When you get tired of your old, worn-out-looking kitchen cabinets, but do not have the budget to substitute or reface them, give them a mini-facelift instead. Kitchen cabinetry brings more wear and tear than closets at any other room in the house, often leaving them with a timeworn appearance in just a few years. But when your cupboards are still in decent shape, you do not need to strip them. By employing a one-step stain-and-finish solution, you can extend their usage until you’ve saved enough to the kitchen of your dreams.
Eliminate the hinges and pull on or handle hardware in the doors and cabinets. Place the doors onto a level surface or workbench in the garage. Place the hardware in another small can if you intend to bleach or paint it. A drill outfitted with the suitable screwdriver piece can speed the process along, but a screwdriver functions just as well.
Remove excess oil and grease residue in the cabinetry. A fresh rag dampened with mineral spirits cuts through the residue left from cooking. Wipe the dampened rag down and up to remove greasy residue. Turn the fabric over or substitute the rag. Repeat until the rag remains clean.
Sand the cupboards gently. Apply, long, even-pressured directly strokes, working with the grain of the wood with a 1/4 sheet of sandpaper folded in thirds. After turning the sandpaper above to utilize both exposed sides, then unfold the third side to expose it to use. Use your palms onto the sandpaper to get between molding and indentations in the cabinetry. Sanding roughens the surface to allow the combination stain-and-finish product to stick.
Apply a tack cloth to remove all the surface dust from the cabinets. If wanted, wipe out the entire cabinets with mineral spirits one more time.
Twist the cabinets up prior to employing the stain-finish combo product to them to ensure even color. Dab a touch-up pen for wood matched to the existing stain to fill in worn regions of the cabinetry that’s missing end and color. Let it dry for about 5 or 10 minutes. Wipe off the excess when warm and feather in the edges. A slight discoloration in the original color doesn’t make a difference. These pens operate similar to felt-tip pens.
Open the combination stain and polyurethane product. Stir the item to ensure it is completely mixed, as pigment settling can occur as it sits for too long. Make certain no pigment stays on the base of the can. Pick a stain color the exact same or a slightly darker than the existing cupboard stain for best outcomes. Don’t shake the can, as air bubbles in the stain-polyurethane combo leaves small bubbles on the surface of the cabinetry.
Paint the cupboard molding and trim regions initially, working with the grain. Then apply the stain-and-finish item to the flat regions of the cabinetry. Because this system involves a one-step procedure, maintain your breasts even and regular to receive the best results in the end coat. Employ the previous stroke in one direction — a technique called”striking off,” to get an even surface. Don’t over-brush the region. If you would like a deeper, more intense color, apply another coat after the first coat has dried out.