Re-finishing Kitchen Cupboards
#1
09-19-14, 12:15 PM
Re-finishing Kitchen Cupboards
My wife and I want to re-finish our kitchen cupboards. We currently have 90's style oak finished cabinets. We would like to go modern and go with a dark . The issue is the sides of the cabinets appear to be laminate. If we sand it will be able to stain it? Any tips or tricks to refinishing cabinets?
#2
09-19-14, 12:50 PM
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You'll get more advice, but for now...
The sides could be melamine. It's particle board with just a very thin coat of photo paper.
Whether it's melamine or laminate, it can't be stained.
If your cabinet face frames have a 1/4" overhang on sides, like most do, you can apply a 1/4" panel at all exposed ends and finish that.
You can also reface, which I have quite a bit of experience in.
Basically, you would cover all exposed areas of cabinets (not doors), with veneer, new molding applied, and you have a brand new kitchen.
The sides could be melamine. It's particle board with just a very thin coat of photo paper.
Whether it's melamine or laminate, it can't be stained.
If your cabinet face frames have a 1/4" overhang on sides, like most do, you can apply a 1/4" panel at all exposed ends and finish that.
You can also reface, which I have quite a bit of experience in.
Basically, you would cover all exposed areas of cabinets (not doors), with veneer, new molding applied, and you have a brand new kitchen.
#3
09-19-14, 01:13 PM
As Brian stated, you need to know exactly what you have for cabinets before getting started.
Stain needs raw wood and the best way to get to raw wood is to use a chemical stripper and finish up with sandpaper. Veneers can't take a lot of sanding and laminates can't be stripped and stained.
If you only want to darken the cabinets a shade or two you might consider using a tinted poly.
Stain needs raw wood and the best way to get to raw wood is to use a chemical stripper and finish up with sandpaper. Veneers can't take a lot of sanding and laminates can't be stripped and stained.
If you only want to darken the cabinets a shade or two you might consider using a tinted poly.
