Budget Friendly Cabinet Refinishing

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Simple layout? Put everything in a ziplock baggy. Complicated hardware? Take pictures!

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Remove drawer screws so the drawer face can be removed and label on the back side. For cabinet doors, unscrew the hinges from the door leaving the hinge attached to the box.

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I sanded all my cabinets with 120-grit paper using a random orbit sander. Sand until smooth.

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Thin the primer about 10% with water to get good even coverage and avoid drips like the plague. Let it dry for a couple hours, then go over with a fine sanding sponge to knock down any areas where the primer causes the raw MDF to raise a bit. You want a buttery smooth texture where you can’t feel any rough spots or texture.

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Using the right paint here was pivotal. Some paints are sticky and are a terrible choice for cabinet refinishing. They cause blocking and sticking paint as you open and close things. You want a hard enamel paint for cabinets that can be easily cleaned and will hold up to the abuses cabinets are put through.

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I let the cabinets dry overnight and then brought them back in and began putting the puzzle back together just like I had taken it off.

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With this cabinet refinishing tutorial you’ve just done in one weekend what you’d typically pay a professional painter several thousand dollars to do. That’s huge and a huge boost to your home’s value that you should be proud of.

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Budget Friendly Cabinet Refinishing

Simple layout? Put everything in a ziplock baggy. Complicated hardware? Take pictures!

Step 1: Remove the Hardware

Remove drawer screws so the drawer face can be removed and label on the back side. For cabinet doors, unscrew the hinges from the door leaving the hinge attached to the box.

Step 2: Remove Doors & Drawers

I sanded all my cabinets with 120-grit paper using a random orbit sander. Sand until smooth.

Step 3: Sand

Step 4: Prime

Step 5: Paint

I let the cabinets dry overnight and then brought them back in and began putting the puzzle back together just like I had taken it off.

Step 6: InstalL

With this cabinet refinishing tutorial you’ve just done in one weekend what you’d typically pay a professional painter several thousand dollars to do. That’s huge and a huge boost to your home’s value that you should be proud of.

More DIY tips:

How to: fix dents in wood

5 worst wood stain mistakes

how to pick the right exterior stain

How to: Stain outdoor furniture

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