Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets



Refinishing kitchen cabinets can add to your own pleasure when in the kitchen, and can add substantial value to your home. When it comes time to sell your home, take a good look at your cabinets, and consider replacing or refinishing them. Are they as nice as they could be? Worn or outdated cabinetry can detract from the look of your kitchen, and the resale value of your home. Kitchen cabinet refinishing could be your answer.

You could replace your cabinets, but if that's just not in the cards, how about refinishing them? By the way, don't confuse refinishing with refacing cabinets. Cabinet refinishing involves renewing the paint or stain, while refacing usually refers to the application of an entirely new veneer surface.

Cabinet refinishing is a great way to breathe new life into a bathroom or kitchen. You can hire a professional to do the job for you, or you can refinish them yourself. It's probably much easier than you think to do it! You'll need to decide whether you want a bare wood look or a stain, and acquire a small number of very basic tools as you work your way through your refinishing project, which can usually be done at a cost of no more than about $200.

After carefully masking any nearby exposed surfaces such as counters and walls, and providing yourself plenty of ventilation, the first step in refinishing cabinets is to remove the existing paint or stain with a paint remover. Use a thick, gel-based formula, and apply it with a stiff brush, rubbing in the direction of the grain. After waiting about 30 minutes, you can wipe off excess remover and allow things to dry. Once things are thoroughly dry, use a 120-grit sandpaper and work, as always, in the direction of the grain, finishing with a 220-grit sandpaper, until the surface is uniform and smooth.

If you're going with a stain, you will need to apply several (up to three) coats of stain depending on the darkness of the color you have chosen. Allow each coat of stain to dry completely before applying the next. After the stain has completely dried, apply two or three coats of an oil-based polyurethane to add a lustrous finish and lasting durability. Finally, check the instructions on the product you're using - some require a light sanding after the final coat, although many do not.

Of course, before beginning your project, you will probably have removed all of the cabinet hardware. As a final touch, you may want to consider replacing your hardware, if you have external drawer or cabinet pulls, or visible hinges.

If your cabinets are less than what you'd like them to be, you can completely change them in as little as one weekend. Bathroom cabinet refinishing and kitchen cabinet refinishing are rewarding projects that are easily done, and will give you years of pleasure, while adding to your home's value.



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