Do the cabinets in your bathroom or kitchen no longer fit your preferred design or theme you wish to have? Or are your cabinets beginning to look a little old and weathered? To correct the situation, you will need to strip the old wood surface and then refinish it with your new design, color, or desired theme or look. New York Painting Services will walk you through the steps of refinishing cabinets.

Step 1. Tools & Materials Needed for Refinishing Cabinets

Before you begin you will want to make sure you have the tools and materials needed for the refinishing project. So dig through your garage and gather all the tools needed. If you don’t have what you need to refinish your cabinets, any hardware store will have them. Some of the basic tools needed to refinish cabinets are:
• Hand Tools – Scraper, Screw Driver, Hammer, Sanding block or Sandpaper, Rag or Sponge
• Protectors – Painters Tape, Newspaper or Painters cloth
• Finishing Equipment – Paint Brushes, Cabinet Rollers, or Paint Sprayer (optional)
• Materials – Paint Stripper, Stain or Paint, Primer, Sealer

Step 2. Cabinet Painting or Staining Preparation

After you have gotten all your tools and materials needed to refinish your cabinets, you will want to prepare the cabinets to be refinished. Start by removing all the contents out of the cabinets and drawers. Then remove all the cabinet doors and the hinges holding them on the cabinet. Make sure you remove all hardware such as the knobs and handles as well. Make sure to make a note of each cabinet door and where it came off the cabinet. You will want to try to re-hang the door in the same place to avoid the need to re-drill the holes for all the hardware. Mask off the edges of the cabinet and ceiling or wall. Lastly make sure to clean the cabinets and the doors, especially kitchen cabinets. In many cases, old cabinets are covered in grease and grime. Also, don’t forget to clean off the hardware if you’re reusing them (some will choose to replace hardware to fit their new design or theme).

Step 3. Stripping & Refinishing Cabinets

Now that all your preparation work is done begin applying the stripper. It can come in a spray bottle or liquid container where you will use the paint brush to apply the stripper on the wood. Start with the cabinet doors and do one at a time. After the stripper has had time to set and dissolve the old stain or paint, use the sand block or sandpaper and begin sanding the door. Make sure to remove all of the previous paint or stain and that the wood is smooth. You will want to strip and sand all the doors and the cabinets. If you are planning on painting your wood then apply a primer on top of the wood before painting. If you want the stained natural wood look to your cabinet then you can apply the stain. Both paint and stain can be applied with either a brush or a cabinet roller. However, if you’re staining your cabinets, keep a rag on hand and wipe down the wood after staining for a clean finish. Depending on the type of stain, you may need to apply a sealer over the surface to help protect the wood.
Warning: wear gloves when handling the stripper and sanding. The stripper can burn the skin. It’s also recommended to wear eye protection as well.

Step 4. Reassemble Cabinets

After you have refinished all the cabinets and drawers, and they are completely dry, you can reassemble them. Replace your hardware and put the hinges back on. Put the hinges on first and hang the door back on the cabinets. Afterward, put your handles on the doors. You can remove all of the masking and begin cleaning up.

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New York Painting Services hopes you enjoy your refinished cabinets and your kitchen’s or bathroom’s new look. If you find you lack the experience, time, or physical capability to refinish your cabinets, New York Painting Services provides cabinet refinishing services. Contact New York Painting Services to schedule your cabinet refinishing or painting project today.