Vintage Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing in San Diego, CA

This San Diego, CA kitchen kept its original wood cabinets. Haven Home Remodeling refinished the vintage cabinets instead of replacing them, then updated the countertops, the floors and the finishes, including a black workstation sink.

The kitchen at a glance

• Service: cabinet refinishing as part of a kitchen update
• Location: San Diego, CA, served by Haven as a San Diego remodeling contractor
• Scope: refinished vintage wood cabinets, countertops, floors and finishes, including the sink
• In the photo: warm wood-tone slab cabinet doors, granite-look countertops, a black workstation sink with a cutting board insert and a matte black pull-down faucet, a stainless double wall oven, a glass mosaic backsplash and a dark plank-style floor

Why refinish older cabinets instead of replacing them

On older kitchens, the cabinet finish usually wears out before the cabinet boxes do. When the boxes are solid and the layout still works, refinishing keeps the wood and the floor plan, and leaves more of the budget for the parts of the kitchen that show the most wear: countertops, floors, the sink and the faucet.

The cost gap is large. Haven's cabinet installation and refinishing work ranges from about $3,500 to $32,000 depending on scope, while a full kitchen remodel typically runs $25,000 to $75,000. Refinishing also avoids the long lead times that come with ordering new cabinets.

How Haven refinishes cabinets

Haven's standard cabinet refinishing process starts with a deep cleaning to remove grease and residue, followed by sanding so the new finish bonds. Painted finishes get an industrial bonding primer. The finish coat is a sprayed, factory-grade lacquer or conversion varnish rather than a brushed or rolled paint.

Doors are taken off-site for spraying. In the home, Haven sets up containment and air scrubbers to keep dust out of the rest of the house, and uses laser measurements for any new parts.

Planning a cabinet refinish in San Diego?

These details help Haven give you a clear estimate:

• Cabinet condition. Note any water damage under the sink, loose hinges or boxes that are coming apart. Refinishing works best on solid boxes.
• The look you want. Say whether you want to keep the wood grain or change to a painted color.
• What else is changing. If the countertops, floors or sink are being replaced too, plan them in the same project so the work happens in the right order.
• Your schedule. Let Haven know how long you can manage with limited use of the kitchen.

Nearby

Haven Home Remodeling also works in La Mesa, El Cajon, Chula Vista and Poway. Haven is a licensed general contractor, LIC #1128019.