Update your Kitchen Cabinets | ERA Home & Family Real Estate Blog

Kitchens sell houses. So having a great looking kitchen is important if you are thinking of putting your home on the market or maybe you just need a fresh new look. Cabinets are one of the biggest expenses in a kitchen remodel but with a little elbow grease and creativity, you can update your kitchen cabinets without going through the hassle of an entire remodel.

Here are some tips on how to make your kitchen look like new with a cabinet facelift.

Give the a Good Cleaning

You will be surprised what a good scrubbing can do. Heat, water, grease and food residue all take a serious toll on your cabinets.

If you choose to remove the doors, label or number them so you?ll put them back in the right place.

Make sure to test any kind of cleaner before using it on the entire cabinet. Cleaners with large amounts of alcohol may cause the wood to dry and crack.

Clean and Update the Hardware

Hardware gets greasy and grimy so make sure to clean those too.

Soak the hardware in a soapy-water solution for 30 minutes.

Scrub lightly with a soft brush and rinse.

Let dry and apply the proper polish.

You may decide instead to replace the hardware. In choosing the finish for your hardware, think about what style will look best in your home.

Add Some Detail

Add some detail to drab cabinets with moulding. Applying a contrasting finish or color is a quick and inexpensive way to change the look of your cabinets.

Stripping and Refinishing

If after cleaning your cabinets still need some help, you may decide to refinish or paint them

Make sure to remove all the cabinet doors and number them.

Liquid strippers work best, but be sure to use the gel or semi-paste types.

Place doors on a vertical surface. The finish won?t drip as much.

Let the stripping agent do the work and start with an inconspicuous area.

Patch any conspicuous holes, scratches and nicks with wood filler. When dry, sand lightly to smooth out the patch. Before painting, sand lightly and prime.

Before painting remember that the wood expands and contracts with the seasons, which will cause the paint bead to separate and expose unpainted wood.

So with a little hard work you can have a whole new look to your kitchen in no time.

Source: http://www.erahomeandfamily.com/blog/update-your-kitchen-cabinets

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