by Ron Madden from NHance Revolutionary Wood Renewal, 03/01/09

First of all, the good news is you have stained wood cabinets and most new home construction contains wood cabinets. Wood is timeless and it can always be restored to its original beauty.

The most common issues with wood cabinets include wear on the tops of the doors or around the knobs and handles, water damage around the sink, and poorly applied finish that flakes off over time.
With wood cabinets you have several options from renewal to replacement. Let’s review the options in detail.

1) Renewal. Wood renewal is a process that deep cleans and roughs up the cabinet surface. The worn areas are touched up and the color matched. The cabinets are sealed and new polyurethane applied. This is the most cost effective and convenient method to give your cabinets a fresh look. You don’t have to remove items from your cabinets. Most kitchens are completed in 1 or 2 days with no dust, no mess and no odor.

2) Refinish. Refinishing requires stripping the finish off the cabinets and applying new stain and polyurethane. This method is messy and time consuming but does provide the option to restain the cabinets lighter.

3) Color Tinting. Works the same as a renewal with multiple coats of finish with color applied to give the cabinets a completely new look. This is a great option for homeowners who like their cabinets but prefer a darker color, e.g., Honey Oak to Cherry. This option is usually 70% less than the cost of refacing.

4) Painting. Painting your wood cabinets can brighten up your kitchen but takes away the beauty of the wood and grain. Once the cabinets are painted, it requires refinishing to remove the paint and restain to bring back the wood.

5) Refacing. Refacing consist of new door and drawer fronts with wood veneer glued on the fronts and sides of the boxes. This method is less expensive than replacement.

6) Replacement. Replacement is a complete cabinet removal and new cabinets installed. This method is the most expensive but provides for custom features and a more modern look.

If you are considering remodeling your bath or kitchen cabinets all these are great options. Giving your cabinets a brand new look will increase the value of your home, and will give you and your family many more years of enjoyment. To find out more about cabinet renewal and color tinting methods call Ron Madden from NHance Revolutionary Wood Renewal at 678-446-5500, he will be happy to answer all your questions and to help you decide which finish will be best for you.