Cabinet refinishing: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering cabinet refinishing

Refinishing is judged on the color match, the repairs and the feel of the finish, and the stripping and sanding decide the result. Win the job by testing the wood, showing a sample and naming the topcoat in the quote.

What customers ask

  • Will the color be even across the doors and the boxes?
  • Can you fix the dings and gaps so they do not show?
  • How long will the finish last with daily use?
  • Can I keep using the kitchen during the work?
  • Will the doors and drawers still close properly afterwards?

How to win the job

  • Open a hidden area of a door on the first visit to identify the wood and the old finish, and photograph the existing condition.
  • Stain or finish a sample door in the same wood and show the customer the color and sheen before the full job.
  • Name the stripper, the sanding grit, the stain and the topcoat in the quote, with the number of coats for each.
  • Quote the repairs for dings and gaps as their own line, with a photo of each area that needs filler.
  • Explain the cure times and the day the doors can be closed, so the customer knows the kitchen timeline.
  • Label every door and drawer during the job, and state in the proposal that the hardware returns to its place.
  • Check each door and drawer for fit after reinstalling the hardware, and show the customer the result before you leave.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of refinished cabinets with the color and the sheen visible
  • Close-up photos of the repairs and the edges after the final coat
  • Photos of the sample finish on a test door next to the job
  • A list of the wood species, stains and topcoats you use

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • A cleaning and care sheet with the products to avoid and the topcoat recoat schedule
  • A check visit after the first few months to look at the edges, the handles and the topcoat
  • A quote for new hardware or a second kitchen area, offered only if the customer asks

Licenses and permits

Cabinet refinishing commonly does not need a license, but box repair and any hookup work require qualified trades. Confirm your business registration, insurance and product training in your state and locality before you take the job.

Questions

Should I warranty the finish?

Warranty your prep and workmanship and pass through the finish manufacturer's warranty. State the cleaning and care steps the customer must follow to keep the warranty valid.

What if the wood is too damaged to refinish well?

Show the customer the damage with photos and explain what the refinish can and cannot fix. Recommend refacing or new doors when the damage is beyond what a refinish can cover.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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