How to Resurface Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Resurfaced Kitchen

Resurfacing your kitchen cabinet doors can give your kitchen a fresh look. The process is simple and the impact can be dramatic. If your cabinet doors are wood stained, you can choose to apply a different color of stain, or paint them however you like. If your kitchen cabinet doors are already painted, you cannot stain over paint, but you can change the color or just freshen up what you already have.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver Sandpaper Paint and Primer or Stain

Instructions

1. Remove your kitchen cabinet doors from the face of your cabinets by removing the hinges on the doors. If you have a lot of doors in varying sizes, number the doors as you remove them to avoid confusion as you reattach.

2. Remove the hardware from the doors, keeping the screws together with the pulls and knobs for easier reassembly.

3. Sand the surface of the kitchen doors, remember to also sand the backs of the doors. Resurfacing requires painting or staining both sides of the kitchen doors. Use medium grade sandpaper and remove all of the sanding debris with a damp cloth. Any debris particles left on the doors will be visible when you've finished resurfacing, so make sure you have a smooth clean surface before applying your finish.

4. Apply a light coat of stain or a coat of primer if you're painting, to one side of the doors. Let it dry. If you're resurfacing with stain, you will need to lightly sand the surface with fine sandpaper or steel wool before applying the second coat. This will give you a smoother finish. As in step one, make sure you remove all of the sanding debris before adding a second coat of stain.

5. Apply a coat of paint over the primer, or your second coat of stain. Let it dry. Painted surfaces may need more than one coat of paint or they may not, you will be able to tell after the paint is dry. Splotchy, uneven surfaces need a second coat. Completely finish resurfacing one side of the kitchen doors before completing the other side.

6. Reattach the hinges to the kitchen doors after both sides have been resurfaced and are completely dry. Hang the doors back in your kitchen and add the hardware.

Tips & Warnings

• While your doors are removed, resurface the drawer fronts and the face of your kitchen cabinets to match your new doors.

• Resurface in an area with good ventilation.

Resources

• Resurfacing Tips