Cabinet fronting is not simply a paint job. A cabinet refacing is a tiny and sharp painted trim on the cabinet’s surface, usually no larger than two to four feet in either direction of the wall it’s painted against. The word is mainly used for painted portraits or full-length paintings which show large-scale landscapes or full-length tall figures at a tiny scale and not life-size. For that reason, cabinet refinishing is often referred to as simply ‘painting over’ – an easy and economical alternative to replacing an entire cabinet. There are several factors to keep in mind when considering cabinet refacing.
First, decide whether you want to replace the entire cabinet or just the old finish and surface. If you return the cabinet whole, including the cabinet head and drawer fronts, then cabinet refacing is not a good choice because you need to remove and possibly replace the entire cabinet. On the other hand, if you’re only going to replace the old finish, cabinet refacing may be a good option. Refacing only involves replacing the old finish without the tedious and potentially time-consuming process of completely disassembling and rebuilding most cabinets.
Many people consider cabinet refacing an option when they’ve got tired of the natural wood finish on their drawers and doors. This can be an excellent option if you already have doors with a finish that is neither too shabby nor too modern. However, if you do still have modern-style doors and drawer fronts, you may still want to consider cabinet refinishing to bring out the natural beauty of your wood. There are plenty of options available, and you can choose to have everything refinish or just some of it, such as the door and drawer fronts. Many do-it-yourselfers are even able to complete this project in just one weekend. For professional installers, this will probably take at least a day or two.
In addition to saving money by not having to buy a whole new set of cabinet doors, refinishing can also increase the attractiveness of your house. The whole new look can be achieved by having stains applied to the entire new set of cabinet fronts or simply painting the entire thing a lovely color. The latter option is undoubtedly an excellent option for those who want to keep the natural color of the wood but would like it to stand out more in a bit. The great thing about stain is that if it isn’t stained correctly, it won’t look right – and this is excellent news if you’re planning to sell your home in the future.
If you’re refinishing kitchen cabinets, one of the first things you might want to do is to replace the knobs on your drawers. Because these drawers are usually made from solid wood, they often get a lot of dirt on them over the years. A drawer polish will solve this problem fairly quickly. Just apply the polish to the drawer in question, let it sit for a minute or so, and then wipe away with a soft cloth. The effect is often immaculate and modern-looking.
Other parts of the kitchen can also benefit from cabinet refinishing, including the doors themselves. When you’re refinishing kitchen cabinet doors, it’s generally a good idea to get some new ones put in instead of simply refinishing the ones that you have. Because the cabinet doors are typically glued to their surfaces, you can use the same sanding methods that you would for the other characters of the cabinets. It’s also usually a good idea to sand the doors down while you are doing the different parts of the refinishing. This way, you’ll ensure that everything goes together correctly.
Of course, one of the downsides of cabinet refinishing or cabinet refinishing is that the price will most likely be more than just surface refinishing. In many cases, the cost of the whole project may be more than the cost of a single cabinet refacing job. There are also a few different ways people can spend the money needed for a complete kitchen remodel, including home improvement loans, home equity loans, or even personal savings.
No matter how you decide to do your cabinet refinishing, there are several essential things to remember. Remember that sanding and surface staining are done using the same process and that the stains and finishes will only last as long as the time you put into refinishing them. Also, do not expect to get the same results from the unfinished side of your cabinets as you would from the one that has a fresh coat of stain on it.