Cabinet Finishing and Refinishing Questions

Cabinet Finishing and Refinishing Questions

Questions concerning the steps and complexities of refinishing cabinets. This includes restaining for a new look or painting over already finished cabinets.

Ask Your Question

Sub-Categories

• Cabinet Painting - Questions about applying primer and paint to both new unfinished cabinets as well as previously finished cabinets.

Questions with Answers

• DARKENING WHITEWASHED CABINETS - Hi- We just purchased "used/re-cycled" white washed kitchen cabinets. A lot of them! They are now sitting in my garage and I am a little unhappy with the "pinkness" of the whitewash. I wouldn't mind an antique look to them or even a whiter finish...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Stained kitchen cabinets. - My kitchen cabinets were stained and the brush stokes and bristles can be seen on them. I have sanded the varnish off, but you can still see the brush stokes and bristles. I do not want to remove the stain. What can I do to correct this?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• HELP!!! How to refinish stained cabinets??? - We live in a home that is 20+ years old. We would like to remodel our kitchen but new cabinets is out of our budget. The cabinets are in great condition but they are stained that very dark early 80's look. I wanted to know what products and ste...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Gel Stain Color - What color stain (Old Masters) did you use on your project "Restain Cabinets for a New Look". Thanks
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing - Hi, I am refinishing a set of oak kitchen cabinets from a light oak to a medium walnut color. The interior, of course, is light. Should I leave them the light color or should I darken the inside as well? If I darken them what method should I ta...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Stain Kitchen Cabinets - I have light oak cabinets in my kitchen whose finish is either nearly worn away, or looks like new. To refinish the cabinets with a darker, reddish tint, is it necessary to strip off all of the existing finish?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Refinishing plastic vinyl countertops. - My bathroom has plastic laminate countertops, how can I refinish them?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• First coat of stain to thick/uneven. - I put on my first coat of oil stain and my coat is very uneven and very thick in areas. It isn't sticky or gummy it is completely dry, however in the thick areas it looks like I have painted it instead of stained. I really like the look of the th...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Gel stain brush strokes. - I have used gel stains to restain numerous cabinets. An easy sell. I do all the steps you listed. Is there any trick to hiding brush strokes especially with darker colors or is this where the finesse comes in? I have tried using a dry brush to...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Kitchen cabinet sides. - Nobody talks about how to finish the sides of cabinets...the ones in my kitchen have laminate ends. I want to stain the doors and fronts, but what can I do with the exposed sides/ends?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Kitchen cabinet gel finish. - What is the technique for applying gel stain to newly painted kitchen cabinets?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Restain old cabinets. - I am redoing my kitchen cabinets. I have stripped and sanded course to fine. I applied the stain and wiped the excess and am getting blotches. Is there anything that can prevent this? What am I doing wrong?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Staining cabinets black. - Wanting to stain cabinets black, but stain doesn't seem to be dark enough.
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Wood stain on laminate? - I bought wood stain to darken a cabinet, lightly sanded and painted with a brush. Let sit for a while and wiped off any residue. 12 hrs. later the cabinet is sticky to touch. It's possible that it may not have been real wood but I'm not sure what ...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Cabinet Restaining - Can I use a deglosser on my stained kitchen cabinets and restain a lighter color?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Refinishing kitchen cabinets and the frames. - You offered a great DIY article on this. My only question is how to do the frames that are attached to the wall. Do they require the same process? If I took my doors and hinges off, I'd still have the skeleton of the cabinet. How to refinish this ...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Remove Whitewash from Cabinets - My kitchen cabinets are oak, whitewashed. I want a nice warm wood color stain. Do I have to strip the cabinets first and then apply a new stain? What is the process? What is the best and easiest way? I have a lot of cabinets!!
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Mobilehome kitchen cabinets - Cabinets have a smooth photo finish.
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Burn through the stain. - I have been trying to clear coat cabinet doors that I built. Every once in awhile I keep sanding through the stain. This has set me back for weeks. How do I prevent this problem?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Staining maple a darker color. - Staining maple (new wood) a darker color to match some birch wood already stained. With out loosing the grain. Do not want it to look painted on. The maple not wanting to pick up any real stain color.
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Can pressed board cabinets be repaired? - I have old pressed board (particle board) cabinets in my kitchen. The drawer fronts have the corners broken off and the "wooden designed" paper laminate is peeling off. Is there any way to fix this or must they just be replaced?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Kitchen Cabinets - I have oak kitchen cabinet that are not real wood I want to change the stain to the same color the current ones are dirt and dull I have clean them of course but they still look dull. Is there a product that I can use to make them look new again o...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Polyurethane Over Lacquer - Can polyurethane be applied over lacquer on kitchen cabinets?
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• 20th Century Cabinet - 21st Century Look - My master bath vanity is a golden oak shade with a lot of wood grain showing. I want to change the entire look of the cabinet and take it to a dark brownish black shade/black walnut and diminish the amount of wood grain that shows. I am certain ...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
• Stained Kitchen Cabinets - I have just had my old wood kitchen cabinets re-stained by a "professional." It is a disaster, they didn't wait until it was completely dry and applied the finish and it is streaked then they tried sanding areas with each try it has become more an...
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Please use the following form to quickly search our files of previously answered questions. If you cannot find the topic for which you are searching, please use the link below to ask your question.

Ask Your Question