3 Important Steps in Cabinet Refinishing Prep

Prep work is a critically important part of any painting or refinishing project, and cabinet refinishing is no exception.  If you’re planning to refinish your kitchen cabinets, be sure to get your project off on the right foot with these important prep work steps:

1. Remove all contents. The first thing to do when prepping for your cabinet refinishing project is to remove all contents from all cabinets.  It’s best to box all contents by cabinet, label each box, and then compile all boxes in another room, away from the work site.  This is a time-consuming step, but don’t be tempted to cut corners.  Anything left in the cabinets can encumber your ability to work, or can fall and break, and will certainly get covered in dust as the project progresses.
2. Clean the cabinets. Wipe away all cobwebs, suction out crumbs using a shop vac or vacuum attachment, and remove as much dirt and debris as you can from all cabinets.  Then wipe them down with a damp cloth, wiping all crevices of each cabinet face, and all other edges and details to remove any grime.  You may need to use a grease cutting cleaning solution on certain cabinets, if needed.  The cleaner you get the cabinetry, the smoother your coatings will go on, and the better your finished product will look!  You’ll also remove the hardware from each door and drawer, unless you’re planning to install all new hardware when your project is complete.  Place the hardware in a plastic bag so that no screws or knobs get lost.
3. Cover all other surfaces. Cover the countertops, appliances, and other areas that you want to protect.  Chairs, smaller appliances, and other such items can be taken out of the work area to protect them and to give you more room to work.  Cover everything else using drop cloths or painter’s plastic and secure it with masking tape or painter’s tape, and position drop cloths along the floor.

Once you’ve cleared out your stuff from inside the cabinetry, cleaned the cabinets thoroughly, and covered the surrounding surfaces, you’re ready to apply the paint or stain you’ve selected!  Cabinet refinishing is a satisfying and exciting DIY job, but it’s also a challenging and time-consuming one, which is why most Southside, Ponte Vedra, Atlantic Beach, and Jacksonville homeowners choose to call on a great local painting contractor to do the project for them.  The Painting Craftsmen is the best Jacksonville FL painting company and the team to trust with your cabinets.  Give us a call and let’s get started on your cabinet transformation!