Cabinet Refinishing San Jose CA is a process of keeping your existing cabinets and changing their color or finish via chemical stripping and hand sanding. It’s ideal if you only have cosmetic issues, like scratches, dents, and faded colors.
Keep in mind that refinishing isn’t an option for solid-color cabinets since the material beneath them is usually not stainable. However, painting is an option.
Refinishing your cabinets is a cost-effective solution to give your kitchen a style update that will last for years to come. Rather than replacing your cabinets, which could cost you anywhere from $4,000 to $9,500, you can save money and still get the modernized look you desire for your home by simply refinishing them.
When it comes to remodeling your kitchen, cabinet refinishing is an affordable option that will not only help you improve the overall look of your home but also increase its value. Replacing cabinets can be very expensive and time consuming, but with the right contractor, your cabinet refinishing project will go quickly and be more cost-effective than you might think.
The final cost of your cabinet refinishing will depend on the type of finish you choose. Whether you decide to paint, stain, glaze, or shellack your cabinets, they will all need to be stripped and sanded before the new finish can be applied. Stripping is a messy job that will involve the use of chemical strippers, so you will want to find a company with experience in this type of work.
Painting is a popular choice for homeowners as it can provide a variety of color options. Stain, on the other hand, can give your cabinets a more natural or earthy look that will highlight the grain of your cabinetry. Both stains and paints will need to be regularly maintained to ensure that they last for as long as possible.
One of the biggest reasons to consider refinishing your cabinets is that it’s an eco-friendly option. Ripping out old cabinets and throwing them away is harmful to the environment because it wastes natural resources and contributes to landfills. By refinishing your cabinets, you can give them a new life without wasting any materials.
Refinishing your cabinets will also reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, as opposed to refacing them, which typically uses laminates for the doors, gable ends, boxes, and styles. This can cause delamination, which is a process in which the glue connecting the laminate to the wood material breaks down.
Modernize Your Kitchen
Cabinets are the centerpiece of your kitchen, and they can have a large impact on how your home feels overall. When they start to look old or outdated, it can make the entire space feel tired and stale. Refinishing is a great option to give them a facelift, allowing you to update the style to something fresh and modern.
The main advantage of refinishing is that you can change the color to something new without having to remove the doors and drawer fronts. This allows you to completely transform the look of your cabinets, even if they’re in good shape. Whether you’re moving from a rich, rustic aesthetic to a more contemporary white kitchen, or you’re simply looking to brighten up your space, the right paint and stain can make all the difference.
Another benefit of refinishing is that it’s eco-friendly. It isn’t as wasteful as replacing the cabinets, which can require extensive demolition and construction to remove and install the new pieces. Refinishing is also more environmentally conscious than refacing, which uses new cabinet boxes and covers them with veneers that match the door and drawer fronts.
Although it is possible for homeowners to do refacing on their own, it can be time-consuming and frustrating. If you’re not a skilled DIYer, or your cabinets are in need of significant repairs, it’s best to leave the job to professional painting contractors who specialize in remodeling projects.
Depending on the extent of the remodel, it’s a good idea to do other improvements at the same time as refinishing your cabinets. For example, if you’re going from a dark wood finish to a light stain, it’s a great time to do a complete kitchen hardware upgrade as well. This way, when you put the doors and drawers back in place, it will feel like a whole new room.
If you’re ready to give your kitchen a facelift, the first step is often cabinet refinishing. The right contractor can help you create a style that fits your home perfectly and won’t break the bank. From there, you can explore other ways to upgrade your kitchen without blowing your budget.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Cabinet refinishing is a great way to update the overall look of your home. By choosing a new paint color or wood stain, you can create a design that is unique and reflects your personal style. This can also increase your home’s resale value, as buyers will be more likely to appreciate the aesthetic and functionality of your kitchen.
Whether your cabinets are stained or painted, they will need to be prepped before applying the new finish. This includes cleaning, sanding, and priming. Proper preparation is critical to the longevity and quality of the finished product.
Thoroughly cleaning the cabinets will remove any dirt, grease, or grime that has accumulated over time. Special care should be taken around areas where hands frequently come into contact with the cabinets, such as near stove handles and hinges. If necessary, these areas can be addressed with stronger cleaners, such as trisodium phosphate (TSP), to help break down stubborn grease buildup. Once all surfaces are cleaned, they should be lightly sanded with a medium-grit sandpaper to smooth them and provide a good base for the new finish. This should be done very carefully, and the sanded surface should then be wiped down with a tack cloth to clean off any residual dust and debris.
After sanding, the cabinet surfaces should be primed. This will help to ensure that the paint adheres well and prevent stains or wood tannins from bleeding through the new finish.
Another important step in the prep process is filling dents, scratches, and holes in the cabinets. Using wood filler, which is like sculpting with putty, allows for a seamless repair. This will ensure that the final sanding and painting will be free of visual interruptions that can detract from the overall appearance.
When looking for a company to do the cabinet refinishing, it is best to choose one that has experience and a proven track record. Ask for recommendations from friends and family, and always read online reviews. Once you have found a few potential companies, compare prices and services offered before making a decision.
Less Expensive Than Replacement
Cabinet refinishing saves money over the cost of buying and installing new cabinets. It also reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfills because old cabinets aren’t discarded and replaced with new ones. In addition, it helps protect your family from the hazards of broken wood splinters and outdated hardware. Cabinet refinishing can strengthen and reinforce your existing cabinets, making them safer to use. This is especially important for children and elderly family members.
Unlike refacing, which includes cabinet doors and drawer fronts, refinishing only addresses the exteriors of your existing cabinets. This makes it more affordable and less invasive, but it will not fix issues with sagging or worn surfaces. However, it will address the visual impact of your kitchen by restoring old or outdated colors and giving them a fresh look.
Refinishing your cabinet doors is not as simple as it sounds. It takes three to four days to complete and requires that you make plans to be away from home while the crew works in your kitchen. This is because the spraying of lacquer gives off volatile fumes that can remain in the air for a day or more.
This process also does not allow you to change the style of your door. If you want to go from a light color to a dark shade, for example, your cabinet doors will need to be stripped and the profile altered before they can be painted with a new coat.
The cabinet refacing process is more extensive than refinishing and requires that your cabinet boxes be in good condition. If they’re not, you will need to have them repaired or replaced before refacing. Refacing can be done with a veneer kit, which contains wood veneers and application materials, or you can work with a custom cabinet maker.
The only material that cannot be refaced is thermofoil and laminate, which will need to be removed and replaced because paint does not adhere well to these materials. This is why refacing is more expensive than refinishing. It will also require that you remove and replace your existing hinges, handles, and hardware.