How To Repair Finish On Kitchen Cabinets

How to Refinish Cabinets and Requite Your Kitchen a New Expect

Refinishing kitchen cabinets is a terrific, cost-effective solution for homeowners who are tired of their cabinet color, or just demand to give an former set of cabinets some pizzazz. Here's how to tackle the project yourself.

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Refinishing cabinets is 1 of the best means to requite your old, ho-hum kitchen a fresh new wait, and it can make a large deviation in the manner yous feel about a space. After all, having expensive cabinets hanging on your kitchen walls doesn't mean much if you lot don't like the color. That's why many homeowners think virtually refinishing cabinets with a stain color of their own choosing. Information technology is a big task, but in that location's an even bigger payoff.

Earlier you begin refinishing your cabinets, nonetheless, information technology'south best to exercise a little detective work. Yous need to know what materials y'all're working with to see if the chore is even possible. But, with that research and a lesson on how to refinish cabinets, it's possible to give a kitchen a serious upgrade.

Condom Considerations for Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets

Before we go too far, information technology'due south important to consider the safety and environmental concerns involved with kitchen cabinet refinishing. Y'all'll probably need to employ harsh chemicals and create a lot of airborne particulates, and then safety does matter.

First, make certain to refinish the cabinets in a well-ventilated area. If the cabinets aren't mobile, open windows and use a box fan to keep air moving. Next, be sure to habiliment a respirator when working with chemicals or sanding to avoid inhaling harmful substances. Finally, avert damaged or stained skin past donning a pair of chemical resistant gloves.

Finally, call back that some chemicals used in kitchen chiffonier refinishing (particularly during stripping or staining) are combustible, and then be certain to play it rubber around any heaters, open up flames, or anything of the sort. Oily rags tin likewise combust if left in a pile, so hang them to dry before throwing them out.

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Method 1: Refinishing Cabinets to Make Them Lighter

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Refinishing darker cabinets to make them lighter is probably the near involved method of refinishing, and it takes some specific knowledge, tools, and materials. With the following list and steps in mind, you should exist able to remove the finish, paint, and stain from wood-based cabinets to bring them to a lighter finish.

SUPPLIES

– Sandpaper
– Paint stripper
– Chlorine bleach (if necessary)
– Wood filler
– Wood sealer
– Denatured alcohol
– Stain
– Varnish
– Respirator
– Prophylactic gloves
– Sanding block
– Scraper
– Putty pocketknife
– Orbital sander
– Rags
– Paintbrush
– Steel wool
– Tack fabric

STEP one : Remove the cabinet doors.

Before embarking, remove one of the doors and sand off a small area of the stop on the back. Do the aforementioned to an expanse at the back of a runway or stile (horizontal or vertical framing member).

If the doors and drawer fronts are fabricated of hardwood, remove them and take off all the hardware.

Notation: If the doors and drawer fronts are fiberboard, forget about refinishing them with stain. The only way y'all're going to go the cerise, oak, or birch tones you lot love so much is by applying a veneer or ownership all new doors and drawer fronts.

STEP two : Strip the old stop from the cabinets.

In a well-ventilated room (or outdoors), use a paint stripper to remove the existing stop. Removing a clear coat finish should exist a lot easier than removing paint, just you may have to apply an aggressive stripper or chlorine bleach to remove the old stain. The job is messy and potentially unhealthy, merely if you're conscientious, it'due south better than blowing thousands of dollars on new cabinets.

Annotation: Removing paint from cabinets, or any woods furniture, requires patience. Not all of the paint lifts off later the outset application of remover, and maybe non after the second or third, either. It'southward imperative to work in a ventilated space, to wear a respirator, to wear protective gloves and a long-sleeve work shirt.

Utilize a sharp scraper to remove as much finish every bit possible and use any you have on hand (old spoons, dental tools, etc.) to scrape contours and crevices.

Footstep three : Fill damaged wood with wood filler, then go along with sanding the cabinets.

Make full dents and deep scratches with wood filler, then sand thoroughly until all cease is removed and the wood is super smooth with no scratches.

Make your get-go pass with an orbital sander using 100-dust paper, your second with 180-grit paper, and your concluding laissez passer with 220-dust.

STEP 4 : Apply a sealer.

Before applying it, thin out the sealer to a 50-50 concentration with denatured booze.

Apply the sealer (this is sometimes chosen a wood conditioner). A sealer does just what information technology says: It seals the surface with a light, thin coating so that when you use stain, the color goes on evenly. Zinsser's Balderdash'southward Heart Seal Coat, an alcohol-based sealer that's like shooting fish in a barrel to apply and dries fast, is a proficient option.

When the sealer dries, lightly rub with 000 steel wool, so clean the surface thoroughly with a tack cloth.

Footstep v : Apply the stain.

Apply stain using a soft cotton rag, a brush, or a brush in combination with a rag. Experiment until you lot find a combination that allows you to apply a consistent tone.

If the stain is going on too dark, rub some it off. Likewise light? Don't worry. You can apply another coat after the first 1 dries.

One time the stain dries, follow up with another very light rubbing with 000 or 0000 steel wool before cleaning with tack material.

Notation: It's e'er wise to experiment on the backside of a single door before committing to the projection, but to exist sure you're going to be pleased with the results.

STEP 6 : Add a protective varnish to the cabinets.

Now you lot tin can apply a protective coat of clear polyurethane varnish. Applying any clear coat must exist done in a dust-costless surround.

Read the directions on the can and follow them, simply when information technology comes to thinning, you may need to deviate from the product literature. Most makers say you won't have to, and maybe that is the instance nether perfect weather, but I notice that it'due south usually necessary to cascade in a little mineral spirits to proceed the polyurethane flowing smoothly and drying without brush marks.

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Method 2: Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets to Make Them Darker

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If you want darker-toned cabinets than what you currently accept, yous may be able to simply tint the existing cease. This method of refinishing kitchen cabinets, or cabinetry in any space, is much easier to accomplish than others that require stripping and sanding, but at that place are even so a few ins and outs that y'all need to know.

SUPPLIES

– Respirator
– Rubber gloves
– Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)
– Water
– Sandpaper
– Tack cloth
– Tinted polyurethane varnish
– Paintbrush
– Polyurethane finish

STEP 1 : Remove and wash doors and drawer fronts.

Subsequently removing the doors, drawers and hardware; begin past thoroughly washing grease and wax off the cabinets with TSP and water.

Step ii : Sand and dust the cabinets.

Lightly sand and wipe off the dust with a tack cloth.

Footstep 3 : Apply a tinted polyurethane.

Experiment with a tinted polyurethane varnish (such equally Polyshades by Minwax) to see if you can achieve the tone desired. Tinted polyurethanes combine stain and varnish in a single product.

Note: Information technology's always wise to experiment on the back side of a single door before committing to the projection, just to exist certain yous're going to be pleased with the results.

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Method iii: Repainting Kitchen Cabinets

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While it might make the biggest impact, repainting kitchen cabinets is actually quite a bit easier than restaining them. And, since you're applying a whole new coat, the color possibilities are countless.

SUPPLIES

– Respirator
– 220-Grit sandpaper
– Foam sanding cake
– Tack cloth
– Degreaser
– Primer
– Paintbrush
– Pigment roller and tray
– Enamel cabinet and trim paint

Step 1: Remove the cabinet doors and hardware.

Commencement by removing the doors, door knobs, drawer fronts, drawer pulls, and other hardware from the cabinets. For very large kitchens, it's a good idea to number the cabinet doors and drawer fronts to ensure you know where to put them back.

Stride ii: Lightly scuff the cabinets' surfaces.

Cabinets are typically smooth and covered with a bit of polyurethane. While primer tin attach to this surface, information technology'south better to scuff information technology up a flake first. Put on a respirator and use the 220-dust sandpaper and foam sanding block to lightly scuff the surface of the boxes, face frames, drawer fronts, and doors. The foam sanding block should be able to get into intricate door profiles.

Go along in mind that your goal isn't to sand down to blank wood. Instead, you only want to roughen the surface of the existing finish to give the primer something to agree on to.

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Pace iii: Clean the cabinet surfaces.

Later on scuffing, remove the dust from the cabinets with a tack cloth. Take your fourth dimension with this pace every bit any dust that stays behind is going to create a rough texture on the cabinet.

While you're sanding, you're inadvertently transferring oils from your fingers to the cabinets. As well, cabinets encounter a lot of cooking oil, as well, and neither substance is conducive to a corking paint job. The reply to this puzzler is to employ the degreaser to make clean the entire surface of the boxes and doors. Once clean, the surface is set up for primer.

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STEP 4: Prime the cabinets.

After pouring primer into the paint tray, employ the paintbrush and roller to glaze the boxes, face frames, doors, and drawer fronts with primer. Be sure to brush the primer into any cracks or corners, especially along the door profiles. This finish might expect a chip streaky, but you should just need one coat of primer earlier moving to pigment. Cascade the excess primer back into the can and clean the castor and pigment tray while allowing the primer to dry out.

Stride v: Paint the cabinets.

Once the primer dries, it's time to pigment the cabinets. Put a new roller comprehend on your pigment roller and pour some pigment into the paint tray. Use the brush and roller to coat the doors, face frames, drawer fronts, and boxes with an enamel paint made specifically for cabinets and trim for the best results. After allowing the first glaze to dry out, utilize a 2nd glaze of paint. One time dry, put all the doors, drawer fronts, and hardware back on and enjoy the fresh, new, updated expect in your kitchen.

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Concluding Thoughts

Photo: istockphoto.com

With this primer on how to refurbish kitchen cabinets, you lot take the knowledge necessary to requite those boring or ugly wood boxes and doors a facelift. Whether sanding downward to blank wood and restaining kitchen cabinets, using a tinted varnish to darken the color, or painting your cabinets, be sure to wear the proper safety gear while you tackle this big-impact project.

FAQs About How to Refinish Kitchen Cabinets

That might feel like a lot of information about the refinishing kitchen cabinets, and it's difficult to cover everything in one coat. If you nonetheless take questions about restaining cabinets or but refurbishing onetime kitchen cabinets, this section is for you.

Q: What is the average cost to refinish cabinets?

Generally speaking, the cost of refinishing kitchen cabinets (with labor) volition run between well-nigh $1,800 and $4,000, depending on the size of the kitchen. Y'all tin relieve upward to 75 percent of that cost if you tackle the project yourself.

Q: Is information technology worth it to refinish kitchen cabinets?

Information technology is absolutely worth refinishing kitchen cabinets. If your boxes and doors are yet in good shape, a fresh coat of stain or paint tin breathe new life into an old space and salvage y'all up to $20,000.

Q: Is it cheaper to reface or refinish cabinets?

By and large speaking, refinishing cabinets is less expensive than refacing kitchen cabinets. Cabinet refacing costs, on boilerplate, $7,132.

Q: Why is my wood blotchy after stripping?

Normally, discoloration is caused by old stain that's deeply embedded in the wood. Liquid strippers and sanding might not even be an option, so information technology'south best to go with a darker stain or paint that will hibernate the blotchiness.

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Source: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-refinish-cabinets/

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