Resurfacing can breathe new life into cabinets

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/11/2010 (5466 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Q: My kitchen cabinets are looking old, dirty and lifeless. I tried cleaning them myself and some of the finish came off. New cabinets are just too expensive. What can I do now? We’ve tried a few products on the worst areas, but they never seem to get completely clean or hold their looks. What can you suggest?

A: To refresh older oak cabinets, one product that I often recommend is BriWax, available through many building supply and hardware outlets including Windsor Plywood, Home Hardware and Rona stores. BriWax is available in colours to match most wood cabinets.
To begin, remove the cabinets and wipe them down in a well ventilated space with a contact cement solvent on a Scotch Brite Pad to remove any grease and grime. Next, apply the Briwax with super fine steel wool and buff with a soft cloth. This is a project that requires time and patience so it might be worth hiring a professional.

In Winnipeg, Magician Cabinet Restorations are specialized in reviving the existing cabinet doors back to the original condition at reasonable cost. They have a professionally proven method to restore your tired kitchen cabinets finish and also provide repairs to damage of structure and operation of your kitchen cabinetry. It is a complete, cost-effective restoration process for wood and veneer kitchen cabinets. You can contact them directly at 997-0702.

Q: We are in the market for a new home, and a home we have put an offer on has an electric hot water boiler installed in the garage. All three thermostats are operating and the unit appears to fire correctly. The piping is installed on the underside of the plywood subfloor. This type of arrangement is some what unusual. No proper service labels were found on the unit.  Our home inspector said he had never seen this type of arrangement before. We’d appreciate your comments.

A: There is nothing to be concerned about. This is not an uncommon method of installation. To get the best performance out of a system designed in this manner, it would be best to install a reflective foil insulation called Reflectix, one inch below the pipes so the insulation will reflect the heat up into the plywood subfloor. Reflectix is available through Twin Maple Marketing, call them toll-free 1-800-663-8898.
 
 Shell Busey can be heard every Saturday morning from 8 to 10:30 a.m. on Winnipeg’s CJOB 680. Go to www.TheHouseSmart.com for more home improvement tips and information.