DIY Tips: Can I Refinish My Damaged Wooden Cabinets?

Kitchen cabinets go through a lot of daily use. They are opened and closed many times a day with sticky hands and are often hit with oil splashes and rough use. This means your kitchen cabinets may not look their best. If you’ve noticed they are looking a  bit drab, you can easily improve the look of your kitchen by simply refinishing the wood. It’s an easy job to do yourself, so this guide is here to help you.

What Does Cabinet Refinishing Involve?

The process of refinishing involves stripping the old paint or finish from your cabinet doors and putting on more finish or paint. You will need a chemical remover to remove the old paint finish or you can sand it down, but you may need to do both. After you have removed the finish, you prepare the doors with a stain or a fresh coat of the original colour.

What Damage Can Be Repaired?

If your cabinets have minor damage that hasn’t penetrated the finish layer itself, these can easily be fixed by refinishing. This includes a peeling, faded or discoloured finish, stains and minor scuffs or scratches. Some cabinets that have been moderately damaged can also be refinished. Even if the scratches or dents have gone beneath the surface of the finish, you can usually sand out these marks before refinishing.

When Will The Cabinetry Need To Be Replaced?

There are some instances where the cabinetry is too damaged and will need to be replaced. If the damage is quite large or the integrity or structure has been damaged, refinishing won’t be able to save them. If your cabinet has wet or dry rot, damage from termites, major cracks, mould or warped wood, it’s likely they will need replacing.

Looking for quality paint for timber or oil-based finishes to help you refinish wood? Treatex has a wide range of Treatex wood paint for any task. Take a look at our Treatex Classic Colour Collection today.