glazed cabinets?
Answers:
If the style and grain of the existing cabinets isn't what is bothersome to you, you either can glaze them yourself or have a professional do it. To do it yourself, take off all of the drawers and cabinet doors. Go to the home improvement store and get a product called liquid sand and one called Floetrol. First clean the wood surfaces well and apply the liquid sand as per the instructions on the container. This product will give the surface the tooth it needs for paint to adhere and saves you the sanding. You will see that the shine is now gone and then you can glaze.
To make the glaze, use 1 part paint either acyrlic or latex, one part water and one part Floetrol. The Floetrol gives you the open time you will need to manipulate the paint to the finish you desire. The glaze can be rolled, brushed, sponged or rag wiped on to the surface. You can use it to highlight crevices or reliefs, or use it to totally change the color of the wood. If you desire a cherry finish, for example, use a burnt umber and burgandy paint mix.
I needed 2 coats of glaze on the oak cabinets I turned to a cherry finished glaze. Then follow with a non-yellowing polyurethane, again 2 coats. You can spray it on the cabinet doors and drawer fronts and brush coat the bases.
Try the technique on some luan sample boards first to get the results you desire before you attempt it on the cabinets. It is fairly easy to do and you will be pleased with the results if you only want to change the finish color of the wood.
Other answers:
i am a painting contractor and here are questions...are your cabs natural oak... or stained.? I assume they have been sealed and varnished?..what dont you like about them? the color or grain pattern? If its the color you dont like , you can change that , if the grain pattern is the problem...which is a common complaint of oak..you cant change that no matter what color you choose. You can use any color glaze on any type of wood..but sone glazes will darken the grain when applied. since your cabs are already finished i would reccomend letting a pro do it.as changing them at their present stage is a huge undertaking and would be very frusturaying for the average homeowner
i am a painting contractor and here are questions...are your cabs natural oak... or stained.? I assume they have been sealed and varnished?..what dont you like about them? the color or grain pattern? If its the color you dont like , you can change that , if the grain pattern is the problem...which is a common complaint of oak..you cant change that no matter what color you choose. You can use any color glaze on any type of wood..but sone glazes will darken the grain when applied. since your cabs are already finished i would reccomend letting a pro do it.as changing them at their present stage is a huge undertaking and would be very frusturaying for the average homeowner