Staining Kitchen Cabinets in Five Easy Steps

There are numerous home improvement jobs that can end up sapping all your time and energy without proving to be a success. In fact, the longer and more involved the project is, the riskier it will be for the homeowner who is not a professional. It is recommended to show restraint around the house, or knowing how to pick your battles. One such example is kitchen cabinets. While removing and installing a set of cabinets is way over the average homeowner's head, staining the cabinets is quite doable. In the course of a couple of afternoons - or one day if you wake up bright and early - you can add a different effect to your kitchen by finishing the cabinets on your own. Here is how to stain cabinets in five easy steps.

1. Gather your materials and start sanding. Whether you are working with oak or cherry, the type of look you want is your decision. Make sure you have sandpaper, of both a very fine grade (e.g., 220) and a lower grade. You will also need wood conditioner, finish, paintbrushes and the stain itself. Begin by using the less fine sandpaper on the cabinets, sanding in a single direction. If you aren't concentrating and vary your technique, you may end up with unwanted scratches.

2. Sand a second time and smooth your surfaces. Using the finer grade of sandpaper, sand the surface for a second time, to remove any scratches that are present from the initial run. You are looking for the smoothest surface possible, as the cabinets will end up looking their best only if the stain is applied evenly.

3. Get started with the wood conditioner. Wood conditioner is essential because it let the stain do its job properly. Add a coat of conditioner to your cabinets, once the surface has been completely cleaned and all debris tin the area has been removed. Any small particles present can cause your project to backfire, or at least be less than ideal.

4. Add the stain. Once you have allowed the wood conditioner to dry thoroughly (probably one to two hours, depending on the humidity level), it's time to start with the stain itself. Rub the stain into the wood in a circular style, so the stain gets inside the wood completely. Once you have gotten all areas covered, you can do a final stroke going with the grain. This step will keep the stain looking evenly set.

5. Close out the job with a coat of finish. While the stain itself acts as decorative coloring for the wood, it still needs to be protected with a coat or two of finish. Work with a finish that matches the base of your stain for the most ideal results. Once you have two coats on, you will be finished with your kitchen repair job.