Is it better to sand or strip cabinets for a new finish?

Signs a scuff sanding will do the job

A scuff sanding is enough when the existing coating is still firmly attached to the wood. Degrease the doors first, then inspect the spots that take the most abuse: around the pulls, along the bottom edges, and on the uppers next to the range. No flakes and no lifting means that coating can act as the base for primer.

The aim is texture, not bare wood. Benjamin Moore's kitchen cabinet instructions say most cabinet finishes are too smooth or glossy to paint over directly, and recommend 100- to 150-grit sandpaper to roughen the surface without removing the existing finish.

Laminate and melamine follow different rules. Nothing gets sanded back on these surfaces, and a bonding primer is what gives paint a surface to hold.

Four cases where stripping beats sanding

• A failing coat. Varnish or paint that flakes or cracks keeps failing under whatever goes on top. Sanding over it hides the fault for a while.
• Heavy buildup. Doors painted more than once tend to have rounded edges and clogged profiles. Taking the layers off brings the detail back.
• Dark stain to a light colour. A switch from dark stain to bright white or grey is priced as a full strip. Cabinet Refinishing Edmonton quotes that conversion from $5,000.
• Oak that should look smooth. Oak's open grain telegraphs through paint. A refinishing job strips the wood, fills the grain, primes, sprays the colour, and seals it under a clear coat.

Honey oak and golden oak kitchens from the 1980s and 1990s turn up often in Edmonton neighbourhoods such as Mill Woods and Castle Downs. The solid wood boxes from that era are usually sound, which puts them in a strong position for stripped and refinished cabinets.

Do I need to strip cabinets before painting?

Stripping cabinets before painting is only necessary when the current finish has failed or the goal needs bare wood. A bonded finish gets cleaned, scuffed, and primed instead. When a handful of doors lift and the rest hold, look for a local cause first, such as steam or heat near the stove, and correct it before any new coating goes on.

Sanding route: the home method in seven steps

These steps follow the Benjamin Moore cabinet method. Drying times on your own primer and paint cans take priority.

1. Number and remove. Mark each door with its opening, then take off the doors, drawer fronts, hinges, and pulls.
2. Remove the grease. Wipe every surface with a grease remover and a damp sponge, and let it dry completely.
3. Sanding round one. Scuff all faces and edges with 100- to 150-grit paper, then lift the dust with a slightly damp cloth.
4. Primer. Benjamin Moore specifies Fresh Start High-Hiding All-Purpose Primer here and advises against a lacquer-based primer under Advance.
5. Sanding round two. After at least 1 hour of drying, go over the primer lightly with 220 grit without breaking through it.
6. Coat, sand, coat. Apply the first coat, let it dry, sand with 220 grit, then apply the second coat.
7. Wait before rehanging. Give it at least 24 hours, and two or three days when the kitchen can spare them.

Stripping route: the home method in six steps

Chemical stripping is slower and messier than sanding, and the label on the can governs every step.

1. Pick a ventilated space. Follow the stripper's label for airflow, gloves, and eye protection.
2. Brush on and wait. Leave the stripper for the dwell time printed on the label.
3. Scrape and neutralize. Lift the softened coating with a plastic scraper, clear the profiles with a brush, and remove residue the way the label directs.
4. Sand the bare wood. Stripped doors still need sanding before any coating.
5. Fill oak grain. Without this step, the grain pattern shows through the new colour.
6. Prime, colour, seal. Finish with primer and paint, or with stain and a clear coat.

Lead in older finishes. Cabinets in older houses can carry lead-based coatings. Health Canada says homes built before 1960 probably contain lead-based paint, advises against sanders and heat guns for removing it, and suggests a chemical stripper paste applied with a brush for homeowners who do the work. Health Canada also suggests considering an expert.

Primer and paint coat count after sanding

The Benjamin Moore cabinet method calls for one coat of primer and two coats of Advance, with a light sanding after the primer and after the first coat. Benjamin Moore states that the second coat completes the coverage and helps the finish cure evenly. A refinished cabinet gets a clear coat over the colour for a tougher surface.

Best prep for a busy kitchen: DIY hours vs a crew

Count the surfaces before buying sandpaper. Twenty-five doors mean fifty faces, and the sanding route asks for three rounds on each, plus every edge and drawer front. Stripping piles chemical work and cleanup on top of that.

Cabinet Refinishing Edmonton fits the method to the condition of the cabinets. Painting jobs start with TSP degreasing and are sprayed with HVLP equipment using Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin-Williams ProClassic. Refinishing jobs are stripped, grain filled, primed, spray finished, and clear coated with catalyzed lacquer, conversion varnish, or Benjamin Moore Advance. The owner of the contractor who completes every job holds Lead Safety (RRP) credentials, and a 5-year written workmanship warranty covers every cabinet surface. Every tier sits in the cabinet refinishing cost guide.