- The most important step in refinishing kitchen cabinets is preparing the visible surfaces to accept new coats of paint and/or stain and polyurethane. The items needed to prepare these surfaces for refinishing include a drill with Phillips or flathead drill bits; a random-orbit or palm sander and 100- and 220-grit sandpaper; large sheets of plastic or drop cloths; paint or foam brushes; paint primer; latex-based paint; wood putty; safety glasses; and a dust mask or two. It is easier to refinish the cabinet doors and the cabinet face frames if the doors are removed. Part of the refinishing process may include replacing the hinges and cabinet hardware to match the updated look of the refinished cabinets. Fill in any dents, cracks, gouges, and holes with wood filler. The sander and sand paper are used to rough up the surfaces of the doors and face frames so the primer and paint will stick better. Run the sander lightly over these surfaces and remove the dust with cloth rags. If you would like to re-stain hardwood cabinetry, you will have to strip off the old finish with a furniture stripper so the raw wood is exposed. Fill in any dents, cracks, gouges, and holes with stain-grade wood putty.
- Apply a coat of primer to the sanded surfaces after the dust has been removed. Apply the first coat of paint after the primer has dried. The coat should be generous and even to minimize the need of a second coat. But if a second coat is necessary, it should also be applied evenly. Use a roller to cover larger, flat surfaces, and a paint brush or a foam brush for irregularly shaped surfaces. There are different faux painting techniques that look good on cabinetry as well. A popular aging technique if called antiquing. After painting the cabinets and doors with a light colored paint, sand the edges of the doors and face frames. Then wile a dark brown stain over the painted surface and the sanded edges to create an old world look. Distressing is another aging technique that requires you to "beat up" your cabinets with household tools like hammers, chains and nails. A dark-colored stain is then wiped over the doors and face frames. Stain will gather in the distressed areas and will look like dirt has gathered in them.
If you are re-staining the cabinetry, apply the stain to the raw wood with a foam brush. Wipe off the excess stain with a clean cloth rag. The stain will not need to sit on the raw wood for very long. Follow manufacturer's guidelines when applying and removing stain for the best results.
Whether you are painting or staining your cabinetry, you must apply at least two coats of polyurethane over the refinished surfaces to seal the paint and stain. You can choose from any sheen you would like.
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