Refinishing
Kitchen cabinets refinished like new, not just painted over
Refinishing Cabinets and Reglazing from a licensed, EPA lead-safe crew. Looking to update tired kitchen cabinets with a kick of color? We specialize in the prep that makes the finish last.
Why painted cabinets chip, peel and show brush marks
Kitchen cabinets live a harder life than almost any painted surface in the house. They sit beside the stove, collecting a fine film of cooking grease you cannot see, and they are touched dozens of times a day at the same few spots: around the pulls, along the lower rails, at the edge of every door. Paint applied over that film, or over a glossy factory finish that was never roughened, simply has nothing to grip.
That is why a quick coat on tired cabinets looks fine for a few weeks and then starts to chip at the corners and wear through at the handles. The other giveaway is the finish itself. A paint that is too thick or poorly levelled leaves brush marks and ridges in the raised panels, and once they dry they are there for good.
Looking to update tired kitchen cabinets with a kick of color? The color is the easy part. What decides whether the job holds up is everything that happens before the first coat of it goes on, and that is where we spend most of our time. A kitchen is also a room you cannot easily do without, so we plan the work to keep the mess contained and the schedule clear, and we tell you in plain terms what is involved before anyone picks up a sander.
Refinished gray kitchen cabinets with raised panels, a glass-front upper and white counters
How we refinish, from bare doors to final coat
The doors and drawer fronts come off, and the hardware comes off with them, so each door can be worked flat and every edge reached, including the back of the door and the inside profile of each raised panel, where drips and missed spots like to hide. Everything stays labeled and goes back where it came from. The boxes that stay on the wall are masked and the room is covered in plastic sheeting, so sanding dust and overspray stay on the cabinets and off your counters and floors.
Next is the cleaning that most shortcuts skip. Every surface is degreased, then scuff sanded so the old finish has some tooth, and any dings or open grain are filled and smoothed. A bonding primer goes on for adhesion, and only then do the finish coats follow, each one laid on evenly and sanded lightly between so the final surface feels smooth to the hand and not just to the eye.
Reglazing is on our list of services as well. In general terms it means giving a worn surface a new glazed finish instead of replacing it. Because that can mean different things depending on what is being refinished, describe the surface to us when you call and we will tell you honestly what we can do for it and what we would suggest instead. If the cabinets themselves are sound but the doors are worn, that is usually good news, because a solid box with a fresh finish is a real update at a fraction of the disruption of a full replacement.
After the last coat: cure, hardware and daily care
A freshly finished cabinet feels dry well before it is truly hard. The finish keeps curing after the work is done, so we ask you to go easy on the new surface at first: no heavy loads on shelves, no banging doors, and no scrubbing. Treating it gently early on is what lets the finish reach its full toughness, and it is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy for the job.
Hardware goes back on once the doors are ready for it. If you want to change pulls or hinges while the doors are off, tell us at the estimate so the holes are filled and drilled properly rather than patched later. For daily care, a soft damp cloth and a mild soap wiped dry will keep the surface clean without dulling it. Avoid abrasive pads and harsh sprays, wipe up spills near the stove and sink promptly, and use the door and drawer pulls rather than gripping the painted edges, since that is where hands do the most wear over the years.
Every job we do carries a warranty, and if something is not right Christian is quick to put it right. If your kitchen needs more than a new finish, our crew also handles the carpentry behind it, and you can read about that on the home improvements page.
Licensed, bonded and EPA lead-safe certified, with a warranty on every job. Call 973-885-1160.
What prep looks like next to what finished looks like
On the left, cabinetry masked off under plastic sheeting with blue tape on the edges, which is how the room is protected while the work happens. On the right, a finished white run with crisp panel lines and clean edges. They are two examples of our cabinet work, shown side by side so you can see the before-and-after idea. If a kitchen needs more than a new finish, see our carpentry and home improvements, look through the gallery, or request a free estimate.
