Home Improvement DIY

Although we would all love to have an endless home decorating budget, sometimes we simply have to be realistic with the amount of money we spend.  Home experts all agree that spending money on the kitchen and bathroom are the best rooms in the house to spend money on so that the value of your home will increase.  Some people will spend huge amounts of money buying granite kitchen countertops and solid oak cabinets but the truth is that this isn’t always necessary.  As long as you have cabinets that are well made a cheaper alternatives to replacement is to refinish kitchen cabinets.

How to Refinish Kitchen Cabinets

First of all you should make sure that the floors of your cabinets are in good order; they should be dry and rot-free.  You should pay particular attention to cabinets which are more susceptible to these problems such as next to a dishwasher or under the skink.  If you find any areas of rot, the wood should therefore be replaced.  Make sure you attend to any problems before you set about refinishing your kitchen cabinets.  Also have a look at the shelves to see if they have any problems too.

The cheapest way to refinish your kitchen cabinets is by painting the doors.  If you plan on doing this, remove the handles and give them a good clean and also give the exterior surfaces of the cabinet a thorough clean.  Grease and grime accumulates over the years so it’s important to get it all cleaned off to give your kitchen the best possible appearance.  One really good method of cleaning is a home steam cleaner.  Instead of using harsh chemicals, you use a jet of steam to lift off dirt.  Not only is it more environmentally friendly but it will prevent you from using too much “elbow grease.”

Before you think about repainting your kitchen cabinets, you need to use a piece of sandpaper to smooth out any lumps and bums and to give the paint a good surface to adhere to.  When you have done this you should then wipe away the dust and clean down with a damp cloth.

Once you have removed the cabinet doors along with handles and hinges, and given the whole area a good clean, you can now apply a coat of paint of varnish.  If your doors are already painted you won’t need to apply a primer however if you are painting onto wood then you will.  For the very best paint job use a spray rather than a brush.  After you have applied the paint of varnish you need to leave it to dry for 24 hours before applying another layer or two.  Always leave paint and varnish to dry for 24 hours before you use it otherwise you can damage the work you have done.

If you really don’t want to use the same doors and handles then that’s OK.  There are many companies specializing in replacement doors and handles.  They are all custom build to your specifications so you should be able to find a style that will not only fit but you’ll also be able to afford and enjoy.  Although this obviously costs more than re-painting, it’s still considerably cheaper than replacing your entire kitchen.  It’s amazing how some new cabinet doors and handles can transform your old tired kitchen into something altogether more stylish and presentable.

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