Cabinet Refinishing Q & A
You have questions, we have answers.
Maybe you walked into your kitchen today and said, “I really hate these kitchen cabinet”. Or you may have been planning to refinish or paint your cabinets for some time now? In this article we will look at what is trendy, what always stays in style, plus what cabinet finishing costs are.
Kitchen remodeling is one of the biggest and most expensive home improvements you can make. Walls, ceilings and appliances can be changed out in a day, but the kitchen cabinets are the center of function and style with which you can design the room around. Sure, islands are nice and counter-tops highlight the beauty of the kitchen. The cabinets are still the majority of the rooms appeal.
Ok, let’s dive in.
Should you refinish or replace your kitchen cabinets?
Deciding between refinishing and replacing kitchen cabinets is a big and costly decision.
Kitchen cabinets have a lot of requirements to meet. They need to be sturdy and large enough to hold all your kitchen supplies. They need to be able to hold up to splatters, spills, dings, dents and scratches.
They also need to be beautiful. Easy enough, right?
Finding kitchen cabinets that fulfill all these requirements and are relatively affordable can be a challenge. When you consider how quickly kitchen design styles shift it makes it even harder.
The simple answer.
You should refinish the cabinets already in your kitchen if the current design is functional. If you don’t want to change the set-up of your cabinets, refinishing them can give a dated color or stain a fresh new look without costing you a fortune.
Putting you and your family through a full-scale remodel can be stressful as well.
Updating hardware can make old cabinetry look new again.
Opting to refinish, rather than replace, kitchen cabinets is more cost-effective.
Here is the downside, you would need to assess if the cabinets are able to be refinished or painted. If your cabinets are made of hardwood and not a composite laminated cabinet, you should be fine. You will want to ask your cabinet refinishing professionals at Paint Ovations to find out.
Of course, you should replace your kitchen cabinets if the layout of the space doesn’t work for you. If your kitchen cabinets all seem to be in the wrong place or there aren’t enough of them. Then the only reasonable solution is to replace.
Is it cheaper to stain or paint cabinets?
Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets
If you’ve looked into the world of interior design, you may have noticed that painted cabinets are trendy. Whether they’re steel blue, emerald green, or classic white, painted cabinets are all the rage.
The exact type of paint that you choose for your cabinets will affect how they look, how well they can withstand wear and tear, and how resistant they are to water. There are many paint options, including oil-based, water-based, or even varnishes. You will want to discuss the option and their effects with a paint professional before you make your choice.
You need to consider is how the paint will be applied to the cabinets: either sprayed on or brushed on. Spraying the paint typically provides the most even, smooth finish. The type of wood also matters if you’re leaning towards paint over stain.
Paint offers certain benefits that stain simply can’t deliver.
- It’s modern
- It provides a ton of options
- It hides dust easily
Staining Your Kitchen Cabinets
If you love the grain of wood, then staining your cabinets is a great option. Stained cabinets are more traditional-looking than painted cabinets. They provide a classic, look.
Stained cabinets let the natural features and grains of the wood show through. There are a variety of stains, from clear to a very dark red mahogany or chocolate brown walnut that adds a dramatic touch while still letting the wood’s grain and texture show. You can also choose the type of finish you’d like. From glossy, semigloss, and matte. Some stains even have UV and other protections blended in.
Stained wood cabinets have some advantages over paint:
- They’re classic
- They’re good for resale value
- They’re more affordable
Talk with your professional painting contractor to see what prep work is needed for each type of cabinet refinishing. Labor comes with a cost. The prep work can make one more expensive, based on the cabinets finish that is present before the refinishing project starts.
Let’s move on and answer the big question.
How much does it cost to refinish a cabinet?
The average cost of a professional cabinet refinishing is between $2,200 and $6,300 nationwide. Most homeowners in Collin County, Texas can expect to pay around $3,000-$4,000. When you hire a pro to refinish your kitchen cabinets, that price includes labor, materials like stain/paints and top coat and minor repairs.
While this is no small price, it’s cheaper than new cabinets, which can cost as much as five times more than refinishing old cabinets. Updated cabinets are key to a kitchen remodel, there’s no better way to save money on these expensive projects than refinishing your cabinets instead of installing new ones.
Plus, it is eco-friendly option as well as a cost-effective one. It keeps old cabinets out of landfills, and prevents trees from being cut down to make new cabinets.
Other things that impact cabinet refinishing cost:
- Total linear feet of your cabinets
- Choice of finish
- Cabinet design
- Hardware and accessories
While some homeowners might be tempted to attempt a do-it-yourself cabinet refinish project, it’s worthwhile to hire a professional to make sure it gets done well. Before you start your search for a cabinet refinishing expert, be sure to:
- Make sure they have expertise in cabinet refinishing. You need not only a painter, an expert in cabinet painting.
- Get a FREE estimate and evaluation. Discuss cost, timeframe, process and the best new finish for your cabinets.
Now that the price tag is out of the way, the next question we get asked is.
What kitchens trends are in style now?
Cabinets play an important role in both your kitchen’s appearance and functionality. From cleverly concealed appliances to unique cabinetry hues, explore the latest trends and styles for your kitchen.
7 kitchen cabinet trends for 2020.
- Contrasting counter materials with cabinetry color adds major drama to a kitchen. White cabinets and dark countertops not only differentiate the kitchen area.
- A backsplash is the best place to add a pop of color into a kitchen design without having to do a full kitchen renovation. While white kitchens will always be in style, people seem to be taking more risks with color, the backsplash is the place to do it.
- Steel hoods are the new trend of 2020. We are noticing a surge in custom kitchen hoods that steer away from the boring stainless steel or basic painted wood. They are becoming the focal point in kitchens these days.
- Maximize the sense of clean, open space within a kitchen has been drawn to gravity-defying islands. With these unique islands, the functional elements of the kitchen recede to reveal more space. Smaller or less cabinets with more countertop over hanging is becoming the new dining area.
- Warm or earth tone cabinet colors, with white countertops.
- Two-tone cabinets. Base cabinets one color and the wall cabinets another has been a trend for a few years now and it looks like it is going to be around for a while.
- Open shelving or glass doors on a select few cabinets. It gives it the china cabinet look in the kitchen.
Our final question that we get asked when doing kitchen cabinet refinishing is…
What color cabinets never go out of style?
Neutral Paint Colors.
The classic white kitchen is sometimes frowned upon for being a little boring, but there’s good reason to opt for this color in the kitchen: It will never go out of style. According to Houzz’s trend report, 43 percent of renovating homeowners opted for white cabinets.
Since wood is the most traditional cabinet material, it suits the classic style particularly well. Similarly, the color palette for classic kitchen cabinets is generally white, cream or beige, allowing for maximum flexibility when it comes to accessories, hardware and other design flourishes.
Gray, two-toned and even blue cabinets are on the rise, what color will you have your kitchen cabinets painted?
Tough choice. Before you begin, get in touch with Paint Ovations. Ron Bledsoe (owner) has been refinishing cabinets since 1995 and his expertise and FREE consultations are well worth your time.