Buff And Apply The 1st Coat Of Paint
Before you add the 1st coat of paint, buff the doors using your hand sander and 220 grit sand paper. Then, use the tack cloth to remove the fine dust particles. Then paint. Paint the back first. Then, if you are using the brush method, youll want to wait 24 hrs before flipping the door to paint the front. (Note: the paint can may tell you that it will dry faster, but its safer to wait 24 hours.
If you are using the spray method with lacquer, you can flip the doors sooner often in a few minutes to 30 minutes per side.
WAIT 24 HOURS BEFORE THE NEXT STEP
For A Clean Bright Look You Cant Go Wrong With White
Advises Berkeley, California-based interior designer Gustave Carlson : I like my cabinets to blend with the room color. White creates a quiet backdrop for the rooms activities . Opting for a fresh coat of white paint? See more architects picks in 10 Easy Pieces: Architects White Paint Picks for Kitchen Cabinets.
Kitchen Cabinet Color Options33 Photos
See gorgeous designer kitchens where color is highlighted through the cabinetry.
Flat-front doors and drawers are easily repainted, but woodwork with raised panels, routed profiles or other architectural details will require more time to prep and paint. If the woodwork is warped, badly worn, damaged or coming apart at the glued joints, you can opt to buy new unfinished doors and drawers, and paint them along with your existing cabinets.
Applicator options for repainting include spraying, rolling or brushing with either a natural or synthetic bristle brush or a foam brush. All have their advantages and disadvantages choose whichever is most suited to the amount of woodwork to be repainted and your own style of working. The best applicator also may depend on the type of paint or finish you choose.
If you don’t have a large worktable, 2×4 boards propped on buckets or boxes will also work. If you don’t have those materials, work on top of a drop cloth.
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After: Turn Up The Charm With Two Tones
Blogger Shavonda Gardner created a colorblock palette, a big cosmetic change for cheap. Calming gray and white counter the deep-blue walls. Open shelving, made from existing cabinetry, enlivens the room with small pops of color. New hardware adds a modern touch.
Learn more about Shavonda’s cabinet redo at the blog A Home Full of Color.
Is It Better To Roll Or Brush Paint Cabinets
For wood, brushing is fine, but you may want to hire a professional for a good finish. Using a roller to paint cabinets is a lot faster than brush painting, however, the fabric on the roller will create a bobbly texture on the surface. The texture a roller puts on cabinets makes it unsuitable for gloss paint.
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Reasons We May Have To Replace Our Painted Kitchen Cabinets In The Future
- Sticking drawers
- Water damage in the cabinet under the sink
The reason we eventually will have to replace our cabinets is that one of our drawers continually has started sticking and not coming out. If this was happening in multiple places, we may have to consider another alternative instead of painting.
The cabinet under our sink also had a leak before we moved in. We had to add a new board and a textured shelf liner. This was acceptable for now, but if a lot of our cabinets were like that you would probably want to reconsider just painting.
What If My Cabinets Are Not In Good Shape Will Painting Over Them Fix That
If your cabinets are peeling, chipping, or flaking, thats a whole nother problem, and no magic combination of primer and paint is going to fix that.
Before you start even cleaning your cabinets to paint them, youll need to scrape off any peeling paint and patch with wood-filler. Then youll need to sand them to a smooth finish and apply a primer over the wood filler.
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Should I Paint My Cabinets
Before you head out to the paint store, however, examine your cabinets to see if they can be resuscitated in the first place. Even the highest-quality paint job can’t revive cheap cabinets that have grown frail with age. Thin veneers peel or delaminate, particleboard cabinet bottoms or shelves sag or break, and hanging rails come loose. If these are the issues youre dealing with, youd actually be better off replacing your kitchen cabinets.
Assuming that everything is still in fine shape and good working order, lets examine some of the questions youll need to address before you start repainting your kitchen cabinets.
What Caused The Paint To Chip
Ive tried to be objective in figuring out why the paint on our cabinets hasnt held up as expected.
Was it the paint itself? Was the spackle I used to smooth the wood grain a problem?
Was my method of cleaning the painted cabinets too abrasive? Is my family just really rough on our home?
I dont believe this was caused by my family being too rough. We do have three small boys and these cabinets have put up with lots of spills and stains and hard knocks from toys and dishes.
But because most of the scratches are centered around the hardware, it doesnt seem like they were caused by hard use.
While my kids do occasionally bang the cabinets and hit them with toys, those small areas are somewhat protected by the hardware sticking out and are really only touched when cabinets are being opened.
For the same reason, I dont think my cleaning method is to blame.
I wipe these cabinets down often and I certainly dont clean them around the hardware and edges more than anywhere else.
I also dont believe my method of using spackle to fill in the wood grain before painting is to blame.
I didnt use any spackle on the edges of the cabinet doors because I wasnt concerned with the wood grain being perfectly smooth there. Even so, these areas are also scratched.
In the end, I believe the paint itself was probably the weak link. I used DecoArt Satin Enamels paint.
I have used this same paint on several pieces of furniture with no problems or excessive scratching.
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Can You Paint Over Fresh Caulk
You have to wait until the caulk has dried completely before you can paint over it. This takes between 30 minutes and a week . On average, you can paint over caulk in about 24 hours after the caulk was applied. This gives the caulking compound enough time to harden and dry before the paint is applied.
Remove Doors And Hardware
Remove all of the hinges, hardware, doors, screws and drawers from your cabinets. Use masking tape to label each door with a number and its corresponding location as you remove them so you’ll remember which one goes where. Do not mix them up or the hinges may not line up properly when you reinstall. If you are painting only the drawer fronts, you wont have to remove the attached slides. If you do need to remove the slides, mark them and their locations as well. Place the hardware and screws in plastic bags inside the cabinets where they will be easy to locate when you’re ready to reassemble everything.
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Most Popular Colors And Finishes For Painted Kitchen Cabinets
White cabinets are the most popular, followed by gray, but truthfully, you can choose whatever color you choose. You also have the option to do one color for the island and a different color for the perimeter of the room or one color for the bottom part of the cabinets and a different one for top shelves. The world is your oyster.
Currently, satin finishes are the most popular for kitchen cabinets . Satin is stylish and shows dirt less. This is followed by matte and then semi gloss . Those looking for super shiny use glossy, but please be aware that these show every bit of dust and are very taste specific and will show every brush stroke.
If you are looking to sell your house in the next few years, Id recommend you simply choose the most popular and stylish white with a satin finish.
Trying to choose the best paint shade for your cabinets? Check out this article Most popular paint shades for kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities..
Ideas For Not Cleaning Paintbrush Or Roller Between Painting Sessions
Use a gallon-sized Ziploc bag to store your brush and roller when not in use. Make sure to squeeze on the air, but make sure you keep your brushs shape. You can also use clear plastic wrap and painters tape to keep your brush fresh between paintings without cleaning.
Obviously, make sure you clean your brushes and use a new roller when transitioning from the primer to paint. The brushes would last a few days like this, but any more than that make sure to wash completely or it will just be harder to clean then .
8. Primer should be dry in a few hours . However, I just always continue the next step the next day. The last thing you want to do is flip a door over and ruin you work you just did because it wasnt fully dry.
9. Following the same brush and roller procedure, apply the latex enamel paint. Let dry and then add a second coat to the drawers, doors, and cabinet base.
10. Make sure that you evenly paint the sides and all parts of the drawers, doors and cabinet frame. It is very easy to miss a spot. Looking at your cabinet and vanity parts from all angles, helps you see if you missed any spots. Even asking another set of eyes to check is always helpful.
11. If you think you need a third coat, feel free.
12. Once the paint is cured, reattach doors with either new hardware or old hardware. We have sprayed paint these hinges before, but for this kitchen makeover, we bought all new hinges, pulls, and knobs.
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Worried About Adhesion Try Acrylic Urethane
Acrylic urethane has many properties that make it a perfect primer for cabinets. First, it sticks tenaciously to almost any surface. You could even paint over plastic laminate cabinets with acrylic urethane.
Acrylic urethane also cures to a very hard and durable finish. You can use acrylic urethane primer and cover it with your choice of paint. Or you can use acrylic urethane paint as the final coat too.
Can I Use Latex Paint
Well yes, you can use anything you want. But latex paint, as in regular wall paint, will not give you as smooth or durable a finish as enamel paint.
Ill admit that, in a pinch, Ive painted cabinets and furniture with latex paint that I had on hand. Generally Ive had good experience with Valspar Signature in Satin, but I wouldnt trust a whole kitchen remodel to it.
Ive been much happier with the cabinets and furniture Ive painted with the Satin Enamels and the Valspar Cabinet Enamel, specifically when it comes to a smooth finish without brush strokes.
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Dont Go Overboard On Sanding
You should sand cabinets before beginning your how to paint kitchen cabinet project to give the new paint a good surface to grip. But you dont need to sand to bare wood.
If your cabinets have a factory finish, sand lightly with 120-grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge. If the surface is rough from a previous paint job or poor varnishing job, start with coarser 100-grit paper to remove bumps. Then sand again with 120-grit to get rid of any sanding marks.
Painting Kitchen Cabinets White Is Such A Budget
You will see how we are still happy with our outcome 7 years later at the end of this. Yes, we have a few problem areas from our munchkins running around. However, we still think our paint job had really held up while in that time frame.
The best thing about painting cabinets is that you can easily just touch or repaint when you think you need a little kitchen refresh.
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Painting Tools And Techniques: The Basics
Paint with a mini roller: A good painter can work wonders with a brush, but for most of us a mini roller is a great alternative when painting kitchen cabinets. Youll find mini roller frames and sleeves at home centers and paint stores.
Type of mini roller: There are many roller sleeves available, but when learning how to paint cabinets, mohair, microfiber or foam sleeves are good choices. Foam sleeves will leave the smoothest finish, but they dont hold much paint, so youll be reloading frequently. Experiment on the inside of doors to see which sleeve works best with your paint.
Follow the wood grain: If youre painting frame-and-panel cabinet doors, follow the direction of the wood grain with your finishing brushstrokes. The vertical stiles should receive the last brush strokes running from top to bottom.
Roll, then brush: If youre old-school and still like to paint with a brush, you can speed things up by first applying the paint with a mini roller. Roll on the paint. Then drag paintbrush bristles lightly over the surface to even out the coat and eliminate roller marks.
The Absolute Best Way To Paint Kitchen Cabinets
You may remember I already wrote a post on the right way to paint your kitchen cabinets, otherwise known as the worlds longest kitchen cabinet painting tutorial. After I published my original post, the question I heard most often was Is there an easier way?
Well, because I love you guys, I set out to answer that question. I had to buy a new house with ugly dark outdated oak kitchen cabinets, just to satisfy your curiosity. It was a sacrifice, but one I was willing to make. Just for you, my dear readers.
So now, after trying out a new product and a completely different process, I have the new and improved best way to redo your kitchen cabinets.
What makes it the best, you ask? Its faster, easier, and with WAY less mess. My previous process still works well, but if youre wanting a quicker turnaround, this will be the process for you.
Update: After living with my cabinets for several years, Ive found that this new easier way holds up just as well as the previous method. So theres no reason to feel like youre taking a shortcut. I can definitely say this is my favorite way to paint cabinets now!
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Skipping The Proper Prep Work
“The biggest mistake is not taking the time to properly understand what is needed to prep the cabinets for painting,” says David Steckel, Thumbtack home expert. “Repainting kitchen cabinets may seem like a fit-for-DIY job, but it’s a tricky, time-consuming project, and if not done right, could look worse in just a few months.”
Before you start painting, most cabinets will require sanding the surface, filling in any cracks or uneven areas with wood filler, and allowing it to dry. Once sanded, use a damp cloth or a lint-free tack cloth to remove all of the dust and debris. Any small particles that aren’t cleaned up can waft into the paint and ruin the pristine surface of the cabinet.
If you have patience and some DIY skills, this is a project you may be able to tackle yourself however, depending upon the intricacy of the cabinet design and your expectations for the final product, it may be worth it to hire a pro. “The average cost in the U.S. to paint your kitchen cabinets is between $1,000 to 1,700 or between $45 to $60 per hour,” says Steckel.
Should You Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets When It Might Not Be Worth It
If your cabinets are in bad shape structurally, adding paint will not make them better. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself.
- Do the doors close nicely?
- Is there water damage on your kitchen cabinets?
- Can all of the drawers slide in and out?
- Do you mind seeing wood grain ?
- Is your kitchen layout acceptable? You cant fix a kitchen cabinet layout with paint.
- Are you willing to put the time in to properly paint your cabinets?
For the most part, our oak kitchen cabinets were just dated and ugly. We had a few troublesome areas, but nothing major. Yes, I do still dream of the day of soft-close drawers. However, our painted cabinets have helped us cheaply update our kitchen 7 years ago when that was all we could afford.
*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read our full privacy policy here.
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Eight: Fill In Grain And Imperfections With Drydex And A Putty Knife
You only need a thin layer of DryDex, just enough to cover the grain. If you apply too much, you will just create more sanding for yourself in the next step . Areas with damage or screw holes may require a light second coat of Drydex. Allow for the recommended drying time in between sanding and coats, or else it will pill up and become ineffective.