How to Refinish a Wood Kitchen Cabinet System

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Updating a kitchen is a cost-effective home improvement. A decision to refinish a wood kitchen cabinet system can take a dull, outdated kitchen and make it look modern. All visible external surfaces of the cabinets will require painting. The insides of the cabinets can be painted, too, and can be painted a contrasting color. You can reuse the same hardware, spray paint it or replace it altogether with new hardware for an even more striking appearance.

Things You'll Need

• Drill or screwdriver
• Wood putty; putty knife
• 220 grit sand paper
• Primer, latex semi-gloss paint, brushes

Instructions

1. Make a drawing showing the location of the doors and drawers, and number each.

2. Remove the doors and drawers, writing the number of the door or drawer from your diagram on the backside of the door or drawer so you will know the location when it comes time to return them.

3. Remove the door hinges and place the hinges, and door and drawer pulls (knobs or handles). To ensure hinges and pulls are reinstalled at the same location, tape them to the counter top, marking the tape with the draw or door number.

4. Check for scratches and fill them with wood putty. If you plan on using different hardware where the holes will not match those already in the doors and drawers, putty the hardware holes.

5. Lightly sand all surfaces, wipe clean with a damp cloth, and allow to dry.

6. Place painter's tape on glass where it meets the wood, or plan on using a razor blade to remove paint from glass door fronts.

7. Lay the doors and drawers so the paintable surfaces are flat. Prime all surfaces, painting both with and against the grain, and then allow to dry.

8. Paint all surfaces with a thin coat of semi-gloss paint, going with the grain. Allow two hours of drying time before applying a second coat if needed.

9. Allow paint to cure for at least one day and then attach hinges to the doors. Replace the doors and drawers in their previous location. Remove painter's tape.

10. Clean and install pulls.

Tips & Warnings

• If you won't be painting the inside of the cabinets, you can leave the hinges and screws from the doors inside the cabinet. If you have flush mount hinges, you do not need to remove the hinges from the cabinet. When using latex paint, brushes can be wrapped in plastic wrap (bread bag will do) or aluminum foil and stored in the refrigerator if you are unable to finish the project in one day.

• Allow paint to dry thoroughly before reinstalling. It's best to wait one to two days.

References

• DYI paint project

Resources

• Give cabinets age copper look