Message Boards

I am hoping for some help. We have some built in shelving/bookcase in a bedroom. The previous owner did a great job of making it sturdy and well built(and the storage is great)...until, s/he used and stained particle board for the doors and top of the desk-level surface. My husband and I have been debating about how to fix it (sand and paint, order custom doors, etc) and a contractor has recommended we not start from scratch (i.e., pull it out) because it is well built. Your thoughts?

Take the measurments to a cabinet or woodworking shop and have them to make you replacement wood doors. As for the counter top you can use just that cut to demensions.

You will never get a decent finish on particleboard; it would take hours and hours of work to begin to get a smooth painted surface alone.

You might be able to get custom doors online to fit the dimensions, and they are not much more expensive than stock doors. I have done that a couple times.

Example: I made a room full of maple cabinets for one daughter, but I told her I didn't have the time to make the doors. She ordered them through Home Depot and they came out identical to those on her kitchen cabinets. End result was beautiful.

As to the desk top, you can cover it with 1/8" veneer plywood and stock wood trim on the edges; then finish it to suit. Some home centers carry thin wood veneer plywood as door skins, roughly 3'x7' for a good price.

Thank you for your feedback. This is helpful. I know you mentioned Home Depot for custom doors. Is that a place you would recommend for reasonable price and quality. I have checked some online, but have not fully appreciated price differences w/ shipping hardware, etc. Thank you again.

Don't forget to check with a local cabinet shop. Sometimes they will give you a better price than the big stores. Not always, but it never hurts to ask.

My experience with ordering custom doors is that they come from the same manufacturer regardless of where you order them. That may change from time to time. Get a price from an online source and from a local home center and compare. Just make sure you are pricing the same design and material from each source.

Fact is, online sources probably do not have stock sizes; they are probably all made to order. This is easy - and fast - for a shop.

Thank you all for your responses. This has been helpful to us.

You may also want to consider putting a laminate on the countertop area and exposed edge or finishing the edge with a wood molding finished or painted to match the cabinets.

Very good idea, Chuck! Probably easier to do than my idea.