Cabinet refinishing is almost always less expensive than purchasing new models and is a worthwhile investment in many circumstances, including when:
- Existing Cabinets Are in Good Condition: When the cabinets are damaged or significantly warped, it might be more cost-effective to go with a replacement.
- Living "Green" Is a Priority: If reducing your carbon footprint is a priority, you might want to think about cabinet refinishing as an ideal way to reduce landfill trash by refreshing your existing cabinetry.
- You Want Unique and Personalized Cabinets: Refinishing gives you choices between a large variety of colors and finishes to achieve a look that is wholly unique and suits your sense of style.
- Trying To Get a Better ROI: If you're planning to sell your residence, cabinet refinishing is a cost-effective way to enhance your property's appeal to try and maximize ROI.
- You Are Satisfied With the Existing Layout and Functionality: You're existing cabinets could already fit in perfectly with your kitchen's design and give ideal functionality.
- Minimal Disruption is Preferred: Cabinet refinishing requires less disruption to your daily life compared to a full cabinet replacement.
Residents in Bowling Green, KY have communicated paying nearly 70% less when refinishing their cabinets as opposed to replacing them. Prior to picking cabinet refinishing, evaluate your personal needs, budget, and the current state of your cabinets to know if this project is right for you.
While there may not be industry-mandated licenses designed for cabinet refinishing contractors, there are important qualifications and indicators of expertise that you can look for when hiring someone to refinish your cabinets. Most professional contractors will mention any certifications in carpentry, woodworking, or a relevant field on their Thumbtack page.
You will want to ask the contractor you are considering hiring for photos of cabinets they have refinished in other homes, especially featuring finished projects that look like the style you're trying to accomplish. Other than a picture gallery, most professional contractors will demonstrate their experience and reliability through online customer feedback.
A reliable expert should supply a clear written estimate of the job before it commences, listing the scope of services, materials, and all associated costs. Contractors should have exceptional communication skills and a readiness to answer any questions and concerns regarding cost, schedule, and craftsmanship throughout the refinishing project. You should also inquire for warranties or guarantees from a contractor, which is another factor that can show they have faith in the quality of their workmanship.
A contractor working on your cabinet refinishing task will adhere to an established process for speed and excellent results. There are usually several steps taken to transform the look of existing cabinets, including:
- Assessment and Preparation: Cabinets should be first assessed to make sure they are in good enough condition to be refinished. If they are, all hardware will be disassembled, such as handles, knobs, and hinges, and the surfaces need to be cleaned of dirt, grease, or other contaminants.
- Touch-Up and Fill: Some insignificant issues, such as scratches, dings, or other imperfections in the wood will be repaired or filled before being blended in with staining or painting.
- Painting or Staining: Your choice of paint, stain, or finishing technique will be applied in thin, even coats to get the style you've envisioned. The drying and curing step is critical to ensuring a high-quality outcome, and could need a few hours to accomplish.
- Reassembly: After the paint or stain has dried, all gear will be reattached and cabinets fully reassembled for use. A quality inspection will guarantee the final project meets your expectations, which includes a last cleanup of the complete work area.
It's useful to keep in mind that any refinishing process can vary based on things like the type of cabinets and the chosen finish. Furthermore, contractors may perform detailed techniques, such as distressing or glazing, to accomplish specific stylistic effects, which could require a longer process with more steps. Be sure to communicate directly with anyone you hire to guarantee they can bring your vision to reality.
Cabinet refinishing is an especially advantageous home improvement project that many people discover to be worthwhile. Refinishing cabinets in lieu of buying new ones is a good way to limit your impact to the environment by giving used furniture a longer lifespan rather than tossing them into landfills. The process of constructing new cabinets also requires more wood and releases toxins into the atmosphere, both of which are significantly diminished when you choose to repurpose existing furniture rather than throw it out. Some other amazing perks of picking cabinet refinishing include:
- Cost-Effectiveness: Purchasing and hanging new kitchen cabinets will be very costly, but refinishing current cabinets will allow you to refresh their look relatively affordably.
- Breathe New Life Into Your Kitchen: Cabinet refinishing has the capability to drastically change the style of your kitchen through relatively little work and money.
- Minimal Disruption To Your Life: Cabinet refinishing is considered a relatively quick and simple method to refresh their look versus installing new ones. Because you're utilizing existing cabinets that have already been installed, you'll avoid the chaos of having custom-made cabinets manufactured or the demolition and reconstruction of your kitchen walls and layout to make them fit.
- Professional Results: You'll receive professional results when you hire an experienced contractor to carry out your cabinet refinishing project. The right technique and experience is critical to guarantee your cabinets appear as you envisioned, including close attention to necessary steps of preparing the surfaces and permitting the paint or stain to dry before reassembly.