Stripping and Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets

Stripping and Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets - Continued

Stripping Kitchen Cabinets

Stripping the paint is the first step in the process of refinishing your kitchen cabinets, and it is a difficult and very slow one. Removing the old paint from the frames and cabinet sides in order to get to the bare wood can be painful, but there are products that can help.

Park's Furniture Refinisher is one such product. You can get the cabinets to your desired color by rubbing the wood with steel wool that is soaked with the refinisher. You simply wipe off the paint when you get to the result you are looking for.

You may also use grit coarse sand paper to remove the paint, but you should be careful with this process as old paint can include lead. If you are refinishing older cabinetry, it is recommended that you use overalls, a hat, rubber chemical gloves, goggles, and a cartridge respirator as personal protection, and perform the process outdoors if possible.

If you have tried both of these methods, and the varnish is still not removed, you can try using an orbital sander. Try and remove as much paint as possible before using this option.

Finishing Kitchen Cabinets

Once you have removed the old finish and paint, you can start refinishing your cabinets. The first step in this process is to use wood filler to fill some of the holes that can be found in bare wood.

Once this is completed, you have a wide range of options for finishing. You can use polyurethane, a coat of minwax, or a cherry stain to obtain the desired effect for your cabinets.

Regardless of the method you choose to use for refinishing, there is no escaping that this process is tiring and tedious work. Even after you have stripped and refinished your cabinets, you may experience problems with reinstallation due to shifting and settling of your house.

Whether you would like to reface, replace, refinish, or simply clean your kitchen cabinets, it is recommended that you seek an expert's opinion. There are websites that list companies in your area that are willing to offer an in-home, obligation free consultation. All you need to provide is a zip code, and you can get a listing of these companies to choose from. You can achieve a different look for your cabinets, without having to put in the tremendous amount of effort in to the process.