When you want to update your kitchen, refinishing the cabinets is one of the most budget-friendly ways to get there. However, before hitting the big-box home stores, consider this: while refinishing is an affordable way to bring back beauty and integrity, it’s not as simple as it seems.
In fact, when it comes to handling this project on your own, DIY mistakes can abound. Some of these include:
Mistake #1: Damaging the Wood Using the Wrong Approach or Products
Every wood type is different when it comes to refinishing. It’s why, even if you have past experience with refinishing, it’s easy to make a mistake if you’ve never worked with the particular wood your cabinets are made from. In addition, various door profiles and designs, like raised cathedral and beadboard, have intricate details that take more expertise to refinish.
Likewise, choosing the right products can be challenging without experience, leading to unexpected – and unwanted – results. If you do decide to go it alone, make sure you strictly follow the manufacturer’s instructions on each product for proper cabinet refinishing. Otherwise, you could risk damage to your cabinets.
Mistake #2: Not Removing All of the Old Finish
Another common mistake involves the old finish. It’s certainly a cumbersome task to remove all of it and you might think you can cut corners. However, this will impact the end result, leaving uneven patches or layers where the original finish wasn’t fully removed.
In addition, if you use a stripping product and keep it on too long, you’ll have another problem on your hands. It will dry out and harden, creating an additional layer to remove.
When you hire a professional to refinish your cabinets, they’ll use more effective commercial-grade products that will strip the wood quickly and thoroughly without missing areas. In addition, they know exactly how long to keep the stripping product on your cabinets, so there’s never damage.
Mistake #3: Sanding the Wrong Way When Refinishing Cabinets
Sanding is a critical part of cabinet refinishing. It’s essential to get a smooth finish and a flawless final look. With proper sanding techniques, you can remove small scratches, imperfections, and rough areas, so your cabinets are beautiful once you’re done.
However, if you don’t sand properly – in the direction of the grain – it will lead to noticeable imperfections on your cabinets once you stain them. In fact, sanding incorrectly can actually cause the finish to highlight swirls and rough spots and create a streaky appearance that’s impossible to ignore.
Mistake #4: Rushing the Cabinet Refinishing Job
Patience is a virtue when it comes to cabinet refinishing. It’s vital to let every layer dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step. If you don’t, you’ll cause smudges and smears on your newly refinished cabinets as you’re re-hanging them.
If you truly want to handle cabinet refinishing on your own, take time to research it thoroughly and talk to those with experience. When you invest some time upfront, you’ll have a better chance of achieving quality results.
If, however, you’d like to hand the job off to professionals, consider N-Hance®. We use a unique and proprietary process that will get your cabinets looking like new, faster. With our team, we can restore the glory and luster back to your kitchen by:
- Providing skilled craftsmen. Our technicians are highly experienced and skilled in every aspect of cabinet refinishing. They use state-of-the-art practices and technologies to ensure they bring your cabinets back to life in a way you love.
- Using proprietary products. We have our own exclusive products for cleaning your cabinets and removing all the dirt, grease, grime and contaminants that have built up in a kitchen environment. Without proper cleaning, the new finish won’t stick, impacting the way your cabinets look.
- Offering instant curing. There’s no long wait for curing with N-Hance. We use our Lightspeed® Nano UV system on your newly refinished cabinets to cure them instantly. Not only will the finish be rock-hard, durable and resistant to scuffs, scratches and long-term wear, but you won’t have to wait around to use your cabinets again.
In addition, when you choose to refinish your cabinets instead of replacing or renovate them, you can take advantage of several benefits beyond the lower cost. For instance, if you have solid, quality hardwood cabinets, you’ll maintain their integrity. This is important because older cabinets are generally made from better-quality woods. If you opt for replacements, they might look shiny and new, but won’t be as durable and can even impact the value of your home.
Refinishing your cabinets instead of replacing them is also the most eco-friendly way to upgrade them. You’re not using any new wood, adding to the depletion of forests. Nor are there any fossil fuels used to manufacture and transport new cabinets.
What’s more is that with N-Hance, we’re proud partners with American Forests, the oldest national conservation organization in the United States. Through this relationship, we’ve planted more than 22,000 trees. You can feel good about working with a cabinet refinishing company that not only minimizes the impact on the environment but actually improves it.
The bottom line? N-Hance can give new life to your cabinets, renewing their natural beauty or updating them with a darker or richer finish. We offer a gorgeous, factory-style finish designed to stand up to years of wear and tear. We also make the entire process easier, so there are no headaches, hassles, or DIY mistakes to fix. Just take a look at some of our before and after photos to see the difference we can make.
If you’re ready to find out more about our cabinet refinishing services, call your local N-Hance at (855) 642-6230 for a FREE quote and design consultation.