Cabinet refinishing is almost always cheaper than installing new ones and is a worthwhile investment in many circumstances, including when:
- Current Cabinets Are in Decent Condition: If your cabinets are damaged or significantly warped, it could be more cost-effective to go with a replacement.
- Environmental Sustainability Is a Priority: If protecting the environment is a priority, you might want to think about cabinet refinishing as an ideal practice to limit landfill trash by refreshing your existing cabinets.
- You Want Unique and Personalized Cabinets: Refinishing can be done in a large variety of colors and finishes to achieve a vision that is wholly unique and matches your sense of style.
- Trying To Get a Better ROI: If you're planning to sell your residence, cabinet refinishing is a cost-effective project to boost your property's value and maximize profits.
- You Are Satisfied With the Existing Layout and Operability: You're existing cabinets might already fit in great with your kitchen's layout and provide ideal functionality.
- Avoiding Disruption is Preferred: Cabinet refinishing involves minimal chaos to your home compared to a full cabinet replacement.
Property owners in Roswell, GA have reported spending as much as 70% less when refinishing their cabinets compared to replacing them. Prior to choosing cabinet refinishing, evaluate your specific needs, budget, and the condition of your cabinets to discover if this option is best for you.
While there aren't industry-mandated certifications designed for cabinet refinishing professionals, there are some qualifications and indicators of expertise that you can look for when hiring someone to refinish your cabinets. Most professional contractors will highlight any certifications in carpentry, woodworking, or a related field on their Thumbtack page.
You should ask the contractor you are considering hiring for photos of cabinets they have refinished in the past, especially featuring results that are similar to the style you're trying to achieve. Other than a portfolio, most professional contractors will highlight their experience and dependability with online client feedback.
A reputable professional should provide a detailed written estimate of the job before it commences, listing the scope of services, materials, and all associated costs. Contractors should have adequate communication skills and a readiness to answer all of your questions and concerns regarding budget, schedule, and quality throughout the refinishing project. You should also ask for warranties or guarantees from a contractor, which is another indication that can show they have faith in the quality of their craftsmanship.
A professional working on your cabinet refinishing task will adhere to an established process for speed and proven results. There are usually many steps taken to transform the look of existing cabinets, such as:
- Evaluation and Prepping: Cabinets are first assessed to ensure they are in good enough condition for refinishing. If they are, any gear will be disassembled, like handles, knobs, and hinges, and all cabinet surfaces need to be cleaned of dirt, grease, or other contaminants.
- Touch-Up and Fill: Some minor damage, like cracks, dents, or other blemishes in the wood will be repaired or filled before being blended in when staining or painting.
- Painting or Staining: Whatever you choose for paint, stain, or finishing technique will be applied in thin, even coats to accomplish the style you're looking for. The drying and curing phase is vital to giving a high-quality result, and may need several hours to accomplish.
- Reassembly: After your paint or stain has dried, any parts will be reattached and cabinets fully reassembled for use. Performing a quality inspection will ensure the final results meets your standards, which includes a last cleanup of the complete work area.
It's important to note that the specific refinishing project will vary depending on things such as the size of cabinets and the chosen finish. Additionally, professionals may perform detailed methods, such as distressing or glazing, to achieve specific aesthetic results, which could require a longer amount of time. Make sure to communicate directly with any contractor you employ to ensure they have the skill to bring your vision to reality.
Cabinet refinishing is an especially beneficial home improvement task that many homeowners discover to be worth the effort. Refinishing cabinets instead of completely replacing them is a great practice to reduce your impact on the environment by giving used furniture a longer purpose rather than tossing them into landfills. The method of manufacturing new cabinets also requires more wood and releases pollution into the atmosphere, both of which can be significantly lessened when people choose to repurpose existing furniture rather than replace it. A few other amazing benefits of picking cabinet refinishing include:
- Cost-Effectiveness: Purchasing and putting in new kitchen cabinets will be very costly, but refinishing existing ones will allow you to refresh their look for much less money.
- Refresh the Look of Your Kitchen: Cabinet refinishing has the capability to dramatically change the look of your kitchen through relatively small amounts of work or money.
- Minimal Disruption To Your Home: Cabinet refinishing is considered a relatively fast and simple way to update their look versus installing new ones. Because you're utilizing existing cabinets that have already been hung, you'll bypass the trouble of having custom-made cabinets manufactured or the demolition and reconstruction of your kitchen walls and layout to ensure they fit.
- High-Quality Results: You can expect professional results when you hire a vetted contractor to handle your cabinet refinishing project. The right technique and skill is critical to guarantee your cabinets look as you planned, including close attention to necessary steps of preparing the surfaces and permitting the paint or stain to cure before reassembly.