How to Refinish and Restain Your Kitchen Cabinets Easily

The average cost of refurbishing kitchen cabinets begins at approximately $1,000 and continues to increase depending on the project. This is still far cheaper as compared to the cost of replacing all the kitchen cabinets, which amounts to an average of 3,500 dollars. Refurbishment is a great solution for homeowners who are on a tight budget and do not want to spend a lot of money, yet would love to have the upgraded appearance of kitchen cabinets. This article focuses on answering the question, ‘how to refinish kitchen cabinets’ in detail.

Whether to Go For DIY or a Contractor?

Among the aspects that a homeowner should make a decision when attempting to install new cabinets is whether to employ a contractor or do the work themselves. Householders who wish to save money on labor can save half (or more) of the amount by buying the supplies and doing the work without professional assistance. Nevertheless, the number of homeowners who underestimate the time it takes to refinish cabinets properly is quite large. It may be a large undertaking that will require the whole weekend to refurbish old cabinets, and possibly even longer.

Also, the question of how to restain kitchen cabinets demands knowledge of the numerous steps to be followed to make the cabinets appear correct. The homeowners should also have the right tools in order to do the job. The result could be less satisfying to those who economize on equipment or those who take shortcuts.

Choosing Between Painting and Staining?

It can be a difficult choice as to whether to paint or stain cabinets. Stain highlights wood grain and maintains cabinets in a natural appearance. It is known for being warm and traditional.

Painting provides the homeowner with a greater color choice. The paint may be matched with the floor, countertops, walls or any other component in the kitchen. The negative side of paint however, is that it is very hard to remove once it has been applied, and some wood may never be the same again. This renders the act of painting a huge commitment. When wood is painted, it will probably be that way always.

Fashion is subject to change, and painted cabinets may not necessarily be fashionable always. Painters should consider before they paint and be sure that they will be satisfied with their choice.

DIY Refurbishment Tips

Another significant aspect of kitchen cabinet refinishing is planning and preparation. These are some of the tips that can assist homeowners during the process when they embark on the process of painting or staining.

• When applying paint, test various colors before applying them to the cabinets.
• Paint or stain all hardware before it is removed.
• Wipe down the cabinets and then start the refurbishing, with a cleaner that removes grease.
• Sand the cabinets to get a painted or stained surface that would easily stick to, and remove the shavings on wood using a microfiber cloth.
• Prepare to use several layers of a stain or paint, to make sure the layers will be applied in an even manner.

When removing hardware from the cabinets, it is useful to work out the hardware of each cabinet into a number of labeled baggies. This will assist in making sure that when the cabinets are complete it will all be placed back in the right position. It is beneficial to a number of homeowners to apply a low VOC paint or stain to keep out the odors and check the indoor air quality.

Label With Tape

Amongst the most common issues that homeowners meet in the process of installing the cabinet door fronts anew is the issue of matching the door with the corresponding opening. Even though doors might seem to be identical, a good number of them differ within a range of 1/4 inch. Label the front of the doors and every cabinet opening with the matching numbers on the painter tape, to prevent confusion. Remove the labels before spraying cabinet door fronts and casings with an initial coat of primer and paint, then place them back on prior to re-installation.

Fill the Holes

When you are adding hardware to your cabinets, keep in mind that you are not likely to find existing hardware holes that are going to match new screws. Stuff old holes with wood putty from front to back.

Lightly Sand Surfaces

There are reasons as to why sanding is essential, particularly when you are going to restain kitchen cabinets. The first one is that it strips away any existing shine or protective sealant on the surfaces of cabinet drawers and door fronts, making the surface receptive to bonding with the primer and paint. After it has been used on surfaces that have been filled with wood filler or putty, it also benefits to even out any preexisting scratches, dings or nicks.

Invest in Primer

The stain-blocking primer is not only used by professional painters to provide a good surface to bond the paint, but it also helps to minimise the number of coats. The homeowners who will be employing light colors will probably need one coat of paint and one coat of primer. One who uses shades of dark or bold paint should use a tinted primer.

Add Felt Door Dampers

The backs of new door fronts should not be exposed to the casing around them. Gradually, as time passes, the paint finish on your cabinets would be ruined by opening and closing the cabinets. A simple solution to the problem of protecting the doors and the casing is to add felt pads to the bottom corners of any door.

Calling a Reliable Painting Contractor

If you are thinking of refinishing kitchen cabinets and you do not know whether to do the job yourself or employ a contractor, you should begin by speaking with the professionals to determine the cost of the job. Questioning the contractors can help you to know whether you should give this job to someone, or if you can do it yourself.

Homeowners and Businesses in Cleveland and neighbouring cities in Ohio can contact Knapp Painting LLC to get professional assistance with expert painting services.

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