Thin veneer on panels and end sides
Flat panels and cabinet sides are often veneer over plywood or particleboard. We use strippers and light hand sanding there so we never sand through.
Serving Bartlett & nearby Hanover Park, Carol Stream
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Bartlett, IL
Keep your solid wood cabinets in Bartlett and give them a new stain and a hard clear finish, with the grain still showing.
- Serving Bartlett ZIP 60103, 60120
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Wood cabinet problems we refinish in Bartlett
We refinish and re-stain wood kitchen cabinets in Bartlett: the old finish comes off, the wood gets a new stain color and a hard clear topcoat, and the grain stays in view. It is the right job when the cabinets are real wood and you want them to keep looking like wood.
Want a darker or richer stain
To move from golden oak to a deep brown or espresso tone, we often skip full stripping and build the new color with toner coats under the clear finish.
Sticky or gummy finish
When doors still feel sticky after cleaning, the coating itself has failed. Stripping and refinishing is the only lasting fix.
Dark water stains near the sink
Dark rings and streaks on the sink base are water damage in the wood itself. We treat and sand what we can, and if a panel is too far gone we replace it and match the stain.
Cherry that turned too red
Natural cherry deepens toward red as it ages. We adjust the tone with a brown or slightly green-based toner under the new clear coat.
Painted wood you want back to natural
If someone painted good oak or maple cabinets, we can strip the paint and return to stained wood. Paint in the grain takes careful work, and we check a door first.
Patchy or blotchy stain from an earlier job
Blotchy color usually means a liquid stain went onto a tight-grained wood without a conditioner. We remove it and apply the color in a way that suits the species.
New cabinets don't match the old ones
When new cabinets sit next to older ones, the stain rarely matches out of the box. Refinishing the older run, or both, brings them together.
What's included
- Protection and setupWe mask the counters, cover the floor and set up dust control in the kitchen first.
- Door and drawer removalEvery door and front is labeled to its opening and taken off-site for the heavy work.
- Deep cleaningGrease and wax are cleaned off first, since both block stain and clear coat.
- Sanding and repairsDoors and frames are sanded through finer grits, and dents, chips and loose joints are repaired.
- Stain or tonerStain, gel stain or a tinted toner is applied to reach the color on the sample.
- Face frames on siteFace frames, end panels and trim are stripped, stained and clear-coated in place to match the doors.
- Reinstall and hardwareDoors are rehung and adjusted, and new knobs, pulls or soft-close hinges go on if you chose them.
Finishes we offer
Wood bleach for spot correctionBleaching treats dark water stains and uneven color so the new stain reads even.
Waterborne polyurethane topcoatWater-based poly keeps light stains from turning amber and dries quickly between coats.
Toners and glazesTinted clear coats that shift the color of the whole surface, used to correct red or orange tones.
Catalyzed lacquer and conversion varnishSprayed, cross-linking clear coats that cure harder than standard finishes, for busy kitchens.
Gel stainA thick stain that sits on the surface, good for going darker and for blotch-prone maple or birch.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining before and after — Bartlett homes
Before
After
DetailBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Bartlett
The site: a 1980s two-story in Bartlett. What we started with: solid wood cabinets with a dull, uneven stain worn white near the handles. What bothered the owners most: a dull finish worn through near the handles. The result: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a deep espresso-brown stain, grain still showing. On site this meant protection and setup, sanding and repairs, plus reinstall and hardware.
Before
AfterHanover Park kitchen, 1970s tract home: cabinet refinishing & staining
The site: a 1970s tract home near Ontarioville. The kitchen as it was: solid wood cabinets with a dull, uneven stain worn white near the handles. What bothered the owners most: bare wood showing where hands touched the doors. Finished kitchen: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a rich even medium-brown stain, grain still showing. The job covered sanding and repairs, stain or toner, plus face frames on site.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Hanover Park →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Bartlett
What changed: the same doors sprayed in creamy white uppers and navy lowers, new satin brass pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Bartlett →
Before
AfterCabinet Refacing in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Bartlett
What changed: new five-piece shaker doors in sage green on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and satin brass pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Bartlett →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Bartlett
Cabinets in warm taupe with satin brass pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, light beige 18x18 porcelain tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Bartlett →Day by day
- Visit and wood checkWe confirm the cabinets are real wood, find any veneer, and look at how the finish is failing.
- Color sampleOne door is stripped and stained in your chosen color so you can approve it at home.
- Strip and sandDoors go to the shop for stripping and sanding; frames are prepped in place under dust control.
- Stain and clear coatThe approved stain goes on, then sealer and sprayed clear coats with light sanding between.
- Reinstall and walk-throughWe rehang, align, touch up and check every door and drawer with you.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining questions from Bartlett homeowners
Can you re-stain 1990s oak cabinets?
Yes. Oak from that era is usually solid on the doors and frames and takes stain well. We check the panels for veneer before choosing how to strip.
Do you refinish vanities and built-ins too?
Yes. Bathroom vanities, a wet bar or a built-in hutch can be refinished in the same stain during the kitchen job.
Can you make stained cabinets lighter?
A moderate step lighter is often possible; a dramatic change usually is not. We prove it on one door before quoting the full job.
How long does a refinished finish last?
Years. Wipe spills promptly, avoid harsh cleaners, and the topcoat protects the stain beneath it.
Refinishing or refacing: which is right?
If the doors are solid wood in a style you like, refinish. If the style or the material is the problem, reface.
Do I need a Bartlett-registered contractor for cabinet refinishing?
All contractors must be licensed by the Village of Bartlett (per trade); licensing questions via Main Office 630-837-0800. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet refinishing in Bartlett?
It depends on the scope. Bartlett's rule in short: Building permits are required for all construction and home improvement projects, whether done by homeowner or contractor; Remodel is a listed permit type. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Division (Planning & Development Services).
Do you work in my part of Bartlett?
Yes. Our crews work across Bartlett — ZIP 60103, 60120 — and nearby Hanover Park, Carol Stream, Bloomingdale.
Working in Bartlett
- A lot of Bartlett kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Bartlett homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Building Division (Planning & Development Services) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60103ZIP 60120
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining nearby
Other kitchen services in Bartlett
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer RepairHinges, drawer slides and water-damaged sink bases fixed.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.