Cabinet refacing or refinishing can give your bathroom a new look without a complete remodel. This is a great option for anyone who wants to update their home’s aesthetic but doesn’t want to spend the time or money on a full renovation. However, before you decide to take on this project yourself, it’s important to know the difference between refacing and refinishing.
Refinishing refers to working with your existing cabinet doors and staining or painting them in a different color. This process usually involves stripping the old paint or stain using chemical removers or lots of sanding, and it’s crucial to do this properly to ensure that the cabinets are ready for a new coat of finish. Once the doors are sanded and prepared, they can be stained or painted in any color you desire. Darker colors are typically easier to refinish than lighter ones. It’s also a good idea to refinish your door hardware at the same time. This includes the knobs and pulls on each drawer and cabinet, as well as any decorative trim and molding.
Stains are translucent, meaning they seep into the wood grain to add rich colors and depth to your cabinets. Stains are best for natural wood, but can also work on medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or high-density fiberboard (HDF). To get the most out of your refinishing job, it’s important to properly prepare the cabinets before applying the stain. This means sanding the surface of the cabinets and doors to remove any rough areas, then applying a stain-blocking primer before finishing. A stain-blocking primer can be oil-based or water-based, and it dries quickly to seal knots and other imperfections that might bleed through your topcoats.
Before you apply any stain to your cabinets, it’s also a good idea to lightly sand the surfaces again with a foam sanding block. This will create a smooth surface that will hold the stain and prevent it from flaking or peeling later on. Once the cabinets are sanded, they can be vacuumed to remove any dust and dirt and rubbed down with a tack cloth for even more protection.
A good quality stain should last for a long time, but it’s still a good idea to touch up the surfaces with a paintbrush as needed. When you do need to touch up the finish, it’s important to use a high-quality paint and follow the same general painting techniques as you did when you originally applied the stain. This includes brushing on thin, even coats and allowing each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next.
If you’re thinking about refinishing your bathroom cabinets, the team at the best cabinet refinishing company in Tampa can help. We’ll meet with you to discuss your goals and answer any questions you may have. We’ll then provide you with color samples so that you can choose the perfect hue for your space.
