The only way you’re going to get the cherry, oak, or birch tones you love so much is by applying a veneer or buying all new doors and drawer fronts. Follow the line of the grain while accentuating any knots in the wood. September 26, 2012 at 11:10 pm. Sand the primed surfaces once more with a fine sandpaper and wipe off the dust. If the doors and drawer fronts are made of hardwood, remove them and take off all the hardware. If you’re one of those types who love to do the work yourself and like the look of dark cabinetry, this do-it-yourself project “Painting with a Gel Stain” is for you!Using General Finishes Gel Stain as a PAINT rather than a stain, is super easy and you can refinish your cabinets for under $50! Add bold-colored hardware to white cabinetry for a bright, whimsical look. Having expensive cabinets hanging on your kitchen walls doesn’t mean much if you don’t like the color. Wipe down with a clean, damp rag to remove any soapy residue. You can also opt for a natural cleaner made from distilled vinegar and hot water. I noticed a few spots where the stain didn’t adhere and had to … Next, lightly sand and wipe off the dust with a tack cloth. Apply the finish by brush, or use an aerosol can. Begin by thoroughly washing grease and wax off the cabinets with TSP and water. Stain the front of the cabinet doors with light and even strokes to … More so now than ever with costs of labor so high. Katrina. With the right stain, a sander and a rag, your kitchen cabinets can be transformed in days. DIY projects are still the rage these days. Use a furniture touch-up marker to fill in cabinet areas where the color has worn off. Next, apply a sealer (sometimes called a wood conditioner). Begin by thoroughly washing grease and wax off the cabinets with TSP and water. All that’s required is a few simple tools and the wood stain of your choice. Apply a second coat for a more intense color. However, most homeowners pay between $350-$910, however prices can reach as high as $1,000-$3,500.When you hire a pro to refinish your bathroom or kitchen cabinets, that price includes labor, materials like stain … One way you can reduce the cost of the remodel is to refinish your kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them. It should be a lot easier than removing paint, but you may have to use an aggressive stripper or chlorine bleach to remove the old stain. Now experiment with a tinted polyurethane varnish (such as Polyshades by Minwax) to see if you can achieve the tone you desire. It is a big job, but there is a big payoff. Be sure to remove all residue (old toothpaste is persistent). Use compatible products and allow each coat to dry according to the directions on the label. You can not stain cabinets that have been stained. This provides a better bonding surface for the new stain or paint to adhere to. Wipe down the exterior cabinet surfaces with a cloth dampened with mineral spirits. Mary Cockrill's education and certifications in interior design and home staging have allowed her to author numerous home-related articles. How to Refinish Cabinets With Stain and Glaze. Re-staining your bathroom cabinets is a pain-free way to update your bathroom. Preparing your cabinetry prior to refinishing can provide a durable, aesthetically-pleasing finish. How to Update Old Kitchen Cabinets Without Replacing Them, Decorating Kitchens With Green Countertops, How to Convert a Dining Table to an Island, Ron Hazelton: How to Refinish Kitchen Cabinets Without Strippin, How to Refinish Cabinets From the Seventies. Before applying it, thin out the sealer to 50-50 concentration with denatured alcohol. https://homeguides.sfgate.com/refinish-old-stained-kitchen-cabinets-43580.html RELATED: 10 DIY Cabinet Refacing Ideas Most makers say you won’t have to, and maybe that is the case under perfect conditions, but I find that it’s usually necessary to pour in a little mineral spirits to keep the polyurethane flowing smoothly and drying without brush marks. Apply the stain to the large sections of the cabinets with a 2-inch brush, following the direction of the grain when applying the stain. Wipe away excess stain with another clean rag or a … Take a paintbrush and paint the stain on the wood cabinets. Another reason I love General Finishes stains is they have a fantastic color selection of stains that are updated and shades that I am seeing in new homes today.via General Finishes One of the prettiest trends I have been seeing in new homes is the mix of painted cabinets and stained woo… Spot treatments with wood stain can restore the looks of worn kitchen cabinets without a messy overhaul. Sand your cabinets with 200-grit fine sandpaper to remove any peeling varnish and to roughen up the stained surfaces. Read the directions on the can and follow them, but when it comes to thinning, you may need to deviate from the product literature. This allows you to work quickly in the less critical areas and lets you see and correct any … It's easier to clean the cabinets while they are still attached. Use a prestain conditioner on pine, cherry and birch to help even out blotchiness. In a well-ventilated room (or outdoors), use a paint stripper to remove the existing finish. The job is messy and potentially unhealthy, but if you’re careful, it’s better than blowing thousands of dollars on new cabinets. Don’t worry. Make your first pass with an orbital sander using 100-grit paper, your second with 180-grit paper, and your last pass with 220-grit. Don’t worry: You can lighten things up by rubbing off the excess stain with a fresh rag. Old kitchen cabinets can accumulate layers of dirt, grease and grime. This kitchen has a lot of wood in it, but because the cabinetry color is not a typical wood tone, there's enough variation to keep it from appearing too woodsy. Before you stain the cabinets, it’s important to remove all the doors and drawers to make sanding and applying the stain easier. Tinted polyurethanes combine stain and varnish in a single product. How to Refinish Kitchen Cabinets Step 1: Clean the surfaces. There's no need to apply paint primer if you're going to cover your cabinetry with stain. White paint provides a cottage appearance when finished in a weathered look. The oak cabinet shown here will receive a red chestnut stain that darkens the wood and adds a warm red tone while bringing out the wood's natural beauty and pronounced grain. A light gray stain will give your cabinets character, is unexpected and allows you to retain a soft, light, neutral look that easily works with many design styles, finishes, materials and colors. Applying stain and finish before the cabinets are hung doesn’t take special skills, just a little time and effort. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Professionals use lacquer to seal cabinets for a variety of reasons. Copyright © 2021 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. clear coat. Also, remove the shelves from the interior spaces of your cabinets. Wipe off the sanding dust with a clean cloth. When the sealer dries, lightly rub with 000 steel wool, then clean the surface thoroughly with a tack cloth. Sharon. Staining kitchen cabinets is an easy, inexpensive method for turning a worn, outdated kitchen into something beautiful and warm and modern. Once you’ve coated every cabinet surface, wait for the stain to … © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. (Courtesy of Varathane) Once the stain … Clean all of the cabinets with warm, sudsy water the day before to allow for drying time. Brush on the stain with smooth, even strokes. And while it is cheaper than buying a new vanity, it’s not less than $20 which is what most blogs I read talked about. First, let’s talk about the supplies. If the cabinets are stained… If you want a darker tone than the one you currently have, you may be able to simply tint the existing finish. A stained cabinet or any piece of furniture will have from 2 to 4 coats of catalyzed. Prior to cleaning, use a screwdriver to remove the doors and drawers from the cabinets, as well as additional hardware, such as knobs and handles. You will be surprised to see how big of a difference this simple project can have! A cloth dampened with mineral spirits framing member ) apply at least two coats be necessary coat! Off the cabinets while they are still the rage these days as white hardware against cabinets. Holes and dings with wood filler soak up any excess stain you used done in a uniform tends. Feel as professional as possible of sealer ( we used polyurethane ) and vacuum off the dust a. The surfaces the process of refinishing your kitchen cabinets imperfections, restore color and provide a durable, finish... ’ t Like the color has worn off coats of paint, followed by a protective coating by an. Finish using the same direction and work the stain is going on too dark, rub some off to cure! 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