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10 Questions to Ask a Contractor before Hiring to Refinish your Cabinets

Featured image for post: 10 Questions to Ask a Contractor before Hiring to Refinish your Cabinets

Choosing the right contractor for your cabinet refinishing project is crucial to achieving the results you envision for your home. While refinishing cabinets is often a more affordable alternative to a full remodel, it is still a significant investment that can enhance your home’s value, aesthetic appeal, and overall enjoyment, when done correctly.

There are a lot of companies claiming to offer similar services, but our dedication to following our signature process helps us produce the consistent quality and customer satisfaction sets us apart. We’re committed to exceeding your expectations, ensuring that every detail of your project is handled with care and expertise.

Before you select a parter on your cabinet refinishing journey, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure you hire a contractor who shares your vision and can deliver the results you deserve. That’s why we’ve compiled the ten most important questions you should ask when evaluating contractors for your cabinet refinishing project.

Experience and Expertise:

How long have you been in the business, and what specific experience do you have with cabinet refinishing?

Cabinet Renew has been refinishing 8-10 kitchens per week for the last 4 years. It is our specialty and the only service that we offer. At Cabinet Renew, we do not use any subcontractors for cabinet refinishing. Everybody who will be in your home is a full time employee of Cabinet Renew who refinishes cabinets all day every day. This ensures that your spray tech understands and has mastered our system through repetition day in and day out.

Portfolio and References:

Can you provide examples of your past work, along with references from satisfied clients?

At Cabinet Renew, we have hundreds of 5 star reviews on Google and a TON of before and after photos uploaded from the clients themselves. We would also be more than happy to provide references of past clients around your area if needed. (Dependent upon receiving permission from the past client local to your area.)

You can also check out our Before & After Gallery, Inspiration Gallery, and Client Testimonials.

Materials and Techniques:

What materials and techniques do you use for cabinet refinishing, and how do they differ from other methods?

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At Cabinet Renew, we value the quality of our craftsmanship as much as the level of customer service we provide. That’s why we use the best materials available. We have created the industry gold standard for refinishing cabinets. We use the best products available for this type of work, Waterborne Imported Italian Catalyzed Polyurethane systems for both our primer and finish coats. This provides the durability of a brand new cabinet without the noxious and dangerous fumes that come with using a lacquer or solvent based system commonly used on new cabinets in the United States.

A few tips to consider in regards to materials when choosing between companies:

  1. At Cabinet Renew we used a two-part water based system. We believe that this is the best possible material for spraying inside of your home. Because it is water based, there are no dangerous fumes or flammable materials being sprayed inside of your home. And because it is a two part system with a chemical hardener, it will look, feel, and be as durable as the finishes used on a factory new cabinet. There are no off the shelf products from the major manufacturers that can compare to the durability of or specialty finishes.

  2. Ensure that the company that you use is thoroughly sanding before applying primer, as well as in between coats. This is a key step, often skipped, that creates the right conditions for the materials to properly adhere to your cabinets.

  3. If you do not want the cabinets to look “painted” you’ll need to be sure that everything, including your framework, is 100% sprayed. Many companies will spray the door and drawers off site, but will brush and roll the framework. This leaves brush and roller marks and the framework will look obviously painted and will be different than the doors and drawers.

  • SERIOUS ISSUES CAN ARRISE FROM NOT USING THE CORRECT PRODUCT OR FROM NOT FOLLOWING OR SKIPPING STEPS TO CUT CORNERS AND/OR COSTS.

  • IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A FACTORY FINISH, AND YOU DO NOT WANT THE FRAMES TO LOOK “PAINTED” THEN MAKE SURE THE COMPANY IS GOING TO SPRAY THE 2K FINISH (PREFERRABLE RENNER OR MILESI)  ON ALL AREAS. WE HAVE FOUND SOME COMPANIES ONLY SPRAY THE DOORS AND DRAWER FACES AND THEN JUST BRUSH AND ROLL THE FRAMES OF THE CABINETS. IT IS ALL ABOUT THE QUALITY YOU ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, BUT YOU WILL NOTICE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY IF EVERYTHING IS NOT SPRAYED.

Timeline and Schedule:

What is the estimated timeline for completing the project, and how do you ensure timely completion?

Cabinet Renew is extremely systemized. Because we ONLY refinish cabinets we know exactly how many days each project will take. This allows us to schedule exact days even if we are booked 8 weeks out. You will still receive exact onsite days and an install day. We have noticed our clients love this as it takes away the guesswork, especially if another contractor tells you he is a couple months out and he’ll call you to schedule. You will know the exact days and you will not be left wondering how close you are to your kitchen transformation.

Cost and Budget:

What is the total cost of the project, including any potential additional fees, and how do you handle changes to the initial budget?

Once we provide a price, there will NOT be any hidden costs associated with the project unless specifically written in the contract and discussed with you ahead of time. (This is almost never the case.) Our pricing allows us to pay fair wages to our employees, spend the proper amount of time on each project to ensure it exceeds expectations, and allows us to continue to stay operational.

Proper insurance:

Is the contractor able to legally operate and do they have the proper Liability and Workman’s Compensation insurance?

Cabinet Renew is registered with the state of Florida and is legally able to perform this work inside of your home. This can be verified through Sunbiz.com (you can find any business through this website to confirm legitimacy.) We also have Workers Compensation and Liability insurance certificates available upon request.

Warranty and Guarantee:

Do you offer any warranties or guarantees on your workmanship and the materials used?

Cabinet Renew offers a 5 year warranty on ANY product or craftsmanship defects. We are a debt free company and here for the long haul, so you can be assured that we will be here to service any issues you may have down the road. Multiple times a year we get calls to fix work from a company that has closed their doors, and we are typically not able to make necessary touch ups and repairs because matching an unknown color and sheen from another company is almost impossible.

Disruption and Cleanliness:

How will the refinishing process impact our daily life, and how do you ensure a clean and organized work environment?

PREPARE THE WORK AREA IMAGE

Cabinet Renew refinishing your cabinets is arguably the quickest, most efficient, and most cost effective way to completely change the look and feel of your kitchen. Almost every project we take on (with the exception of very custom or specialty finishes) is ONLY 2 DAYS inside your home where you’ll have limited use of your kitchen. The rest of the work is completed at our facility with an additional day for installation at the very end of the project. Generally 5 – 8 business days are needed from the time we step foot into your home until you have a completely refinished kitchen.

Customization and Design Options:

Do you offer customization options for cabinet finishes, and can you help with design decisions?

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With Cabinet Renew you can select any color in the world!!! NO RESTRICTIONS, NO LIMITATIONS! Additionally, we offer custom glazes, pin-striping, and other finishes that require specialists to give you that one of a kind look that will make you the envy of the neighborhood.

Communication and Updates:

How do you communicate with clients throughout the project, and what is the process for addressing any concerns or questions?

At Cabinet Renew we are available to answer any questions that you may have during normal business hours. We will walk you through the entire process, from color selection, scheduling, what we need from you, and any other questions you may have. We will also send out reminders of your exact onsite dates and install dates through your preferred method of contact. Additionally, you will have a crew leader and a project manager to ensure every element of your project exceeds our quality standards. Our goal is to ensure you have the best experience you have ever received with a contractor.

Conclusion:

We believe that asking these questions will empower you to make an informed decision and choose the right contractor for your cabinet refinishing needs. At Cabinet Renew, we pride ourselves on our transparency, expertise, and commitment to customer satisfaction.

If you’d like to discuss your project further or schedule a consultation, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to bring your vision to life and transform your kitchen into the space of your dreams.

Call us at 941-376-3030 or Contact Us to schedule your Free, No-Obligation Consultation,

Call us at (602) 121-1212 or schedule online

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