Kitchen renovations don’t have to be terribly expensive. In fact, you can transform your space into a new, invigorated kitchen with your existing cabinets. Whether you installed new cabinets or you are looking to touch up your old ones, a good old-fashioned refinish will help you update your look without breaking the bank. However, it’s important to know how to refinish your kitchen cabinets properly.
At LEICHT, we are passionate about all things kitchen cabinets. We know that the right touch can make all the difference in the room, especially when it comes to cabinets. As something that’s both functional and decorative, your cabinets should be the stars of the show.
Here are some excellent refinishing tips from our kitchen design experts to help your remodeling project along!
Step 1: Determine Your Schedule
Are you refinishing your cabinets alone? Are you turning your renovation project into a DIY adventure? If so, you should take a look at your timetable to ensure you have enough room in your schedule to get all of your cabinets done.
According to House Beautiful, it can take anywhere between 1-2 months, or 60-130 hours, to refinish kitchen cabinets. It all depends on how much work you will be doing to each cabinet and how fast you can get the job done.
Step 2: Remove and Clean Your Cabinets
It’s time to start disassembling your kitchen cabinets! As you begin to remove the cabinet doors and hinges, make sure to give everything a thorough cleaning. A little soap and water can go a long way – just remember to wait for the cabinet doors to be thoroughly dried before you start working on them.
You may also want to soak your cabinets in some luke-warm water and soap for a few minutes. You can cover them with a polish before you start the actual refinishing process. Make sure that you have covered your kitchen with a protective cloth so you don’t make any permanent messes!
Step 3: Sand, Strip, and Prime
You’ll need to start by removing the existing paint and varnish that likely exists on your cabinets. This can be a time-consuming process, especially depending on what kind of finish is on the wood.
Work with a professional to decide what kind of stripping material would be best for the type of finish you have.
Once the cabinets are stripped, you should sand them to get out any remaining blemishes and to make sure they are smooth. Use this time to fill in any holes or cracks with the right kind of wood filler.
Next, you’ll want to find the right kind of primer. This prepares the cabinets for the new coat of paint and the finish they are about to receive. Again, it’s important to consult the experts if you are uncertain about the kind of primer you should use.
Step 4: Wait for the Paint to Dry – Then Reinstall!
Painting on layers of paint, and then finishing it with a varnish or wax, is the most time-consuming step, but that is where your passion and creativity really shine through. Through patience, you can apply a fresh new coat of paint on your cabinets, making them look like totally new pieces of furniture.
Make sure you wait until the paint has completely dried before attempting to reinstall them back in their proper places. Make sure you have all the correct hinges and hooks you need and reassemble them one at a time.
Invest in Beautiful Cabinets Today!
Kitchen cabinets can make or break the whole look of the kitchen. Whether you want to refinish them yourself, or you want to invest in a new line of modern cabinets, our LEICHT LA experts are here to help. For more information or to schedule a personal consultation, contact us online today! You can also get in touch with us at (310) 360-0390.