Cabinet Facelift 101 – Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

The kitchen is the heart of the home, but it can also be the most challenging room in which to update your style. While completely replacing your cabinets is an option, you can also give a facelift to your existing cabinetry by simply painting them. The decision to paint or refinish your cabinets depends on the overall look you want and the condition of your existing cabinetry.

While refinishing is less expensive than a complete remodel, it can be time-consuming and difficult to do on your own. The cabinet doors will need to be sanded, and you will need to choose the right stain for your project. Then you will need to apply a few coats of the finish, which may take several days. The results are well worth the effort, however, as your new cabinetry will have an outsized impact on your kitchen’s look and feel.

When deciding to refinishing a kitchen cabinetry, you will need to decide whether you are going to stain the cabinets a dark color or light. The darker stain will require more sanding, and it may be more difficult to control the dripping, runs and drips that can happen during the staining process. However, the darker color will be more long-lasting and durable than a light stain.

A cabinet reface is a more drastic and expensive change than simply painting or refinishing your cabinets, but it is an alternative that will breathe a breath of new life into your kitchen. The refacing process leaves your cabinet boxes in place, but covers them with a laminate or wood veneer. Then they are covered with new cabinet doors and drawer fronts and possibly a custom trim or crown moulding.

This process can be a good choice if you are unhappy with the layout of your kitchen, but you are not in need of any major renovations. It is also an alternative if your cabinet boxes are in good condition, but the door and drawer hardware have become worn or damaged.

The cabinet box exteriors can be painted to match the new cabinet doors or refaced using a custom cabinet laminate, allowing you to make your kitchen look like it has brand-new cabinets for a fraction of the cost.

As a cabinet painting project, you will need to prepare the surface by cleaning the cabinets with a solution and lightly sanding them. This will help ensure that the new cabinet paint will adhere to the surfaces. You will then need to fill in any nicks and dings on the cabinets before proceeding. A good primer can help the new paint to adhere to the surface, and it will prevent chipping or peeling in the future.

Once the primer has dried you will need to sand any areas that have been smoothed by the sanding and prep work. If you have chosen to use a high-quality paint, the final steps will include applying a topcoat and then a clear protective sealer. Contact a Tampa cabinet refinishing company to discuss your remodeling goals, and we’ll show you how our refinishing services can transform your home into a space that is both stunning and sophisticated.