SourceRemodeling a kitchen is an expensive and disruptive operation. It means taking everything out of the kitchen and potentially removing the flooring as well as the walls. However, in many cases, people do all this and then add a new kitchen in basically the same format.
The new kitchen looks great. But, if you’re being honest, it’s not fundamentally different to the old one. That’s why, if you’re happy with the current layout, you should be considering refinishing your cabinets. It can transform your kitchen at a fraction of the cost of remodelling.
Do It Properly
You can refinish kitchen cabinets yourself and they will look fantastic. However, it should be noted that if you have antique cabinets then it is best to speak to the specialists in furniture restoration Sydney. They will take care of your cabinets, darkening them, or even lightening them, without ruining the finish or the value of the cabinet.
Trying to do this yourself is likely to end up with you damaging the cabinet permanently.
Take The Cabinets Of The Wall
You’re not going to be able to refinish the cabinets properly if they are still attached to the walls. In other words, the first step is to remove them. You should find fastening screws in the top of the cabinets. However, remember that when you remove these the cabinet will need to be supported, they are heavy.
If you’re not comfortable with this then get a professional to take them off the wall for you.
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Clean Them
Put the cabinets on a surface where you can comfortably work on them. You’re going to need to clean them thoroughly with soap and water. Don’t forget all the small crevices, such as around hinges. You can use an old toothbrush to get the dirt out of these areas.
Sanding Time
You may not be stripping the existing surface but you still need to sand the existing finish. You should use a light-grade sandpaper and slowly go across every part of the cabinet. You’ll want to sand with the grain.
The aim isn’t to remove the existing finish, it’s to ‘key’ it. That’s making light scratches to which a new finish can adhere to. If you don’t do this the new finish will simply peel off.
Stain It
You can now apply your choice of stain to your cabinets. Use a brush and smooth strokes and paint each surface while it is horizontal, this reduces the risk of runs in your paintwork.
It should be noted that staining darker is easier. You can’t make the finish lighter unless you remove the original coat or primer it with a white primer first.
Add A Varnish
To protect your new stain, wait for it to dry then coat it with a clear varnish. It’s best to give it two or three coats, allowing them to dry between coats. This will lock the colour in, add a shine, and protect it in daily use.
All you have to do then is put the cabinets back on the wall.
