Kitchen remodeling is the most expensive home improvement project that most people undertake.  In order to manage the cost of kitchen remodeling, some people choose to refinish their kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them.  Refinishing kitchen cabinets can save a lot of money and can also cut a lot of time off the kitchen remodeling schedule.  Wood or plywood cabinets are the most easily refinished. Refinishing not only refers to sanding, staining, and sealing.  Metal, laminate, and melamine cabinets can also be refinished with paint, but beware that special paints need to be used on those materials.

Before deciding the refinishing your cabinets is the optimal solution to your kitchen remodeling ideas, be sure that the cabinets are in good condition to begin with.  Refinishing does not remove knicks, warping, or other damage to the cabinets.

Here are a few tips for getting the most out of this home improvement project:

• remove doors and drawer fronts from the cabinets
• remove all hardware from doors and drawer fronts
• clean the cabinets thoroughly, paying special attention to any grease spots
• prepare the surface according to recommendations for the particular material
• if painting, spray on the paint for the most uniform coverage
• refinish the inside of the cabinets at the same time
• use gloss or semi-gloss paint or polyurethane

If you follow these tips and remain patient, your cabinets and your kitchen should have a renewed look and you can cross one more home improvement project off your list.

If refinishing your cabinets is not going to get you the results you are looking for, stay tuned to this home improvement blog for information about refacing kitchen cabinets.

(Photo Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/hazeldog/3815828729/)

Cabinets Refinished with Paint