Sacramento Cabinet Re-Facing

The Quick Kitchen Facelift

Kitchens have a major effect on our living experience.  Most families in Sacramento spend a significant amount of time in the kitchen – cooking, eating, cleaning up, hanging out.  Many Sacramento families also spend a significant amount of their home improvement budget in the kitchen.  While a kitchen renovation can be one of the most costly home improvements, there are some smaller updates that you can complete on a conservative budget.  One of the most dramatic ways to give your Sacramento kitchen a new look is to change your cabinets. The most expensive choice would be to replace the cabinets entirely.  But, if your cabinets are well made and in good condition, another more cost-effective route is cabinet re-facing.

Consider the scope of the work to decide if you will tackle the project yourself or hire a Sacramento professional.  The project will involve removing all current pieces, preparing the surfaces, staining or painting, hanging doors and drawer fronts, and installing new hardware. The labor will be more intensive to refinish your current doors and drawer fronts, but that option can also be less expensive.  The quicker yet more costly option is to replace them with new models. There are a variety of styles and finishes to choose from, including solid woods, laminates, and veneers.

Before you reface your cabinets, you will need to clean the doors and drawer fronts (if you are reusing them) and the bases thoroughly to remove dirt, grease and food residue.  Strip wood surfaces that were stained or painted.  Formica and vinyl generally cannot be stripped, but can be prepared for finishing by sanding the entire surface to rough it up slightly.  (If Formica or vinyl were covered with a latex paint you can gently scrape the paint off with a butter knife wrapped in a thin rag.)  Once you have exposed the raw material, patch holes, seal cracks, and sand to smooth all areas.  Apply a primer or sealer before putting on the finish or paint.

When you are starting with a decent wood base you can keep that look by staining the cabinets in a wood grain.  Paint can lend either a traditional or a more modern look depending on your use of color.  An advantage of using paint is that you can easily touch-up any nicks or worn areas over time.  Whatever finishing option you choose for your Sacramento kitchen cabinet renovation, use your imagination and think about what you will enjoy looking at every day.  Add the final touch with matching hardware to give the room a completely new look.

Even if you are planning a more extensive Sacramento kitchen renovation, re-facing may be a good idea. New appliances, fixtures, countertops, and flooring can add up to a hefty bill.  A well-done re-facing job can improve cabinet durability as well as give new life to the room for only a fraction of the cost of a complete cabinetry overhaul.