When thinking about doing a remodeling project to increase the resale value of your home, two areas of the home come into the picture, Kitchens and Bathrooms.
There are many levels to making upgrades to these areas, but the single most important element that comes into focus would be your Kitchen Cabinets.
Kitchen Cabinet upgrades can be expensive, and if you are working on a shoestring budget like most people these days, don’t run out and get a Home Improvement loan and put your equity in “hock” for Kitchen Cabinets without considering a few of the alternatives.
Of course the first alternative would be going out to your local Kitchen Cabinet wholesaler after doing some careful measuring and take on an installation project that might be a little overwhelming to the “regular Joe”. Unless you have had some experience in this type of work, or you’re the “Handyman Type” , installing new Kitchen Cabinets can be a little daunting.
First, do an inspection of your Kitchen Cabinets to see what your most economical approach would be. If you live in a pre World War 2 home, and your Kitchen Cabinets are made out of steel, chances are they are still usable and the “Vintage Look” is making a comeback. If your Kitchen Cabinets are made of wood, check for any “rot” or damage that would render them unusable. Check for gaps between the walls and the cabinets, and make sure the drawers are in good working condition and slide back and forth easily without binding.
Once you have determined that the Kitchen Cabinets are still in good “Functioning” order, the following options should be considered. Depending on how much money you can afford to invest into your Kitchen Cabinets directly relates to the level of “disrepair”.
One option is to have “fronts” installed. In this process, the complete frontal of the Kitchen Cabinetry would be replaced along with matching doors and new hardware. This option is much lower in cost than replacing your Kitchen Cabinets, however it does allow for a variety of different finishes, and gives the look and feel of brand new Kitchen Cabinets for about a third of the cost. This is not usually a project that the homeowner would take on himself and hiring a contractor that specializes in this type of work would be in order.
If after careful inspection, if you have determined that your Kitchen Cabinets are still functional, you may want to consider refinishing them yourself. This is a project that even the most “novice” handyman can do, and you can save a ton of money.
If your Kitchen Cabinets are made of steel, simply wash the Kitchen Cabinets with soap and water, then sand them down with a very light grit sandpaper followed by steel wool. Using a “tackcloth” for a final wiping. Then depending on your favorite method, you can either spraypaint (which can get messy from overspray) or brush paint the Kitchen Cabinets.
If your Kitchen Cabinets are made of wood, use a combination of bleach, linseed oil and hot water to clean them first. This will remove any grease and gunk buildup over the years that maybe in the grain of the wood.
After you have prepared the surface of the Kitchen Cabinets for
refinishing, make sure that you use the right tools and the right paint for the job. Make sure to go to a paint store or home inprovement store that can make the correct decision on the type of paint you will want to use. You will want to choose a color that will match the décor of your home. Equally important is the type of brush you will be using. You will want a brush that will give a smooth finish and that will not show any brush strokes.
If, after cleaning your wooden Kitchen Cabinets, you decide you want a “natural finish”, you might consider staining them, followed up by a coat or two of polyurethane.
You will be surprised when you find out how easy it is to refinish your Kitchen Cabinets, and even more surprised at the new look you have created!!
There are many levels to making upgrades to these areas, but the single most important element that comes into focus would be your Kitchen Cabinets.
Kitchen Cabinet upgrades can be expensive, and if you are working on a shoestring budget like most people these days, don’t run out and get a Home Improvement loan and put your equity in “hock” for Kitchen Cabinets without considering a few of the alternatives.
Of course the first alternative would be going out to your local Kitchen Cabinet wholesaler after doing some careful measuring and take on an installation project that might be a little overwhelming to the “regular Joe”. Unless you have had some experience in this type of work, or you’re the “Handyman Type” , installing new Kitchen Cabinets can be a little daunting.
First, do an inspection of your Kitchen Cabinets to see what your most economical approach would be. If you live in a pre World War 2 home, and your Kitchen Cabinets are made out of steel, chances are they are still usable and the “Vintage Look” is making a comeback. If your Kitchen Cabinets are made of wood, check for any “rot” or damage that would render them unusable. Check for gaps between the walls and the cabinets, and make sure the drawers are in good working condition and slide back and forth easily without binding.
Once you have determined that the Kitchen Cabinets are still in good “Functioning” order, the following options should be considered. Depending on how much money you can afford to invest into your Kitchen Cabinets directly relates to the level of “disrepair”.
One option is to have “fronts” installed. In this process, the complete frontal of the Kitchen Cabinetry would be replaced along with matching doors and new hardware. This option is much lower in cost than replacing your Kitchen Cabinets, however it does allow for a variety of different finishes, and gives the look and feel of brand new Kitchen Cabinets for about a third of the cost. This is not usually a project that the homeowner would take on himself and hiring a contractor that specializes in this type of work would be in order.
If after careful inspection, if you have determined that your Kitchen Cabinets are still functional, you may want to consider refinishing them yourself. This is a project that even the most “novice” handyman can do, and you can save a ton of money.
If your Kitchen Cabinets are made of steel, simply wash the Kitchen Cabinets with soap and water, then sand them down with a very light grit sandpaper followed by steel wool. Using a “tackcloth” for a final wiping. Then depending on your favorite method, you can either spraypaint (which can get messy from overspray) or brush paint the Kitchen Cabinets.
If your Kitchen Cabinets are made of wood, use a combination of bleach, linseed oil and hot water to clean them first. This will remove any grease and gunk buildup over the years that maybe in the grain of the wood.
After you have prepared the surface of the Kitchen Cabinets for
refinishing, make sure that you use the right tools and the right paint for the job. Make sure to go to a paint store or home inprovement store that can make the correct decision on the type of paint you will want to use. You will want to choose a color that will match the décor of your home. Equally important is the type of brush you will be using. You will want a brush that will give a smooth finish and that will not show any brush strokes.
If, after cleaning your wooden Kitchen Cabinets, you decide you want a “natural finish”, you might consider staining them, followed up by a coat or two of polyurethane.
You will be surprised when you find out how easy it is to refinish your Kitchen Cabinets, and even more surprised at the new look you have created!!
