Cabinet refinishing
Kitchen cabinet refinishing in St. Albert
Kitchen cabinet refinishing in St. Albert is the process of stripping solid wood cabinets, repairing them, re-staining them, and sealing them under a clear coat, and it costs $4,000 to $10,000 for a full kitchen in 2026. The wood grain stays visible. Cabinet Refinishing St. Albert renews a worn wood finish for a fraction of the $20,000 to $40,000+ that replacement costs.
- 5-year written warranty
- $2 million liability insurance
- Never subcontracted
Worn amber varnish, back to light oak
Full kitchen: $4,000 to $10,000
The old varnish comes off, the oak takes a lighter stain, and a clear coat goes on with no paint. Concept render, not a completed job.
2026 refinishing prices
How much does kitchen cabinet refinishing cost in St. Albert in 2026?
Kitchen cabinet refinishing in St. Albert costs $4,000 to $6,000 for a small solid-wood kitchen, $6,000 to $8,000 for an average oak kitchen with 20 to 35 doors, and $8,000 to $10,000 for 35 to 50 or more doors. The average oak kitchen is the most common job. The schedule for your kitchen is confirmed at the quote.
| Kitchen | Doors | 2026 St. Albert price | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small solid-wood kitchen | 10 to 20 | $4,000 to $6,000 | Compact kitchens with real wood doors and boxes |
| Average oak kitchenMost common | 20 to 35 | $6,000 to $8,000 | Honey or golden oak from the 1980s and 1990s |
| Large kitchen | 35 to 50+ | $8,000 to $10,000 | Kitchens with the highest door counts |
| Bathroom vanity refinishSingle or double | Vanity | $1,000 to $3,000 | Solid wood vanities |
| Full replacementFor comparison | Any | $20,000 to $40,000+ | Includes demolition, installation, and countertop refitting |
Refinishing in St. Albert is priced on the same terms as Edmonton, with no travel surcharge. The written estimate breaks out prep, products, and labour. See how refinishing stacks up against painting and refacing in the full kitchen cabinet cost guide.
Get my refinishing priceRefinish or paint
Kitchen cabinet refinishing vs painting in St. Albert
Cabinet refinishing keeps the look of real wood, while cabinet painting covers it with a solid colour. Painting starts lower, at $3,000 to $8,000. Refinishing runs $4,000 to $10,000 and includes stripping the old finish and re-staining the wood.
| Compare | Cabinet refinishing | Cabinet painting |
|---|---|---|
| Full kitchen price | $4,000 to $10,000 | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| Wood grain | Stays visible under a clear coat | Hidden under a solid colour |
| Cabinet material | Real wood only | Wood, plus laminate after a bonding primer |
| Coatings | Catalyzed lacquer, conversion varnish, or Benjamin Moore Advance | Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin-Williams ProClassic |
| Schedule | Confirmed at the quote | 5 to 12 days by kitchen size |
| Pick it when | You want wood that looks like wood again | You want a new colour on sound cabinets |
Read more about kitchen cabinet painting in St. Albert, or open the full list of cabinet services.
The work
What kitchen cabinet door refinishing includes
Kitchen cabinet door refinishing follows four stages: strip, repair, re-stain, and clear coat. Doors and drawers are refinished in the shop, and the cabinet boxes are done on site with the room masked.
- Stage 1
Strip
The tired stain and topcoat come off down to bare wood, so the new finish bonds to a clean surface.
- Stage 2
Repair
Damage found on the bare wood is repaired before any colour goes back on.
- Stage 3
Re-stain
Fresh stain goes on, either close to the original tone or in a different wood colour you pick.
- Stage 4
Clear coat
Catalyzed lacquer, conversion varnish, or Benjamin Moore Advance seals the wood. Doors return to their numbered openings.
The job closes with a final walkthrough: every door and drawer aligned and tested, the kitchen cleaned, and the warranty activated.
Wood check
Which cabinets can be refinished in St. Albert homes
Cabinet refinishing needs real wood. Thermofoil and laminate have no grain to strip, so those kitchens are painted or refaced instead.
Honey oak and golden oak kitchens from the 1980s and 1990s are strong refinishing candidates. The solid wood boxes from that era are usually still sound, which is what makes keeping them worthwhile.
If your doors are laminate or melamine, painting over a bonding primer is the route. If they are thermofoil that has started to peel near the stove or dishwasher, refacing with new doors deals with the problem at the source.
For DIY prep questions, the guide on stripping versus sanding cabinets explains the difference, and how long refinished cabinets last covers what to expect after the job.
Hiring locally
Where to find cupboard refinishing near me in St. Albert
Cabinet Refinishing St. Albert refinishes kitchen cupboards in St. Albert and the surrounding region, from Morinville to Leduc and Stony Plain. Every St. Albert job is priced the same as Edmonton.
Ask any refinisher how the work is backed. Refinished kitchens carry a 5-year written workmanship warranty that starts at the final walkthrough. If a covered issue shows up, you call and describe it, an inspection is booked within 48 hours, and the repair costs nothing. Scratches, abuse, and water damage from leaks sit outside that coverage.
Nearby towns have their own pages: cabinet refinishing in Stony Plain, cabinet refinishing in Leduc, and the complete service area list.
Questions
Kitchen cabinet refinishing FAQ for St. Albert
How much does it cost to refinish oak kitchen cabinets in St. Albert?
Refinishing an average oak kitchen in St. Albert costs $6,000 to $8,000 for 20 to 35 doors. Smaller solid-wood kitchens start at $4,000, and kitchens with 35 or more doors run up to $10,000.
How long does cabinet refinishing take?
Cabinet refinishing timelines are confirmed at the quote for each St. Albert kitchen. The written estimate lists the prep, products, and labour involved, so you know the scope before work begins.
Can thermofoil cabinets be refinished?
Refinishing only works on real wood, so thermofoil doors are not candidates. Once thermofoil peels, refacing puts new doors on the existing boxes. Laminate in good shape can be painted after a bonding primer.
Is refinishing cheaper than new cabinets?
Cabinet refinishing costs $4,000 to $10,000 in St. Albert, while full replacement costs $20,000 to $40,000 or more once demolition, installation, and countertop refitting are added. Replacement also means 4 to 8 weeks of construction.
What happens if a refinished cabinet has a problem?
Warranty claims start with a call describing the issue, and photos help. An inspection is scheduled within 48 hours, and covered workmanship issues are fixed at no cost during the 5-year warranty.
Tell us about your cabinets
Eight short fields. Most of them are a quick pick from a list.
Written estimate, no charge
Put a real number on your kitchen
Cabinet Refinishing St. Albert turns these answers into a price range and a time for the free in-home consultation. Door count and the finish you want move the price more than anything else.