Thursday, 6 February 2014

How To Stain Kitchen Cabinets

Image from THS Gardenweb

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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