Cabinet refinishing is an affordable way to restore your cabinets without replacing them with new ones. It gives your kitchen and bathroom cabinets a new look and saves you the trouble of remodeling. The process involves improving your existing cabinets by painting or staining them to give them a makeover. This article outlines everything you need to know about cabinet refinishing.
Why Cabinet Refinishing?
Cabinet refinishing is the most suitable option for you if:
- You are satisfied with the layout of your Kitchen or Bathroom: Refinishing offers a fresh look without changing out the actual cabinets.
- You are on a Tight Budget: Cabinet refinishing is an inexpensive option, as you only need paint or stain. However, this applies when you are doing it yourself, as hiring a professional can be an additional cost.
- You Need a Temporary Solution: Refinishing is a temporary solution, as painting or staining eventually wears off.
- You Can’t Change Your Cabinet Style: For instance, if you live in a rented space, the owner might forbid options like remodeling and refacing. In such instances, refinishing is your best option.
Pros and Cons of Cabinet Refinishing
Pros
- Quick Fix: It offers a quick fix while still retaining the style of the cabinets and the room’s layout.
- Less Expensive: You only need to purchase stain or paint for refinishing. Also, it’s something you can do by yourself, hence saving the expenses of hiring a professional.
Cons
- Some Cabinets Can’t be Refinished: You might have to replace damaged cabinets, as simply painting or staining won’t do the trick.
- It’s a Temporary Solution: Paint eventually starts to chip off the cabinets, and you might need an alternative option.
How to Refinish Your Cabinets Step-by-Step
- Preparation: First, remove all the doors and drawers and remove dirt and grease. Next, you will need to scrape off the any loose and peeling paint with paint scrapers, and possibly use sandpaper to smoothen out those chipped edges. You might also need to use powersanders to sand down old stain. A medium grit, 120-grit sandpaper will help take down old stain and reveal fresh wood. Fill any holes or chipped areas with a wood filler. Let solidify, sand smooth, and you are prepped for painting or staining.
- Paint or Stain Selection: Whether you opt for painting or staining, you will need to select a paint or stain that matches or complements your other finishes.
- Painting or Staining: For painting, paint evenly and ensure the paint has dried completely before applying another layer. Using a short haired roller with VERY short nap hairs (5mm roller hairs) or a sponge roller will both give a very fine appearance that you’ll want for a smooth finish. If staining bare wood, apply the stain with a 2-1/2” brush, evenly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Watch out for and smooth out any drips before they dry!
- Apply a clear coat of varnish: To attain a smooth and shiny finish, you can also apply 2, 3 or even 4 coats of a clear varnish afterwards to make it REALLY glossy!
- Reassemble: Reinstall doors, hinges, and any hardware.
- Clean up: Clean the area and wipe the cabinets to prepare them for use.
Helpful Tips
Here are some brilliant tips to aid your cabinet refinishing journey:
- Protect the surfaces using plastic sheets or tape to avoid paint stains on floors or counters.
- Open windows and doors for ventilation while painting or staining
- Invest in high-quality paint, brushes, and rollers for the best outcome.
- Research and watch videos if it’s a DIY project
- Allow adequate time for drying.
Alternatives to Cabinet Refinishing
There are alternative ways to give your kitchen cabinets a new look, including cabinet remodeling and cabinet refacing. Cabinet remodeling involves removing all your cabinets, including cabinet boxes, hinges, and drawers, and replacing them with new ones. Cabinet refacing, on the other hand, involves a total replacing of all cabinetry doors and covering the cabinet boxes with a material that matches the cabinet doors to create a whole new and uniform look. Cabinet refinishing is one of the simpler and cost effective upgrades that involves stripping cabinet doors and boxes and painting or staining them.
Final Thoughts
Refinishing is among the most affordable options for updating the look of your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Additionally, it’s something you can do yourself, as it’s simply applying paint or stain to the cabinets. However, it offers a temporary solution as paint and stain wear off with time. There are other alternatives to refinishing, including cabinet refacing and remodeling, but they are more expensive. Lastly, although the whole point of cabinet refinishing is to save on the cost, it would help to hire a professional to ensure your cabinets have a smooth, neat, and polished look.