Old finishes that may contain lead
If your cabinets carry finishes from before 1978, we treat them as possible lead and work lead-safe, from plastic sheeting to the final cleaning check.
Serving Lombard & nearby Villa Park, Glen Ellyn
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Lombard, IL
Keep your solid wood cabinets in Lombard and give them a new stain and a hard clear finish, with the grain still showing.
- Serving Lombard ZIP 60148
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Wood cabinet problems we refinish in Lombard
Good wood cabinets rarely wear out; their finish does. Our Lombard crew strips or sands the tired coating, stains the doors and frames to the tone you pick from sample boards, and seals everything with a durable clear coat.
Thin veneer on panels and end sides
Veneer can only take a light sanding. We identify which parts are veneered at the visit and plan the stripping method around them.
Scratches, dings and worn edges
Pet scratches on the lower doors, chipped corners and dents from pots are filled with color-matched wood filler and sanded before the new stain goes on.
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.
Painted wood you want back to natural
Painted-over wood cabinets can often go back to a stained finish. The test door tells us how much paint is locked in the pores.
Honey oak that looks orange
Old oil-based finishes amber with age, so oak that started golden now looks orange. A new stain in a browner or grayer tone, under a clear coat that does not yellow, fixes the cast.
Cloudy, milky or white-spotted finish
White rings and cloudy patches come from moisture trapped in the clear coat, often around the dishwasher and kettle. Light cases polish out; deep ones mean a new topcoat.
Finish worn to bare wood near the handles
Hands and wet dish towels wear through the clear coat around pulls and on the sink base. The bare wood turns gray or dark; we sand those areas back, blend the stain and recoat the whole door.
What the work covers
- Protection and setupFloors, counters and appliances are covered and the work area is sealed off with plastic before any stripping starts.
- Door and drawer removalEvery door and front is labeled to its opening and taken off-site for the heavy work.
- Deep cleaningA degreasing wash removes cooking residue so the stripper and stain work evenly.
- Stripping the old finishWe strip the failing topcoat down to wood, or scuff it when the plan is to go darker.
- Sanding and repairsWe fill gouges with matched filler, re-glue loose parts and sand the surface smooth.
- Sample door and color approvalOne door is finished first in your chosen stain so you approve the color in your own light.
- Stain or tonerThe approved color goes on by wiping or spraying, depending on the wood and the stain type.
Finishes we offer
Gel stainA thick stain that sits on the surface, good for going darker and for blotch-prone maple or birch.
Oil-based and water-based wood stainsPenetrating stains color the wood itself and suit oak and other open-grain species.
Catalyzed lacquer and conversion varnishSprayed, cross-linking clear coats that cure harder than standard finishes, for busy kitchens.
Wood bleach for spot correctionOxalic acid and two-part wood bleach lighten water marks or stubborn color before the new stain.
Toners and glazesA toner adjusts color in thin, even layers; a glaze adds depth in corners and profiles.
Kitchens like yours in Lombard: before and after
Before
After
DetailA Lombard 1950s ranch: before and after
The site: a 1950s ranch in Lombard. What we started with: solid wood cabinets with a dull, uneven stain worn white near the handles. The main complaint was bare wood showing where hands touched the doors. Finished kitchen: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a natural light oak tone, grain still showing. The job covered protection and setup, deep cleaning, plus sanding and repairs.
Before
AfterCabinet Refinishing & Staining in a postwar Cape Cod, Glen Ellyn
The site: a postwar Cape Cod in Glen Ellyn. 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. Finished kitchen: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a natural light oak tone, grain still showing. On site this meant protection and setup, stripping the old finish, plus stain or toner.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Glen Ellyn →
Before
AfterA Lombard postwar bi-level: before and after
The same doors sprayed in powder blue, new satin brass pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Lombard →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Lombard
New five-piece shaker doors in soft white on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and satin brass pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Lombard →
Before
AfterA Lombard 1950s ranch: before and after
Cabinets in dark teal with brushed nickel bar pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Lombard →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 sandOld finish comes off the doors off-site while we prep the frames in your kitchen.
- 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 Lombard homeowners
Can you re-stain 1960s 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.
Can thermofoil or laminate cabinets be stained?
Stain only works on wood. For thermofoil or laminate, new doors or refacing is the realistic route.
Can you refinish cabinets without stripping or sanding?
Partly. Some jobs only need cleaning, a light scuff and a new tinted clear coat. If the old finish is peeling, gummy or you want a lighter color, it has to come off.
How long does a refinished finish last?
A well-applied clear finish lasts many years. Most wear shows first at handles and the sink base, which can be recoated later.
Can I stay in the house during refinishing?
Yes. The heavy stripping and spraying happen in our shop. On site we ventilate and use low-odor products for the frames.
Can you do cabinet refinishing in a Lombard condo?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Do I need a Lombard-registered contractor for cabinet refinishing?
Contractors must register with the Village: $100 fee, valid 1 year, online or via Building Division; insurance certificate with at least $300,000 liability coverage. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet refinishing in Lombard?
It depends on the scope. Lombard's rule in short: Village requires a building permit for new structures and updates to existing structures; replacing interior doors and fixtures at the same size with no structural change needs no permit. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Division, Community Development and Building.
Do you work in my part of Lombard?
Yes. Our crews work across Lombard — ZIP 60148 — and nearby Villa Park, Glen Ellyn, Addison.
Working in Lombard
- A lot of Lombard kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Building Division, Community Development and Building handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60148
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining nearby
Other kitchen services in Lombard
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.