Refinishing kitchen cabinets is a cost-effective solution to change the entire look and feel of an outdated kitchen. If you are tired of your old kitchen cabinet colors and look one of the best things you can do, shy of a complete remodel, is to stain and refinish your existing cabinetry. While there’s still cost involved, you’ll be surprised with the transformation you can yield with about $1,000 and a little elbow grease over a few weekends. Alternatively, if you’re looking for some quicker ways to upgrade your cabinets, you can consider completing small projects like upgrading the doors, handles or even add things like crown molding. However, in this article we’ll focus on staining.
The process for refinishing and staining involves removing old stains from the cabinets, sanding and repairing the surface and applying a new coat of stain or paint on the wooden surface.
Seems pretty simple, right? Read on for best practice tips to completing this DIY project.
Safety considerations to focus on
Before proceeding with the job, you need to be sure that you are doing it in a safe environment. To stain cabinets you will need harsh chemicals which will create airborne particulates. Therefore safety measures are the priority. If your cabinets are not mobile make sure the fan is on and windows are open to keep the air circulating. Next, when using harsh chemicals, make sure to wear a respirator to avoid inhaling harmful chemicals. Also, keep in mind that some chemicals used in the staining process are flammable so make sure there are no open flames or heaters in the kitchen.
Things you will need for the procedure
Though there are several methods to stain cabinets, here is a list of things that are of topmost priority required for the process- Screwdriver, tack cloth, sanding paper, drip cloth, foam brush, wood scarps, 220-grid sandpaper, painter’s step, wood stain, white cotton rags, protective gloves, pre-stain wood conditioner, and wipe-on polyurethane topcoat. These products are pretty easy to find, you can get them in any hardware store or online store.
Procedure for Staining Wood cabinets
The steps are pretty easy to follow if you have all the above-mentioned equipment and products.
Step 1: Prepare the cabinets- You need to do some basic pre-work before you start the actual process. First, you need to unscrew the fittings of the cabinets and keep them in separate ziplock bags or packets so that they will be easy to organize later. Once you are done with the dissembling part, cover the nearby work or home area with a drop cloth or newspaper in order to protect surface areas from dust & stain. Also, make sure you are doing it in a safe and well-ventilated area.
Step 2: Sanding the surface with Sandpaper- Although sanding is not required if you are cabinets are in new condition, we recommend you do so for a better finish. Use 220-grit sandpaper and sand the wooden surface in the direction of the grain to achieve a uniform appearance. Sanding helps to smoothen the surface and helps the color to sit properly in the wood grain. You can use both a manual or electric sander for the job as per your wish and budget. Whichever method you do just make sure the finish of the wood is perfect.
Step 3: Vacuum away the sawdust for the next process- Post the sanding process, there will be a lot of sawdust around which needs to be vacuumed away. Use a good quality vacuum cleaner for the job and use a tack (sticky) cloth for removing the extra particles. Tack cloths are designed specially to take away sawdust from wooden surfaces. Next use large stones or wood scraps to prop up the cabinet doors so that it is not touching the cloth directly. By doing so you can paint the sides and the top of your cabinet smoothly.
Step 4: Wood Conditioner application – Next, use small-sized small cotton rags to apply wood conditioner on the surface areas of the cabinet. Use a good quality pre-stain wood conditioner for optimum smoothness and long-lasting results on the cabinet surfaces. Wipe down the cabinets with wood conditioner making sure no part is left untouched. Let the conditioner sit for 15 to 20 minutes and then go for a second coat to achieve the best results.
Step 5: Apply your favorite color wood stain in multiple coats- Now comes the real part that is staining the cabinets with staining paint. Use a foam brush for application. Apply the color on the wooden cabinets with the help of the brush in the direction of the grain. The best part about staining cabinets by yourself is it does not leave any brushstrokes behind, making the job super easy. Once you apply the stain let it sit for a minimum of 5 to 10 minutes and then wipe off the excess stain. The longer you let the stain stay, the darker results will be. We recommend you apply a few coats to get the desired darkness you want. Apply each layer and wait for 5 minutes to see the transformation of the color change. Once you gain the right shade you are looking for, remove the excess stain with the help of a cotton rag and let it dry for at least 4 to 5 hours. Once the paint dries up, flip the wood and stain the other side.
Step 6: Use a polyurethane topcoat for the final finish- Soak a white cotton rag in a polyurethane topcoat and wipe it off on the cabinets to achieve the final finish. To saturate the whole piece, wipe the finish directly on the stained wooden surface. Finally, once the finishing is done, use 220 grit sandpaper and lightly sand the surface of the wood. It is recommended to sand 3 to 4 times to achieve the final desired look of the wood.
The final step is to allow the wood dry as per the stain bottle’s instruction. Compared to painting, staining cabinets are much easier and it requires no experience or high-end skills. To stain cabinets you can use stain types like an oil-based stain, varnish stain, a water-based stain or Lacquer stain to achieve the look you are dreaming of.