Old finishes that may contain lead
In homes built before 1978, painted or old finished cabinets may contain lead. We test, contain the work area and follow EPA lead-safe practices when we strip or sand.
Serving Mount Prospect & nearby Des Plaines, Arlington Heights
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Mount Prospect, IL
Keep your solid wood cabinets in Mount Prospect and give them a new stain and a hard clear finish, with the grain still showing.
- Serving Mount Prospect ZIP 60056, 60005
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Wood cabinet problems we refinish in Mount Prospect
We refinish and re-stain wood kitchen cabinets in Mount Prospect: 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.
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.
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.
Dark water stains near the sink
Black marks on oak below the sink often come from water reacting with the tannin in the wood. Wood bleach can lighten them before re-staining; we fix the leak first.
Honey oak that looks orange
The orange tint in 1980s and 1990s oak comes mostly from the aged varnish, not the wood. Stripping that layer and re-staining gives a cooler, more current color.
Patchy or blotchy stain from an earlier job
Uneven, splotchy doors from a do-it-yourself stain job can be corrected. Stripping, a wash coat and the right stain type give a consistent tone.
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.
Cloudy, milky or white-spotted finish
Hazy, whitish areas near steam sources mean the clear coat has taken on moisture. We strip or sand that layer and lay down a fresh one.
What we do on the job
- 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.
- Sample door and color approvalYou sign off on a finished sample door before we stain the rest of the kitchen.
- 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 hardwareWe reinstall every door and drawer front, align the gaps and fit new hardware.
Finishes we offer
Wood bleach for spot correctionOxalic acid and two-part wood bleach lighten water marks or stubborn color before the new stain.
Waterborne polyurethane topcoatWater-based poly keeps light stains from turning amber and dries quickly between coats.
Oil-based and water-based wood stainsPenetrating stains color the wood itself and suit oak and other open-grain species.
Gel stainGel stain colors evenly on tight-grain woods and can deepen a tone without full stripping.
Toners and glazesA toner adjusts color in thin, even layers; a glaze adds depth in corners and profiles.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining before and after — Mount Prospect homes
Before
After
DetailCabinet Refinishing & Staining in a 1950s ranch, Mount Prospect
The site: a 1950s ranch in Mount Prospect. The kitchen as it was: solid wood cabinets with a dull, uneven stain worn white near the handles. The reason for the call: a dull finish worn through near the handles. Finished kitchen: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a natural light oak tone, grain still showing. The job covered deep cleaning, face frames on site, plus reinstall and hardware.
Before
AfterDes Plaines kitchen, 1960s ranch: cabinet refinishing & staining
A 1960s ranch in Des Plaines, a typical kitchen for Des Plaines. The kitchen as it was: 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. On site this meant stain or toner, face frames on site, plus reinstall and hardware.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterCabinet Refinishing & Staining in a postwar bi-level, Glenview
This one is a postwar bi-level near The Glen. What we started with: solid wood cabinets with a dull, uneven stain worn white near the handles. The main complaint was a dull finish worn through near the handles. After: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a deep espresso-brown stain, grain still showing. The job covered deep cleaning, sample door and color approval, plus face frames on site.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Glenview →
Before
AfterMount Prospect kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen cabinet painting
Finished: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterMount Prospect kitchen, postwar Cape Cod: cabinet refacing
New five-piece shaker doors in soft white on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and satin brass pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Mount Prospect →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 sampleYou see a finished test door in your own light before we commit to the color.
- Strip and sandDoors go to the shop for stripping and sanding; frames are prepped in place under dust control.
- Stain and clear coatColor first, then several clear layers for a hard, smooth finish.
- Reinstall and walk-throughDoors go back on, gaps are adjusted, hardware is fitted and we walk the kitchen with you.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining questions from Mount Prospect homeowners
Can you re-stain 1960s oak cabinets?
Usually. 1960s oak is a good candidate for a new stain; the main question is how far lighter you want to go.
How long does a refinished finish last?
Years. Wipe spills promptly, avoid harsh cleaners, and the topcoat protects the stain beneath it.
What affects the price of refinishing?
Size of the kitchen, condition of the finish and the color change you want. After the visit we send a written estimate with each item listed.
Can you restain cabinets the same color?
Yes, and it is often the simplest version of the job: clean, repair worn spots, blend color and recoat.
How long does cabinet refinishing take?
Usually one to two weeks, depending on the number of doors and how hard the old finish is to strip. The kitchen stays usable; only the doors are away.
Do I need a Mount Prospect-registered contractor for cabinet refinishing?
A Contractor's License is required for general contractors (and listed trades); $200, valid one year, applied for through the online portal. We take care of that before work starts.
Can you do cabinet refinishing in a Mount Prospect 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 permit for cabinet refinishing in Mount Prospect?
It depends on the scope. Mount Prospect's rule in short: Kitchen remodels need a permit and a code review (about 10 business days). We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services.
Do you work in my part of Mount Prospect?
Yes. Our crews work across Mount Prospect — ZIP 60056, 60005 — and nearby Des Plaines, Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village.
Working in Mount Prospect
- A lot of Mount Prospect 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 Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60056ZIP 60005
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining nearby
Other kitchen services in Mount Prospect
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.