Our Cabinet Refinishing Service
Ago Kitchens refinishes kitchen cabinets as a standalone project or alongside other updates such as a new backsplash or hardware. The color, finish, preparation, and scope for your kitchen are discussed during the on-site consultation and set out in your written estimate, and your agreement is directly with Ago Kitchens.
The rest of this page is general information about cabinet refinishing to help you decide whether it fits your kitchen, whoever you hire. It is not a quote, and it does not describe a specific Ago Kitchens project or the specific products used on yours.
Is Refinishing Right for Your Kitchen?
Refinishing changes the least of any cabinet option, so it fits when most things are already right:
- The cabinet boxes are sound and the layout works.
- You like the shape and style of the existing doors.
- The problem is the color, a worn or yellowed finish, or a dated look.
If you want a different door style, refacing is the better fit. If boxes are damaged or the layout no longer works, compare new cabinet installation.
Which Cabinets Refinish Well
| Existing surface | Refinishing outlook |
|---|---|
| Solid wood (maple, cherry, birch) | Generally good candidates for paint or a new stain or clear coat |
| Oak and other open-grain woods | Paint well, but the grain shows through unless filled |
| Painted MDF | Usually repaint well with proper preparation |
| Wood veneer | Can be refinished, but thin veneer limits how much sanding is possible |
| Thermofoil and laminate | Poor candidates; coatings bond poorly and peeling foil cannot be painted over |
Painting vs. Staining
Painting is the most flexible way to change color and can cover most wood tones. Changing a stain is more limited: going darker is usually possible, but going noticeably lighter on stained wood generally requires stripping the old finish, and results vary with the wood species. Dark to light paint changes may need extra coats or a tinted primer.
Cabinet finishes take heavy wear around handles and on lower drawers, so the topcoat matters. Ask what type of coating is proposed, whether it is designed for cabinets, and how it should be cleaned.
Why Preparation Matters Most
Most refinishing failures — peeling, chipping, or a finish that never feels hard — come from preparation, not the paint color. A sound process generally includes:
- Cleaning and degreasing. Kitchen cabinets collect cooking grease that prevents new finishes from bonding.
- Repairs. Filling dings and loose joints, and addressing any water-damaged areas.
- Sanding or deglossing. Scuffing the existing finish so the primer can grip.
- Priming. A primer suited to the existing finish and the new coating, which also helps block stains and tannins from bleeding through.
- Protection. Masking countertops, floors, walls, and appliances against dust and overspray.
Doors and drawer fronts are often removed and finished separately from the boxes. Ask where that work happens, whether the finish is sprayed or brushed, and how ventilation will be handled.
Homes Built Before 1978
Sanding painted surfaces in older homes can disturb lead-based paint. Under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting Program, firms paid to do work that disturbs paint in pre-1978 homes must be certified and follow lead-safe work practices. If your home is that age, ask how lead-safe practices will be followed before work begins.
Drying, Curing, and Care
A finish that is dry to the touch has not necessarily cured to full hardness. Until it does, doors can stick, and the finish marks more easily. Ask how long the specific product needs, what temperature and humidity it needs, and how to clean the cabinets afterward. Adjusting hinges and adding soft-close bumpers helps protect fresh finishes from wear.
What Affects a Refinishing Estimate
- The number of doors, drawer fronts, and box surfaces
- The condition of the existing finish and the repairs needed
- Whether the color change is light to dark or dark to light, and any grain filling
- Stripping versus scuffing and priming over the existing finish
- New hardware and hinge replacement
We do not publish refinishing prices. Our remodel cost guide explains how refinishing compares with other cabinet options in a kitchen budget.
Questions to Ask About a Refinishing Proposal
- What cleaning, sanding, and priming steps are included?
- What topcoat is used, and is it designed for cabinets?
- Will the doors be finished on-site or elsewhere, and how long will they be gone?
- How long does the finish need to cure, and how should I care for it?
- If my home was built before 1978, how will lead-safe practices be followed?
Cabinet Refinishing FAQs
Is refinishing the same as painting cabinets?
Painting is the most common kind of cabinet refinishing, but refinishing can also mean restaining or applying a new clear coat to wood. Either way, the existing doors, drawer fronts, and boxes stay; only the finish changes. To change the door style, see cabinet refacing.
Can oak cabinets be painted without the grain showing?
Oak has open grain that shows through paint unless it is filled during preparation. Some homeowners like the texture; others want a smooth finish. Ask whether grain filling is included and look at a sample door before deciding.
Can thermofoil or laminate cabinets be refinished?
They are generally poor candidates. New coatings struggle to bond to these slick surfaces, and peeling thermofoil cannot be fixed with paint. Replacing the doors through refacing is often the more durable option.
How long until I can use my kitchen normally?
A finish can be dry to the touch long before it has fully cured and reached its final hardness. Curing time depends on the product, temperature, and humidity. Ask what the specific finish requires, and treat doors gently until it has cured.
Getting Started
Call Ago Kitchens at 877-708-4271 to talk about cabinet refinishing, on its own or as part of a larger kitchen project. After an initial project discussion, an on-site consultation looks at your kitchen in person, and you receive a written estimate. If you decide to go ahead, you sign a written agreement directly with Ago Kitchens before work begins — see how it works.
We work in Owatonna and in Medford, Faribault, Waseca, Blooming Prairie, and Austin. See service areas for the communities we cover.
