Kitchen cabinets
Keep the boxes, change everything you see
Refinishing is for kitchens where the cabinets are sound and the finish is tired, yellowed or the wrong color.
The boxes stay where they are. The doors and drawer fronts go to the studio, are made smooth and come back in a new color. If the boxes are swollen or the layout is wrong, replacing is the honest answer and we will tell you so at the walkthrough.
Doors, drawer fronts, face frames, end panels and toe kicks
Any wood or painted cabinet in sound condition
One color, or a second on the island
Prep is the job
Eight things done before any lacquer
Most of the labor in a cabinet refinish is preparation. This is the list each kitchen gets.
- 01
Remove and number
Every door and drawer front is numbered by its opening. Hinges and pulls are bagged by door.
- 02
Degrease
Kitchen cabinets hold years of cooking film. Finish does not stick to it, so it comes off first.
- 03
Repair
Dents, nail holes and open seams are filled. Loose hinge screws are re-set.
- 04
Sand
A scuff for adhesion, and a closer sanding where there is a raised or open grain.
- 05
Fill the grain
On oak and other open-grain wood, a fill coat if you want a smooth door.
- 06
Mask
Counters, floors, appliances and walls are covered before the boxes go near the spray.
- 07
Prime
A bonding primer on both sides of every door and on the boxes.
- 08
Test a door
We spray a test door in your color and sheen before the first full coat.
Two ways to do a door
Sprayed flat in the studio, or brushed in your kitchen
Both are real methods and both have their place. This is how they differ for a cabinet door.
| On the door | Brushed and rolled in place | Sprayed flat in the studio |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Brushed and rolled in placeBrush and roller texture can show | Sprayed flat in the studioFlat, level and free of brush marks |
| Dust and smell | Brushed and rolled in placeAll in your kitchen | Sprayed flat in the studioMostly in the studio |
| Doors away from home | Brushed and rolled in placeNone, they stay hung | Sprayed flat in the studioAbout a week |
| Edges and detail | Brushed and rolled in placeEdges reached by hand | Sprayed flat in the studioEvery edge reached off the hinge |
| Cost | Brushed and rolled in placeLower | Sprayed flat in the studioHigher, with the studio time |
Finishes
Sheens and colors, in plain words
We use a cabinet-grade lacquer or enamel and tell you which, and why, for your wood. Ask for the product data sheet.
Matte
Hides small flaws and reads soft. Shows fingerprints and wipes less easily.
Satin
The usual kitchen choice. A low glow that cleans easily.
Semi-gloss
Reads sharp and shows every flaw underneath. Cleans well, shows more of the door's wear.
A second color
Island or uppers in a different color, priced apart from the band.
Finished kitchens
Kitchens we have refinished
Sample photos.
Kitchen questions
Kitchens, answered
How long will the finish last?
It depends on the cabinet, the finish and how the kitchen is used. We ask you to go easy for the first weeks while the finish keeps curing, and the product data sheet gives the cure times. What our warranty covers is in your written warranty, with its terms, limits and exclusions.
Can I use my kitchen while the doors are away?
Yes, with some patience. The boxes stay in the kitchen, masked, with the sink, stove and refrigerator working. On the days we spray the boxes we ask you to stay out of the kitchen for a day, and we tell you which days when the schedule is set.
Can you paint over stained or wood-grain cabinets?
Yes. Open-grain wood such as oak shows through a flat finish, so we fill the grain if you want a smooth door. We say at the walkthrough which of the two looks you will get.
When is replacing cabinets the better choice?
When the boxes are swollen, sagging or water-damaged, when you want a new layout, or when the doors are cracked rather than worn. A refinish keeps your boxes and your layout. We will say so if replacement is the honest answer.
Which paint do you use, and can I see the data sheet?
We use a cabinet-grade lacquer or enamel, chosen for the wood and the sheen you pick. Ask for the product data sheet at the walkthrough and we will put it in your folder, with the cure times and the recoat window.