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 Schaumburg & nearby Roselle, Hoffman Estates
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Schaumburg, IL
Keep your solid wood cabinets in Schaumburg and give them a new stain and a hard clear finish, with the grain still showing.
- Crews working in Schaumburg ZIP 60193, 60173, 60194, 60195
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Wood cabinet problems we refinish in Schaumburg
Good wood cabinets rarely wear out; their finish does. Our Schaumburg 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
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.
Cabinets too dark for the room
Lightening stained cabinets is harder than darkening them. We strip a sample door, show you the lightest tone the wood will take, and you decide before we do the rest.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What's included
- Protection and setupWe mask the counters, cover the floor and set up dust control in the kitchen first.
- Deep cleaningGrease and wax are cleaned off first, since both block stain and clear coat.
- Stripping the old finishOld varnish, lacquer or paint is removed with strippers suited to the coating and the wood.
- 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.
- Sealer and clear topcoatA sealer coat and then two or more clear coats are sprayed on the doors for a hard, even surface.
- Reinstall and hardwareDoors are rehung and adjusted, and new knobs, pulls or soft-close hinges go on if you chose them.
Materials and finishes
Sheen: matte, satin or semi-glossMost owners pick satin for wood cabinets; matte reads more natural, gloss more traditional.
Toners and glazesA toner adjusts color in thin, even layers; a glaze adds depth in corners and profiles.
Oil-based and water-based wood stainsClassic wiping stains soak into the grain and work best on oak and hickory.
Catalyzed lacquer and conversion varnishThe toughest clear finishes we spray, chosen when the cabinets take heavy daily use.
Waterborne polyurethane topcoatWater-based poly keeps light stains from turning amber and dries quickly between coats.
Kitchens like yours in Schaumburg: before and after
Before
After
DetailCabinet Refinishing & Staining in a 1980s two-story, Schaumburg
This one is a 1980s two-story near Weathersfield. What we started with: 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. The result: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a deep espresso-brown stain, grain still showing. Work included deep cleaning, stripping the old finish, plus sanding and repairs.
Before
AfterCabinet Refinishing & Staining in a raised ranch, Roselle
This one is a raised ranch in Roselle. 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. The result: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a rich even medium-brown stain, grain still showing. The job covered deep cleaning, sealer and clear topcoat, plus reinstall and hardware.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Roselle →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Schaumburg
Finished: the same doors sprayed in light butter yellow, new brushed nickel bar pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Schaumburg →
Before
AfterSchaumburg kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: cabinet refacing
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 Schaumburg →
Before
AfterSchaumburg kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: kitchen remodeling
Finished: cabinets in deep olive with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 3x12 tile in a stacked pattern backsplash, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Schaumburg →How your cabinet refinishing goes
- Visit and wood checkAt the visit we identify the species and the old finish, and note veneer and damage.
- Color sampleYou see a finished test door in your own light before we commit to the color.
- 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 Schaumburg homeowners
Can you re-stain 1970s 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 you make stained cabinets lighter?
Going lighter is the hard direction. Stripping, sometimes followed by wood bleach, gets part of the way; for a very light or white look, paint is usually the better choice.
Can you restain cabinets the same color?
Yes. Restoring the original color with a fresh clear coat is one of the most common jobs, and it usually needs less stripping than a color change.
Do you refinish vanities and built-ins too?
Yes, the process is the same, and adding them while we are set up keeps the colors identical.
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 Schaumburg condo associations need to approve cabinet refinishing?
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 Schaumburg-registered contractor for cabinet refinishing?
Contractors must register with the Village; out-of-town contractor license $125/year (includes $10 Schaumburg Business Association fee), runs through Dec 31. We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Schaumburg?
Yes. Our crews work across Schaumburg, including Weathersfield, International Village, Woodfield area, Olde Schaumburg Centre — ZIP 60193, 60173, 60194, 60195 — and nearby Roselle, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park.
Working in Schaumburg
- A lot of Schaumburg kitchens date from the 1970s. 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.
- Live in the Olde Schaumburg Centre Overlay District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
WeathersfieldInternational VillageWoodfield areaOlde Schaumburg CentreTown Square
ZIP 60193ZIP 60173ZIP 60194ZIP 60195
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining nearby
Other kitchen services in Schaumburg
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.