Expert: Jamie Yocono - 8/12/2008

Question
i just moved into a house with brand new lightly stained and sealed cabinets
throughout the house.  Is there anyway to make the finish darker without
stripping the current stain and seal?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Casey,

Unfortunately, the best way to darken your cabinets is to strip them and stain them. See, the existing finish on your cabinets will prevent any application of stain from absorbing. So the proper way to get them darker would be to strip and stain.

There is possibly another solution, but I really don't love it. There are products out there called opaque stains, which are essentially paints that rely on the grain of the wood. You would paint this substance on, just like normal paint. These "stains" completely cover the existing paint that's on there with a coating that sort of mimics wood. I've used these a couple of times, and have never been satisfied with the effect, it looks very artificial to me, But it is a possibility for your cabinets.

My best recommendation - if you really want to darken your cabinets, strip them clean, and then re-stain darker. It's a labor intensive job, but really necessary if you want the staining to look good. Sorry I couldn't give you a better answer!

Write back if you have more questions, and I'll try to help again.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com