How to Cover Your Unfinished Cabinets
Kitchen remodels can be one of the most expensive updates a home owner can do to their house. However, a remodel that has been done correctly, can greatly increase the value of a home and do-it-yourselfers can easily find money saving approaches to kitchen remodels. Finishing kitchen cabinets yourself can be time consuming; however, the alternatives of hiring a professional painter or purchasing finished cabinets, come at a much higher price.
If you are looking to keep costs low, yet still give your kitchen a much needed update, then replacing your old, out-of-date kitchen cabinets could be just the renovation your kitchen needs. In order to keep the price of the remodel down, many homeowners look for do-it-yourself projects around the home.
The most cost effective way to go about a kitchen remodel is to either update existing cabinets, or to purchase unfinished cabinets. Refinishing old cabinets requires the time for the homeowner to sand all cabinets and drawers in the kitchen. The easiest way to accomplish this is to complete the following steps:
- Remove all of the hardware, including knobs, handles, and hinges from your doors and cabinets.
- Using an electric sander, remove the existing paint or stain from the surfaces. The surrounding cabinet frame will have to be sanded as well.
Once your cabinets are completely sanded and smooth, you will begin the process of painting or staining your cabinets for a more finished look.
If you decide that you would rather replace your current kitchen cabinets, you will have to remove your existing cabinetry. Be careful and take your time, as you do not want to damage any surrounding walls, floors, or appliances during the demolition process. Once your measurements have been taken for the new cabinets, it is now time to research, decide on, and purchase your new cabinets. Many manufacturers supply discounts to consumers who decide to purchase unfinished cabinets, and the cost to finish them yourself is significantly less than buying pre-finished wood.
Once your cabinets are ready to be finished, you now have another choice to make, would you like your cabinets to be painted or stained? The choice is based on your preference, and the look you are trying to achieve. When your choice has been made, you must purchase your supplies and find a place that you will finish your cabinets. Make sure the space is well ventilated, and free of dust and dirt.
For painted cabinets:
- Prime the surface of the wood. This will allow the paint to better adhere to the cabinets.
- Once your primer has dried, use a roller that is size appropriate for the area you are painting, and apply the paint in neat and even rolls. Do not apply the paint too thickly, as this can cause discolorations or bubbles in those areas.
- 2 or more coats of paint may be needed to get the desired look for your kitchen.
Staining wood surfaces requires a little more know-how, and if done improperly, will need to be restarted to achieve the correct look. When choosing your stain color, keep in mind that certain woods will absorb stain differently, and your color may not be exactly as you expected. To apply:
- Brush your stain on with a large brush in even strokes, going with the grain of the wood.
- Wipe off excess stain, again with the grain of the wood, with a rag. The more coats of stain you put on your wood, the darker the color will turn out.
- Stain both the exterior and interior of all doors to prevent against warping.
- Apply a seal coat. The manufacturer of the stain you have chosen should have a recommended sealer to accompany your stain.
Whether you have chosen to paint to stain, make sure to allow all surfaces to dry completely before handling. Once your cabinetry is dry, reinstall all hardware and remount all doors and drawers.