Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing in Ottawa

Painting is the most common choice for changing the look of a kitchen: a colour change, a modern white or a deep tone. Brush-and-roll painting suits many cabinets and keeps the work simpler, while a spray-applied finish gives a smoother, more uniform look with no brush marks. Options are chosen to suit each client's preferences, and the approach and finish are confirmed in your quote.

Stripping and restaining keeps the look of real wood, and suits natural wood cabinets with good grain that you want to refresh rather than cover. It involves removing the old finish, preparing the bare wood and applying new stain and a protective topcoat.

Not every cabinet is a good candidate. The material, the condition of the existing finish and any damage all affect the choice, which is why cabinets are assessed before a recommendation is made.

Kitchen cabinets collect grease, cooking residue and hand oils, especially around handles and near the stove. Paint will not bond to them, so cabinets are cleaned and degreased first. They are then sanded to give the surface grip and primed with a product suited to cabinets, so the finish coats have a stable, even base.

Removing doors and drawer fronts lets each piece be finished evenly on all faces and edges, and avoids paint on hinges and hardware. Pieces are labelled so they go back exactly where they came from. While they are off, the boxes and face frames are finished in place with the counters, floors and appliances covered.

Refinishing makes sense when the cabinet boxes and doors are structurally sound: doors hang straight, boxes are solid and there is no swelling or water damage. In that case, a new finish can change the look of the kitchen dramatically for a fraction of the cost of replacement.

Damaged doors or boxes can often be repaired before they are refinished, and most cabinet materials can be refinished with the right preparation and products. Replacement mainly makes sense when you want to change the layout of the kitchen. The material and existing finish are assessed before a recommendation is made, so the approach suits your cabinets.

Many homeowners combine cabinet refinishing with other updates, such as new hardware, a repainted kitchen or new backsplash. Planning these together means the colours work as a whole and the kitchen is only disrupted once.

Your kitchen is partly out of use while cabinets are refinished, so it helps to plan simple meals and clear the cabinets you use most before work starts. Ventilation matters too, especially if someone at home is sensitive to smells; our guide to low-VOC paint explains how to reduce odour.

Fresh cabinet finishes feel dry before they reach full hardness, so treat them gently at first: avoid scrubbing, harsh cleaners and leaving damp cloths hanging on doors. Afterwards, wipe spills promptly with a soft cloth and mild soap. Choosing a colour is easier with large samples next to your counters and flooring; our guide to choosing paint colours explains how undertones can change a cabinet colour.