When homeowners are remodeling their kitchens, they can't always afford to replace the cabinets. I reface the existing cabinets with solid wood and wrap the sides, top and bottom with matching panels. I can replace damaged cabinets and change the height of the upper cabinets or add more storage space.
Refacing cabinets is much less expensive than replacing. The homeowner is not limited to the current layout of cabinets, I can remove and move cabinetry and work with any wood species and stain color.
Throughout college, I worked with my hands. I worked for painting contractors, landscaping contractors, in a kitchen, as a waiter and as a janitor. I enjoyed the sense of accomplishment and physical nature of these jobs, so when it came time to start my career after graduating from UW-Madison with a bachelor's degree in economics in 2001, I bought a tool belt and went to work for a general contractor.
I've been building custom cabinets and refacing cabinets for over seven years, and opened my company three years ago. I'm the salesman, designer, estimator, fabricator and installer.
I fell into cabinetry after a few years of working with general contractors. I always enjoyed finish carpentry and when I moved to Denver in 2004, I knew I wanted a job in cabinetry. I worked my way up through a company in Denver for about five years before my wife, Nicci, and I had our three children and decided to move to be closer to our families in Wisconsin.
Refacing is a green option since there is less waste. I donate leftover materials to the Habitat Restore. Plus, by reusing existing cabinets, old cabinets are kept out of the landfill. I also use a water-based finish rather than oil, which is safer for the environment and the air in the customer's home.
The workhorse of my shop is my table saw and I use many other tools on the job. This job requires excellent math skills, people skills, creativity, mechanical skills, and flexibility. I'm motivated to please the customer by creating a beautiful piece of cabinetry. I like working with homeowners directly, taking their ideas and refining them with my experience to create their dream kitchens. Homeowners are emotionally vested in their project, making it that much more rewarding for me when everything is completed.
What I Do features area residents who have interesting or unique jobs. The column runs every Tuesday. To suggest someone to feature, contact Jill Carlson at jillcarlson1957@gmail.com with the name, contact information and a brief description of what the person does.
