1. Remove all contents. The first thing to do when prepping for your cabinet refinishing project is to remove all contents from all cabinets.  It’s best to box all contents by cabinet, label each box, and then compile all boxes in another room, away from the work site.  This is a time-consuming step, but don’t be tempted to cut corners.  Anything left in the cabinets can encumber your ability to work, or can fall and break, and will certainly get covered in dust as the project progresses.
2. Clean the cabinets. Wipe away all cobwebs, suction out crumbs using a shop vac or vacuum attachment, and remove as much dirt and debris as you can from all cabinets.  Then wipe them down with a damp cloth, wiping all crevices of each cabinet face, and all other edges and details to remove any grime.  You may need to use a grease cutting cleaning solution on certain cabinets, if needed.  The cleaner you get the cabinetry, the smoother your coatings will go on, and the better your finished product will look!  You’ll also remove the hardware from each door and drawer, unless you’re planning to install all new hardware when your project is complete.  Place the hardware in a plastic bag so that no screws or knobs get lost.
3. Cover all other surfaces. Cover the countertops, appliances, and other areas that you want to protect.  Chairs, smaller appliances, and other such items can be taken out of the work area to protect them and to give you more room to work.  Cover everything else using drop cloths or painter’s plastic and secure it with masking tape or painter’s tape, and position drop cloths along the floor.

Once you’ve cleared out your stuff from inside the cabinetry, cleaned the cabinets thoroughly, and covered the surrounding surfaces, you’re ready to apply the paint or stain you’ve selected!  Cabinet refinishing is a satisfying and exciting DIY job, but it’s also a challenging and time-consuming one, which is why most Southside, Ponte Vedra, Atlantic Beach, and Jacksonville homeowners choose to call on a great local painting contractor to do the project for them.  The Painting Craftsmen is the best Jacksonville FL painting company and the team to trust with your cabinets.  Give us a call and let’s get started on your cabinet transformation!

The post 3 Important Steps in Cabinet Refinishing Prep first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

While some kitchen remodeling projects can easily be done in a few hours, cabinet refinishing is a complicated process. While we don’t advise doing this on your own, if you have the proper tools, adequate ventilation and know what kind of finish you have on your existing cabinets, it can be a do it yourself project.

Step 1: Examine The Cabinets

• It is important to identify what kind of coating is on your cabinets. Most of the time it is a thin lacquer, however if the cabinets have been refinished before, it’s best to consult a professional for identification.

• During this phase, it is best to decide on the type of finish you will use in the finished cabinets. Looking at cabinet stores, magazines and online are great places to find a variety of options.

Step 2: Remove the Doors

• Once you have picked out your finish, it’s time to remove the cabinet doors.

• Using household tools such as screwdrivers, carefully remove the screws that hold the doors up on the hinges.

• For those who haven’t done this before, it is a good idea to have a partner hold the door steady while you remove the hardware including hinges and handles. This way, the doors won’t fall and get damaged.

Step 3: Coating the Cabinets

• Depending on what kind of finish you are using, you might need to prime the wood. A primer allows paint to stick on the surface.

• If you are using a stain you can skip the primer. Before painting or staining it is best to use tape to mask over any surfaces you don’t want paint or stain on.

• Next you can apply the paint or stain. A sprayer will give you a smooth even coating. Where a sprayer is awkward or ventilation is poor, use a paintbrush or mini roller to apply paint or stain.

• With a professional cabinet refinishing service, we will bring the cabinets to our shop where we have a spray booth and industry leading, high velocity-low pressure spray systems that allow us to duplicate an original factory finish.

• The professionals at The Painting Craftsmen coat the cabinet boxes in the home with a portable hvlp spray system, making sure to mask off all appliances, floors, countertops, etc. as well as tenting and venting the area to ensure no dust enters the home.

Step 4: Hanging Old Hardware

• Lastly after allowing the cabinets to dry thoroughly hang cabinet doors using old hardware that has been cleaned or new handles and hinges.

Other Tips and Things to Consider

• Cleaning: Trisodium phosphate is a great product that removes grease, grime and can dull and etch the old paint if there is any.  After cleaning, you will need to lightly sand any areas that are bubbled or rough feeling. This is a very important step in refinishing your cabinets so take your time. Lastly wipe down the cabinets with a damp cloth to remove any dust particles.

• Your Surroundings: If you are going to strip the finish off the cabinets, always do this in a well ventilated area. The chemicals used can cause health issues if used in an enclosed area. Stripping the paint off allows you to reveal the hardwood beneath the finish. It may take several tries to get all of the finish or paint off so be patient.

• Double Checking: After the cabinets have been cleaned and stripped if necessary, check for dents, and nicks. These can easily be filled with wood putty and sanded smooth once it is dry.

• Space: Like many home improvement projects cabinet refinishing takes a lot of space. First, your cabinets are going to have to be empty in order for you to clean and prepare the inside of the cabinets. Next, stripping, painting or staining will need an open area for you to work and to allow your cabinets to dry.

• The Mess: Nearly every step of cabinet refinishing has the potential of dust, paint or stain spills and old paint scrapings. Again, many of these steps must be done in a well ventilated area so that you don’t inhale fumes. Remember – there’s a reason wood stain has it’s name.

As you can see, cabinet refinishing is complicated especially if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. Sure removing old handles and the hinges sounds simple, but what happens when you strip a screw or don’t understand the proper staining techniques? The advantages of having a professional refinish your cabinets is well worth the cost.

When you hire The Painting Craftsmen, you can avoid the frustration of a do it yourself project gone bad. We are not only painters, but craftsmen who enjoy helping you find the right combination of cabinets to transform your kitchen into the real heart of the house.

The post Your Guide to Cabinet Refinishing first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.

Home improvement projects not only make you feel like you are in a brand new home, but add a lot of extra value. The kitchen and bathroom are two rooms where that value goes the farthest. Quality appliances, spaciousness and aesthetic appeal in these two rooms can make all the difference. If you are looking to renovate, there are a few ways where you can save. Before going out to purchase kitchen cabinets or replacing your bathroom cabinets, consider an alternative.  Why replace when you can refinish?

Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen often represents the heart of the home. This is where families gather after their busy days to talk about their day. New kitchen cabinets have the ability to transform a kitchen. Kitchen cabinets may begin looking faded, discolored, or out of style.  Some cabinets accumulate a white film on them from being exposed to moisture; particular those located around the dishwasher and sink.  Replacing kitchen cabinets can cost thousands of dollars and usually requires major demolition of the entire kitchen that could take several weeks or longer.  New kitchen cabinet installation will require a new counter top, as well, which will increase the projects budget. Refinishing your home’s kitchen cabinets is an affordable and wise alternative to replacing them.

The Painting Craftsmen, a locally owned, full service residential painting contractor, has the resources and tools to update your kitchen cabinets for a fraction of replacement costs.  Most of the work is completed outside of the home so homeowner’s will not experience huge messes or a complete kitchen demolition.  Cabinet doors are removed and brought to the Craftsmen’ shop for their extreme makeover.  Whatever the style or look that is visualized for your kitchen, the artisans at The Painting Craftsmen will attain the results using state-of-the-art equipment.

Bathroom Cabinets

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in the house, you spend your mornings getting ready here and your evening relaxing in the bathtub. Having a spa like bathroom is not only a luxury, but adds huge value to the home.  However, this comfort level can be achieved without an all out, time consuming renovation. The good news is that same cabinet refinishing options you use in the kitchen can be applied in the bathroom. Other aesthetic touchups like new paint or wallpaper on the walls will complete the transformation. Feel like you are staying in a resort style bathroom from the convenience of your own home this summer!

Cabinet Services

1. Color and Finish Choices

There are almost unlimited color and finish choices available for cabinets.  Considerations will include the fact that some colors are guaranteed to look great decades later while others may be out of style next year.  Some professionals recommend the following popular colors guaranteed to help your kitchen or bathroom retain its value.

• Simple white, off-white, or eggshell colored cabinets are considered one of the best kitchen and bathroom cabinet color choices as they last for years without going out of style and make smaller areas appear brighter and more spacious.  White cabinets are the most popular choice across the country from contemporary or modern homes to cottages.
• Many modern homeowners are choosing to be bold with black or mocha colored kitchen or bathroom cabinets.  Darker cabinets tend to anchor the room and allow homeowners to use colorful and creative accessories and accent colors.
• Gray cabinets give kitchens and bathroom a high-end designer look similar to that in a penthouse apartment.  Gray cabinets are popular in modern and traditional homes that are aiming for a more conservative look.

2.  Cabinet staining and lacquer finishing

Some Jacksonville residents have expensive hardwood cabinets hanging on their walls but choose to have their cabinets stained a different color.  The professionals at The Painting Craftsmen will remove all paint from the cabinets through a careful process that involves several applications of remover.  Dents and deep scratches are then filled with wood filler followed by a thorough sanding that results in exceptionally smooth cabinet doors with no scratches.  Some homeowners are purists with regard to their wood cabinets and choose one of the copious shades of brown.  Other homeowners are selecting unexpected hues for their cabinet stains to add a custom touch to their kitchen or bathroom while still being able to enjoy the grain and texture of the wood.  Following are some popular stains for cabinets that dramatically impact the look of the space:

• Soft green stain gives cabinets a natural, green-washed look
• Dark gray stain compliments modern stainless steel appliances
• Silvery gray gives cabinets a soft, neutral look that works well with a variety of design styles, colors, and materials
• Grayish green is a great neutral stain that compliments earth tones and other colors
• Deep red cabinets work well in spaces that do not receive much natural light and have few embellishments
• White stained or whitewashed wood cabinets give kitchens and bathrooms a bright and cheerful look and have been around for centuries
• Ebony stained cabinets bring depth to a room particularly when combined with lighter countertops and backsplashes

3.  Hardware updating and replacement

For kitchen and bathroom cabinet refinishing, handles, hinges, and pulls are the final cabinet extreme makeover touch.  Hardware updating makes a tremendous impact on the overall look of your space and many different designs are available from old fashioned, modern, traditional, or designer.

Now a stay-cation is sounding more and more appealing, right? Transform the look and feel of your home without the overhaul of a demolition. All work performed by The Painting Craftsmen in Jacksonville is 100% guaranteed for one year.  So, before replacing kitchen or bathroom cabinets, consider a beautiful, affordable alternative. Why replace when you can refinish?

The post Why Replace When You Can Refinish? first appeared on The Painting Craftsmen.