, although they cost more. The key to success is to read and follow the package directions to a "T." That will ensure good results.

Q. We have a couple of outlets in our garage that don't work. Can we fix these, or should we call an electrician?

A. Check the GFCI reset button if you have one on that circuit. Many times, garage circuits also include outdoor outlets. It's possible that it might be just a loose wire, which should be easy enough for you to tackle, but several other problems could be the cause. We would suggest calling in a pro and installing a GFCI on that circuit if you don't have one already. Be safe.

Q. I would like to know how to paint my vinyl kitchen floor. It's old and ugly, and I can't afford to replace it. Can you tell me how to do it so it will last a couple more years?

A. Make sure it is completely stripped of all wax and grease. Then scuff-sand it or apply a chemical deglosser to help the new paint stick to the surface of the vinyl flooring. Apply a primer and then your paint finish. Apply a couple of coats of clear polyurethane to help protect it and make it last. It should look OK for a few years if you are careful with it.

Reader tips

Whenever I get a plastic cup from a medicine bottle or a dispensing syringe with medicine from the vet or any other semi-disposable measuring device, I keep it in a box for my shop. These items are great for mixing things that you wouldn't want to put in a "good" measuring cup. My wife would kill me!

• Our three-year labor of love has been fixing up my grandparents' old home. We have redone everything, down to the studs. We took pictures as we did each step to use to put together a photo album with records of it all. When we looked back at the photos, we realized that they really would come in handy for future repairs as well. Now we have pictures of the plumbing inside the walls and the wiring and where it is run. You might consider doing this if you do renovations. It has come in handy for us already, and its fun to do, too.

• I have a new kitchen, and the refrigerator has wood paneling on it. The other day I ran across a whole box of refrigerator magnets that I had taken from our old house when we moved. I wasn't sure what to do with them until I started looking around. Our laundry-room door to the garage is metal. It's our new message board. I put the magnets as well as a calendar on the inside of the door, and now we have a great place to leave notes for each other. I even have put special notes on the washing machine! Refrigerator magnets aren't just for refrigerators anymore!

• I remember years ago reading in your column about putting oil into a bucket of sand and working your shovel blade up and down in the sand to clean and lubricate it. Well, I have a large plastic tub that I keep full of oily sand. I just leave the tools in it. It makes a great stand, and also protects the tools from moisture damage.

• We used to have a large dog but don't anymore. He was great at chasing away solicitors and other people - maybe even a thief or two. We miss him a lot but have decided to wait before getting another pet. I ran across his large food bowl in the garage and decided to put it outside on the back porch. It doesn't do much except sit around, but hopefully it will scare away anyone who might be thinking about trying to break in. A large bowl like that must belong to a large dog, right? Well, it might fool someone!

Shoptalk

• Dremel Rotary Tools have tons of super uses. The new EZ Lock system makes accessory changes quick and easy. The new Detail Abrasive Brush, available now at hardware stores, home centers and other Dremel dealers, is a super accessory for sanding in tight spots or where intricate details and contours are a challenge. It is now available in three versatile grit strengths. Remove those paint drips and even rust on all types of surfaces, including more delicate finishes. For additional information, visit the company's Web site and see all of the super gadgets and projects for your Dremel at dremel.com.

• If you have Formica countertops and want the look of granite or stainless steel, minus the huge price, check out www.liquidstainlesssteel.com. It has paint-on finishes that simulate stainless steel as well as granite. The application is fairly easy and, if done properly, will last a long time. Check it out for yourself and see if this might be the solution you've been looking for. Everything you need is included in one kit, and your satisfaction is 100 percent guaranteed.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006, or visit the Carrells' Web site at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2009, Cowles Syndicate Inc.