Refinishing works with the wood you have. The existing clear coat and stain are removed by sanding or chemical stripping, the bare wood is repaired and re-stained to the color you choose, and new protective coats are applied. Unlike refacing, nothing is replaced: your doors, drawer fronts and frames remain, with a new finish. Unlike painting, the grain stays visible. It is the right approach for good solid wood cabinets whose finish has worn, yellowed or simply gone out of fashion.

  • Old finish stripped or sanded back to bare wood
  • Dents, scratches and worn edges repaired
  • New stain, toner or glaze applied for the chosen color
  • Durable clear topcoats sprayed for protection
  • Finish restoration and touch-up for cabinets that only need renewal

Refinishing versus refacing

The two words are often used interchangeably and mean different things. Refinishing changes the color and condition of the existing surfaces. Refacing replaces the doors and covers the frames. Choose refinishing if you like your doors and the wood is worth showing. Choose refacing if you want a different door style or your doors are damaged, thermofoil or laminate. Refinishing costs much less: HomeAdvisor reports an average of $3,113, typically $1,989 to $4,498, against about $7,220 for refacing.

What can be refinished

Solid wood and thick wood veneer. Maple, cherry, oak, hickory and alder all refinish well, though each takes stain differently — maple tends to blotch and needs conditioning or a sprayed toner. Going from a dark stain to a lighter one is harder than the reverse and may not be fully achievable on some woods without bleaching. Thermofoil, laminate and thin paper veneers cannot be stained; they are not wood at the surface.

A lighter option: restoration

If the color is fine and the finish is merely dull, greasy or worn at the edges, a full strip is unnecessary. A restoration cleans the cabinets thoroughly, touches up worn areas with matching color and applies fresh clear coats over the existing finish. It costs less and takes less time, and it can add years to cabinets that are basically in good order.

Common cabinet refinishing situations in Charlotte

  • A finish worn through around handles and on lower doors
  • Wood that has yellowed or oranged with age
  • Water marks and dull patches near the sink and dishwasher
  • A stain color that dates the kitchen
  • Good cherry or maple you would rather not paint

Cabinet Refinishing FAQs

What is the difference between refacing and refinishing cabinets?

Refinishing strips and renews the finish on your existing doors and frames. Refacing replaces the doors and drawer fronts and covers the frames with new veneer. Refinishing keeps the door style and costs less; refacing changes the style and material and costs more.

Can dark cabinets be refinished lighter?

Sometimes. The old stain has to be removed completely, and some of it will have penetrated the wood. Woods such as oak can be lightened more successfully than cherry, which darkens naturally with age. A contractor should make a sample on the back of a door before you commit. If you want a much lighter or uniform look, paint or refacing may suit better.

This content is reviewed by the Charlotte Cabinet Refacing editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for Cabinet Refacing. Read our editorial standards.