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How To Stain Kitchen Cabinets
The kitchen is the room in the house where many families
spend the majority of the time, so it’s not surprise that a new fitted kitchen is top of
many people’s lists when it comes to property upgrades. A whole new kitchen
doesn’t come cheap though, with prices for an average sized fitted kitchen
starting at around £8,000. Designer or bespoke kitchens can cost much more than
that, but if a whole new kitchen is simply out of the question, one of the best
and cheapest ways of upgrading your kitchen and changing its look is to stain
the cupboard doors.
Equipment and Tools
Staining your wooden kitchen doors will not take a huge
number of specialist tools and equipment, and most of what is needed you will
probably have already at home. If not, take a trip to the local DIY store and
pick up some sandpaper, screwdriver to remove the handles and hinges, and a
brush or rag to apply the stain evenly. You will of course also need the stain,
which comes in a variety of colours and shades. Wood stain does not have to
mean brown, as modern stains are available in a wide range of colours including
blue, green, silver and red.
Preparation
Begin by removing all the wooden cupboard doors from the
cabinets, using your screwdriver to remove the hinges and any handles which do
not need to be stained. A good tip is to tape a little plastic bag inside each
cupboard to pop the hinges, screws, handles and any other fixings into so that
when you have finished the job and come to replace the doors you have
everything easily to hand. Once the doors are removed, clean them thoroughly on
all surfaces using sugar soap or a cleaning fluid designed to remove dirt and
grease, and then leave them to dry out.
Sanding
Wood
stain will not work on doors which are varnished or treated, and in order to
apply the stain you have to get back to the original wood. This will require
some time and a bit of elbow grease to sand them down thoroughly, making sure
you get into all the nooks and crannies of the doors and taking your time over
this part of the process will ensure a better finish. If you have a large
number of doors to prepare, it might be easier and certainly quicker to hire or
buy an electrical sander. You will still need sandpaper for a final polish and
to get into any awkward corners. After sanding is completed, wipe the doors
down with a damp cloth to get rid of any dust, and then allow them to dry out.
Staining
Stain is next applied using a cotton rag, as this technique
will avoid any brush marks or streaks on the surface. Always wear gloves and
old clothes when applying stain as it will stain your hands and clothing, and
put down dust sheets or plastic protectors on the floor. It might be best to do
the staining outdoors if the weather is favourable. Work methodically to apply
the stain all over the coat of the doors, making sure it is rubbed in well.
Complete the process on all of the doors and then leave it to dry. Depending on
the level of colour you want, you may have to repeat the staining twice or
three times to get the finish desired. Always leave the doors to dry out
thoroughly between coats.
Finishing
Again, how you choose to finish your doors will depend on
the effect you want. Some people like the matt effect of flat stain, and if
that is the case there is no more work to be done apart from re-hanging the
doors. If you have children or pets it is better to protect the doors from
spills or knocks with a couple of coats of varnish, which should be applied
with a brush rather than the rag. Leave any varnish to dry completely before
trying to put the doors back on. Fix the handles back onto your cupboard door
or take the opportunity to change them for different ones to get a whole new
look for your kitchen at a fraction of the price of a new one.
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