If you are tired of your kitchen and considering a face lift, you may want to consider just re-facing the cabinets rather than replace them. This is a distinct possibility if the cabinet carcass is in good condition, still square and fully functional.
Cleaning:
Over the years, kitchens in Broxbourne get a build-up of grease and food residue, even though you clean them often.
- Remove the doors from the cabinets. Identify the doors so you will know where to put them when the job is finished. Remember not to erase the identifying mark as you sand or paint the doors.
- If you do not wish to remove the doors, place painters drop sheets on the countertops and on all your appliances.
- Use a commercial cleanser that will cut through grease and grime, follow the manufacturer’s instructions when mixing it.
- Once the cabinets have been thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, let them dry before continuing with the project.
Stripping and refinishing:
This is one of the most difficult parts of giving your kitchens a face lift. The process is the same as stripping the old paint off furniture, although it is not terribly difficult, it is time consuming.
Attempting to strip the cabinet while it is hanging from the wall is awkward at best. It may be to your benefit to remove these cabinets completely. The lower cabinets cannot easily be removed because of the countertop, but they are easier to strip as well while in situ.
The best stripper is the gel variety; it is less likely to drip while using it on the vertical surfaces. Before you strip the finish away, find out what it is, in some cases they may look alike to non-experts but they are different. There are easy ways to determine the finish on the existing kitchens in Broxbourne.
- Shellac: Apply a few drops of denatured alcohol; if the finish dissolves instantly, it is shellac.
- Wax: Rub with turpentine, if it dissolves, the finish is wax.
- Varnish: Use paint stripper for varnish and polyurethane coatings.
- Paint: Using denatured alcohol on a rag, rub the finish, if it comes off the paint is water based. If you are planning on using oil based paint for the refinishing job, the water based paint must be completely stripped to bare wood.
Preparation:
Patch any small gouges and nicks with wood filler, let it dry and then sand it smooth. If you are planning on painting the cabinets, sand them gently so the paint keys to the surface.
Other than for the existing hinges, you may wish to replace the other hardware on your refinished kitchens in Broxbourne. There are many very attractive pulls and knobs available which will complement your makeover.
