How to Refinish Oak Kitchen Cabinets

Are you unhappy with your oak cabinets but can’t afford a complete kitchen remodel? We have got you covered! Imagine someone telling you, you can still give your kitchen a fresh and stunning look within your budget. Learning how to refinish oak kitchen cabinets and refinishing them ultimately will be a winning project that may give your kitchen a fresh and new look without spending too much. 

Oak kitchen cabinets are durable and last long but when worn out, they lose their freshness and charm, resulting in a tired and messy look for the whole kitchen. But refinishing them can restore the charm and bring a new life to your entire kitchen. If you are a DIY enthusiast and want a modern or classic look, refinishing oak kitchen cabinets is always an affordable way to showcase your craft with DIY solutions. 

In this guide, you will read about every step, along with expert tips and tricks for accomplishing the task quickly. Now, let’s not waste another minute of introduction and learn how to Refinish Oak Kitchen Cabinets. 

Why is it good to Refinish Oak Kitchen Cabinets?

As discussed earlier, refinishing oak kitchen cabinets has so many benefits. Following is a list of some of the benefits it provides. 

• Affordability

Refinishing oak kitchen cabinets is undoubtedly cheaper than replacing them with new ones.  You can still achieve the latest look without paying for new cabinets. 

• Personalized Makeover:

While refinishing, you can choose colors, styles, and finishes of your choice and give your kitchen a personalized look. 

• Environment-friendly:

When you refinish your old oak kitchen cabinets instead of buying new ones, you will not throw away the old ones, preventing potential hazards to the ecosystem. 

• Maintain oak quality:

Oak is a durable, high-quality material that has a long life. Refinishing the oak will restore its integrity and allow you to take more advantage of its strength. 

• DIY contentment

For DIY enthusiasts, refinishing oak kitchen cabinets is a process filled with joy and contentment. It will give you a sense of accomplishment and make you feel proud of your craft. 

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN UPDATING OAK OR WOOD CABINETS:

The list of critical considerations before refinishing or updating your oak or wood kitchen cabinets follows. 

1. Status of existing cabinets

• Ensure that the cabinets are in usable condition and don’t have significant damage.
• Make sure to repair all the major issues of the cabinets if possible.
• Determine the severity of exterior damage, such as dents, scratches, or stains, and estimate the cost of any required fixes or polishing

2. Plan the outcome

• Decide between paint and stain; stains enhance the inherent beauty of wood patterns, while painted cabinets look modern and classy. 
• You can choose the finish type from satin, glossy, or matte, depending on your taste and the kind of kitchen you have. 

3. Choose colour 

• While refinishing the oak kitchen cabinets, you must consider the existing decor of your kitchen.
• Choose the color that fits your kitchen’s existing decor. 

4. Prepare workspace

• Wash the cabinets thoroughly by removing all the dirt, grease and grime.
• Both painted and colored surfaces require adequate sanding. To achieve a smooth surface, commence with a coarser grit and then move to finer grits.

5. Tools and material

• For durability, choose high-quality materials, including paints and stains, 
• Gather all the necessary supplies before starting the process. 

6. Time and Effort

• Remember that refinishing oak kitchen cabinets requires a lot of time and effort. After every coat, you will have to wait for the paint to dry. 

7. Hardware Updates

• Ensure that you are replacing the hardware, like handles, locks and knobs etc, of your cabinets with new ones.

 How to Refinish Oak Kitchen Cabinets:

To refinish oak cabinets, clean them with detergent and water. Cover the kitchen appliances with plastic sheets or clothes. Remove all the cabinets, doors, and hardware like nobes, handles, etc. Repair the damaged parts of the cabinets and fill the damaged holes and cracks with wood fillers. Sand the surfaces correctly, apply primer to the cabinet surface, and allow it to dry. After drying the primer, apply multiple coats of paint or stain on the cabinet surfaces and allow it to dry each time. After drying them thoroughly, place all the doors and hardware back on the cabinets. Before starting the real process, you need to take a few things into consideration to keep the task smooth and fast. 

1. Gather Supplies Before Starting to Refinish Oak Kitchen Cabinets:

Gather all the required tools and equipment before refinishing the oak kitchen cabinets. Following is the list of all the supplies needed for the process. 

• Screwdriver
• Tack cloth
• Wood fillers
• Paint brushes
• Paints or stains
• Sandpaper
• Painter’s tape
• Detergent
• Safety apparatus like masks, goggles, and gloves
• Clean clot
• Knife
• Foam brushes
• Paint sprayer
• polyurethane if staining

2. Cut off the cabinets’ hardware:

Using a screwdriver, remove the cabinet’s doors and all the hardware. Then, label each door’s location for reassigning.

3. Cover with plastic sheets:

Cover all kitchen appliances, floors, and shelves from paint, etc. with plastic sheets. Use painter’s tape to cover the areas you don’t want to paint. 

4. Wash off the cabinets:

Wash the cabinets with a mild detergent or wood cleaner to remove all the dirt and grease. And dry them thoroughly.

5. Sand cabinet surfaces: 

Start with 120-grit sandpaper, then 220-grit, and finally go for 320-grit sandpaper. Sand all the surfaces until all the cabinet surfaces are smooth. Remember to sand in the direction of the wood pattern. 

6. Use wood filler: 

Use wood filler to fill all the holes or cracks, etc. Apply the wood filler with a knife and let it dry. Finally, the filled places will be sanded with 220-grit sandpaper, and the cabinets will be cleaned. 

7. Priming

After smoothing the surfaces, apply the primer to the cabinets using a paintbrush or paint sprayer. Let it dry and sand lightly with 320-grit sandpaper. Now, wipe the surface with a tack cloth. 

8. Paint: 

After drying the primer, apply the first paint coat with a good-quality paintbrush. After drying the paint, sand it lightly with 320-grit sandpaper. Wipe the dust with a tack cloth and apply two more coats of paint, following the same process.

 9. Staining(if not painting)

If you want to stain the surface instead of painting, skip step 7 and start the staining process. Use a clean cloth or foam brush to apply the stain to the surfaces. Wipe off extra stain in the direction of the wood pattern. Let it dry, and apply a coat of polyurethane. 

10. Reinstall the doors: 

After the paints are dyed completely, reinstall the cabinets’ doors and hardware. Put the doors back in their labeled positions. 

11. Finish: 

Finally, check if all the doors are working correctly and everything is perfect. Congratulations! You have successfully learned how to refinish oak kitchen cabinets. 

How to achieve a professional finish: 

• Invest more in buying good quality material for durability and a refined look.
• Patience is the key! As discussed earlier, refinishing kitchen cabinets is a time-consuming and energy-consuming process. So be patient and energetic. 
• Whatever paint or stain you choose, check it by applying it to a small area of the same oak wood. 
• Always work in a fully ventilated environment to avoid health and breathing problems.

FAQs

Do you need to sand oak cabinets before staining?

Yes, it is necessary to sand oak kitchen cabinets before staining. Sanding helps eliminate old stains or paint, provides a smooth surface, and allows the wood grains to absorb stains. For sanding, start with 120-grit sandpaper, followed by 220-grit and 320-grit sandpaper. In the end, clean the surface with tack paper before staining. 

How do you make oak cabinets look good again?

You need to refinish the oak kitchen cabinets to make them look good again. Clean the cabinets to remove dust and grease. Sand the surfaces and clean them with a tack cloth. Apply a stain or paint of your desired color and let it dry. Replace the old hardware with new ones and cover the paint or stain with varnish for protection. 

How to make oak kitchen cabinets look modern?

To make oak kitchen cabinets look modern, and clean, and sand the surface. Paint the cabinets with colors like white, grey, or navy blue. Replace the hardware with modern handles like brushed nickel. You can insert glass into some cabinets and use LED lighting under them. The minimalist design approach is best for a modern and classy look.

Is it better to Restain or paint oak cabinets?

It depends on your choices whether you want to paint or stain your oak kitchen cabinets. Painting is the best option if you like to give your cabinets a modern look with a wide range of colors. But if you love the natural wood grain pattern of oak, you should go for staining, which provides a classic look for timeless styling. 

How long does it take to refinish oak kitchen cabinets?

To refinish oak kitchen cabinets, you need at least 4 to 7 days. Beforehand Preparation like uninstalling hardware, sanding, and cleaning needs 1 day. Repairing may take 1 to 2 days. For premiering, you need a whole day for application and drying. Painting or staining (your choice) requires at least 1 to 2 days. Reinstalling and finishing may take 1 to 2 days. Time may exceed according to your conditions. 

Conclusion: 

To cut a long story short, to refinish oak kitchen cabinets, you need to be patient, energetic, and passionate. Instead of paying for a whole kitchen upgrade, you can simply refinish your existing oak kitchen cabinets. Refinishing not only saves money but also gives your kitchen a fresh, classy, and new look in less time and effort. 

To refinish oak cabinets, clean them with detergent and water. Cover the kitchen appliances with plastic sheets or clothes. Remove all the cabinets, doors, and hardware like nobes, handles, etc. Repair the damaged parts of the cabinets and fill the damaged holes and cracks with wood fillers. Sand the surfaces correctly, apply primer to the cabinet surface, and allow it to dry. After drying the primer, apply multiple coats of paint or stain on the cabinet surfaces and allow it to dry each time. After drying them thoroughly, place all the doors and hardware back on the cabinets. 

For a DIY enthusiast, it is the best way to express their craft and feel proud of their art. For the route, follow specific steps, including refinishing, cleaning, sanding, painting, or staining. Always remember that you can still ask a professional for help if you get stuck. With attention, effort, and a small investment, you can give your kitchen a brand-new look and get a stunning makeover that feels like a new breeze.  

Also Read: https://howipedia.com/how-to-lock-kitchen-cabinets/