Restore and renew your existing solid wood cabinets with new stain or clear coat. Refinishing preserves the character of real wood — repairing damage, refreshing the color, and bringing dull, peeling, or yellowed finishes back to life.
Cabinet refinishing is the ideal solution when you have solid wood cabinets worth preserving — just with a tired or damaged finish.
Cabinet refinishing is a multi-step process — stripping, repairing, staining, and coating. Each step builds on the last for a consistent, durable result.
We evaluate the existing finish condition — identifying areas that need stripping, repairs, or spot treatment before refinishing begins.
Existing finish is stripped where needed. Surfaces are sanded to bare wood or a prepared surface for optimal stain and topcoat adhesion.
Scratches, gouges, water damage, and worn areas are repaired before finishing. Consistent prep is what gives refinishing a factory-quality result.
New stain is applied in your chosen color — from matching the original to a completely updated tone. Color is approved before full application proceeds.
Durable clear coat is spray applied in multiple coats with sanding between layers. Proper cure time is observed before reinstalling doors and returning the kitchen to use.
Here's exactly what happens when you work with Homestead on a refinishing project.
We discuss your goals, look at your cabinet photos, and give you a ballpark range. No in-home visit needed at this stage.
We visit your kitchen to measure, evaluate your cabinet boxes, and show you door samples, finishes, and hardware in person.
You receive a clear written quote. Once approved, you finalize your door style, finish, color, and hardware selections.
A deposit secures your install date and kicks off door manufacturing. Lead time varies by door style and material.
Doors are removed, veneers applied, new doors hung, and hardware installed. Your kitchen will be out of service during this period.
The project is complete when alignment, finish quality, and hardware function are all right.
Refinishing costs vary based on kitchen size, existing finish condition, and scope of repairs needed. Here's how most projects break down.
Good existing finish condition. Cleaning, light sanding, new topcoat. Minimal stripping or repairs needed.
Strip existing finish, repairs included, new stain color, multiple clear coat layers.
Significant water damage, deep scratches, or failing finish requiring extensive prep and repair work.
Refinishing pricing depends heavily on your cabinets' condition. We assess before quoting to give you an accurate number.
For all cabinet work — refacing, painting, or refinishing — the kitchen is a full work zone. Doors and drawer fronts are removed, surfaces are exposed, and the space must remain undisturbed.
Refinishing and painting are often compared. Here's the key difference and when each one is the right call.
Refinishing preserves the natural wood grain — stripping, repairing, staining, and applying clear coats to restore and update the wood's appearance. The result still looks like wood.
Painting covers the wood entirely with an opaque color. If you want white, gray, or any solid color, painting is the path. If you want to keep or update a natural wood look, refinishing is the answer.
Yes — going darker is straightforward. Going lighter (e.g., from dark walnut to light ash) requires more stripping and prep but is achievable. We'll assess your existing finish and cabinets during the consultation and let you know what's realistic for your specific wood type and current color.
Yes — repair is a standard part of the refinishing process. We address damage before staining so the final result is consistent throughout. The extent of repair needed affects the overall cost and timeline, which is why we assess in person before quoting.
No. The kitchen will be completely out of service for the 4–8 day project. The refinishing process involves stripping, repairs, staining, and clear coating — all of which require the workspace to be free from food preparation and foot traffic. Fumes and finishing materials make the space unsuitable for cooking.
Plan for a temporary kitchen elsewhere. 4–8 days is very manageable compared to the months required for full cabinet replacement.
Yes, significantly. Full cabinet replacement typically runs $35,000–$50,000+. Refinishing is a fraction of that cost and preserves cabinets that may have decades of life left in them.
If your cabinets are solid wood and structurally sound, refinishing is almost always the smarter financial choice — especially if you love the wood character and don't need a layout change.
With proper prep and spray application, yes — refinished cabinets look professionally finished and consistent throughout. The key is thorough stripping and repair work before any stain or topcoat is applied. Rushed refinishing that skips prep steps will always show.
We don't cut corners on prep — every refinishing project is done right before we call it complete.
Choose cabinet refacing if you want to change your door style entirely, if your doors are not solid wood, or if you want a more dramatic transformation than refinishing provides. Refacing replaces the doors and drawer fronts — refinishing renews the existing ones.
Get a free quote — most customers get a ballpark number on the first call. Just bring a few photos of your kitchen.