The time has come to make some changes to the kitchen. One question that you have involves the current cabinets. Should you rip them out or would it be better to talk with a professional about the possibility of trying cabinet restoration Denver CO instead? Depending on some of the characteristics of the existing cabinets and what you want to do with the space, opting to keep the cabinetry could be the perfect solution. Here are some questions to go over before you make a decision.
How’s the Quality and General Condition of the Cabinet Materials?
Before you delve too deeply into the pros and cons of keeping the cabinets, it pays to take a good look at their condition. That means more than determining if the doors are still in good shape and if the shelves are still sturdy. You want to check the back of the cabinets and see if there are any signs of wear or damage. The same is true for all of the drawers. If anything seems to be decayed, warped, weakened, or otherwise not in good shape, spending money to restore the cabinets may not be the best approach.
This doesn’t mean some amount of wear or a little minor damage is a deal breaker. What it does mean is that you need a professional to check what you’ve found and determine if it can be successfully repaired. While the pro is there, it never hurts to have the contractor examine the cabinetry with a fresh set of eyes; the pro may notice some issues that escaped your notice.
If there are good reasons to assume the cabinets can be restored, including the fact that the restoration would be more cost-efficient than buying new ones, feel free to explore this option in more detail. As you get into the process, there will be other questions that come to mind. The answers will tell you if you’re on the right track or if it’s time to rethink the solution.
What Do You Think About the Cabinet Design?
How well does the cabinet dimensions suit you? Are you happy with the spacing between the shelves or would it be nice to have adjustable ones? Do you feel there’s some wasted space that could be put to better use? If so, there are ways to modify existing cabinetry and address these and other design elements.
A contractor can determine how to structure the modifications so that they are more in line with what you have in mind. In many cases, the changes will be a lot easier to manage than you expect. That’s good news, especially if you like the general appearance and just want to make the cabinets more functional.
How About the Cabinet Dimensions?
The current cabinets don’t go all the way to the ceiling and you’d like to change that. Alternatively, they do currently go to the ceiling and you’d love to have some sort of space overhead to display a few things. With either scenario, there are ways to alter the cabinets and adjust the dimensions to suit your purpose.
Many people understand about scaling back cabinets so there’s open space on top, but not everyone knows that professionals can extend existing cabinets if that’s what homeowners want. It will mean adding to the existing cabinets, but that’s simpler to manage than you may think. Once the work is done, no one will ever know that was not the original cabinet design.
Is There an Odor?
There’s one element of cabinet restoration Denver CO that often gets overlooked. Over the years, different types of materials can become infused with odors. That’s certainly true if you have wooden cabinetry in a kitchen. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with this type of issue.
In some cases, the odors are trapped in the top layers of the finish. When that’s the case, it’s easy enough to sand off the finish and replace it with a new one. The same is true if the odor is trapped in the stain. Remove the layer that’s stained and the odor will be gone too. You can then paint or stain the cabinets to fit in with your new vision and enjoy a fresh scent rather than the stale odor that once clung to the cabinetry.
Can the Materials Be Stained or Refaced With Relative Ease?
Staining is easier than many people think, especially if quality wood was used for the cabinetry. There’s also the option of refacing the wood if you like. That approach involves using veneer of some type to go over the surfaces. After a thorough cleaning, the veneer should adhere with no problem.
A professional can trim the veneer so the fit is ideal. Once in place, you won’t have to worry about it working loose over time. Most veneers are easy to keep clean and may even come with a protective coating that makes cleaning the surfaces even easier.
Would Some Cosmetic Work Allow The Cabinets to Fit In With the New Look?
You’re doing new things with the rest of the kitchen too. For example, you’ve decided to create an accent wall by covering it in stucco. In fact, the plan is to use the same general look that you used for the exterior walls. Employing an exterior insulation finish system to the decorative wall does make sense for the kitchen, given the temperature fluctuation and the humidity that may be present from time to time.
How does this fit in with the new cabinets? Just as you choose to seal them with a protective coating, the EIFS restoration Denver CO for the stucco interior wall helps to protect the material after you stain it so that it visually unifies the wall with the rest of the kitchen. You can rest assured that the stucco looks great for just as many years as the restored cabinets.
Would You Want to Add or Subtract Cabinetry From the Kitchen?
While you’re at it, could you use some additional cabinets in the kitchen? Perhaps there’s one area where you would like to do away with cabinets that are not really used. Both approaches could be integrated into your plans for the kitchen renovation. If you need more storage space, the contractor can match the materials and ensure everything blends with the use of new stain or veneer. If you need less, the contractor can make the changes and no one will ever know that the now open space once included those old cabinets.
It’s your home so why not make sure the space is exactly what you want? From using EIFS restoration Denver CO to beautify the exterior to updating the kitchen with some change to the cabinetry and maybe adding an accent wall, there are plenty of ways to work with what you already have in place. Talk with a contractor today and see what sort of plan can be developed. By the end of the conversation, you may be quite excited about those upcoming changes.
