Romani Restoration
Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing in Irvine, CA
Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing in Irvine, CA
Irvine isn’t Craftsman territory, and we won’t pretend it is. Most homes here were built from the seventies on, and their wood is different: builder-grade oak cabinets, wood entry doors that have taken years of Orange County sun, and floors finished once and left. The jobs we get are practical. Kitchen cabinet refinishing in Irvine is usually about a dated oak kitchen that’s otherwise fine.
Is it worth refinishing the oak cabinets from the eighties or nineties?
Usually. The boxes and doors are solid, and the layout works, and what looks tired is the orange-honey finish. Stripping that and staining it in a deeper, more current tone can transform the kitchen without a tear-out. We test stains on your own cabinets first, since oak varies a lot from one set to the next.
Why not just paint them?
You can. Oak has an open, pronounced grain,, though, and it shows through paint unless you fill it first, which is extra work. Paint also tends to chip along edges that get handled a lot. If you want a painted kitchen, we’d rather talk you through that before you commit, but if the wood is worth showing, refinishing keeps it.
What can't be refinished?
Thermofoil and laminate. If the surface is plasticky or peeling at corners, that’s what you have, and we’ll say so. Solid wood and real-wood veneer both refinish well. Look at the inside edge of a door: grain running around the edge usually means real wood.
Can you go lighter?
Going darker is straightforward. Going lighter means stripping the old stain out of the wood, which a proper refinish includes anyway. Results depend on the wood, so we test a sample first.
Do I need my association's approval?
Interior cabinets generally don’t, but many Irvine communities have association rules on exterior changes, such as front door color. Check your own rules before changing a front door or garage door.
What else do you do in Irvine?
We refinish wood doors, especially front doors faded by the sun, and refinish wood floors. If you’re comparing options around Orange County, our Anaheim page covers older homes, and we serve Pasadena and beyond.
Quick answers
Is refinishing cabinets cheaper than replacing them?
In most cases, yes, especially for solid wood, because there’s no demolition or new install. We look at your kitchen before giving a number. Estimates are free.
Are the fumes a problem?
We use low VOC stains and finishes wherever we can and ventilate the work area. Expect some smell during the finishing stages.
Do you work in Irvine?
We use low VOC stains and finishes wherever we can and ventilate the work area. Expect some smell during the finishing stages.
Call (626) 372-7079 or request a free estimate.
Free Estimates Always
Ready to Bring Your Wood Back to Life?
Tell Marco about your project — doors, floors, cabinets or an entire Craftsman home. Estimates are always free and honest.