Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Your kitchen cabinets take more misuse than any other piece of woodwork in your home. Cabinets are opened and closed countless times a day, and they are placed in the kitchen where the air conditions would be vicious to any kind of woodwork. In one moment the kitchen can be very dry - like when your oven is on a high temperature for a long period of time - and a few minutes later the kitchen can be near 100 percent moisture when you start roasting vegetables or boil a large pot of water.

These steady atmospheric changes can wreak havoc on the structural soundness of your cabinets, as well as on the finish. As if these harsh conditions weren't enough, the surface finish of your cabinets is constantly exposed to fingers that are covered with grease, butter, meat, etc. All of these things play a major role in explaining why your kitchen cabinets may look like they could use some refreshment.

Before you begin re-painting your cabinets, there are a few details that you need to think to make sure that you are pleased with the result. Are your cabinets painted now or are they finished with a stain and varnish? If they are painted, do you want to paint them the same color? Take some time to think about what you want your refreshed kitchen to look like before you decide. This could be an chance for you to not only get the cabinets cleaned up, but to completely change their look.

1. Clean the Cabinets:

Preparation is the chief step in the process of painting your cabinets, and it is very important to make sure that all of the surfaces you are going to paint are fully free of all grease, grime, food residue and whatever else may be stuck to them. You will find the whole procedure is much easier if you remove all the cabinet doors. Once you have taken them all down, find a place where you can lay them out flat. Use an all purpose cleaner and a rag and then allow them to dry thoroughly.

2. Sand the Cabinets: 

Once they are dry, use a piece of fine grit sandpaper - 150 or finer - and make a few passes over all the flat surfaces of the doors. Don't forget to do the thin facing pieces on the cabinet boxes themselves. The slightly sanded surface will allow the primer to bite and hold onto the kitchen cabinet surface. It can be a boring process, but taking the time to lightly sand your cabinets before you prime and paint them will greatly increase longevity of the paint job. Don't underestimate the importance of this step!

3. Apply Primer: 

After sanding, it's time to prime the kitchen cabinets. Primer forms a better bond with the surface than paint alone would. This means that the paint is less likely to chip and peel if it gets bumped with dishes or pots and pans. If your cabinets are already painted and you are re-painting them the same color, it is OK to skip this step and go ahead and apply the paint. If, however, your cabinets are stained and you are trying to cover up the natural wood grain with paint, you must prime them first. The paint will not stick to the varnished surface and the color of the stain will most likely bleed right through your paint.

There are many types of primer that you can use, and which one you choose is largely based on what kind of paint you want to use over the top. If you are using an oil-based paint, an interior oil based primer is recommended. These products tend to have a very strong odor and they are best used when you can properly ventilate the room. The best option would be to take all the doors that you removed out to the garage and paint them there with the overhead door open.

If you are planning to use a latex paint for your top coat, then a shellac based primer is recommended. This product tends to dry fairly quickly, so make sure that you are ready to go before you begin applying it. The shellac based primers, just like the oil based, carry a very strong odor and caution should be used.

4. Paint the Cabinets:

At this point, after sanding and priming, your kitchen cabinet doors probably look awful! Don't worry, you've built a great base for the top coats of paint, which will bring your kitchen bouncing back to life. There are some ways to apply the paint. A pneumatic sprayer is the best way to get a smooth and glossy finish. If you don't have access to one, however, don't panic - you can still get a great finish by using a high quality paint brush. 2 1/2" to 3" would be ideal.

The key to achieving a expert finish with a brush is to use very thin coats. It may be tempting, after all the work you've already to done, to try to coat the paint on as thick as possible just so you can be finished. This is not a good idea. The best and most tough paint jobs are built up by consecutive thin layers of paint, not just one thick one.

5. Add additional Coats: 

Lightly apply your first coat and let it dry totally. If you truly feel like to get a professional finish, take some 380 grit sandpaper and very lightly sand the flat surfaces again. You are not trying to take away the paint, but instead are insuring that the next coat has the smoothest possible surface to adhere to. Once that is complete, add your second coat.

In most cases two coats of paint will be enough. Occasionally, though, you may find that you get better results from three. This is often exact with woods that carry a heavier grain, like oak. Once the doors are painted and fully dry, simply hang them back up, sit back, and enjoy the bright, clean and renewed space that you've worked so hard to achieve.

How to Repaint Kitchen Cabinets

HOW TO REPAINT KITCHEN CABINETS

If your kitchen cabinets become old and want to update them, repaint kitchen cabinets. You'll have a new, bright look. If your kitchen cabinets are new and unfinished, painting them might be right for you, too. It depends on the wood you have and the look you want.

COST TO REPAINT KITCHEN CABINETS
If you repaint kitchen cabinets, it will be much less costly than purchasing new cabinets (a few hundred dollars (at most) versus thousands for new cabinets).



Updating your cabinets look by will be quite ease if you follow some below steps.

• Ladder
• Drop clothes
• Sponges, scouring pads, rags, to clean your cabinets with.
• Bucket and some good, heavy-duty cleaner
• 150 grit or finer sand paper
• A synthetic bristle brush for latex-based paint.
• A good natural bristle brush for oil-based paint.
• Spray equipment (if you have it and know how to use it, otherwise just use a good brush).
• Screw drivers to take hinges, doors, drawer fronts, etc. off.
• Good Primer
• Good Paint
• Good ventilation
• Some elbow-grease

Step #1 - CLEAN YOUR CABINETS:

• Take all your door and drawer handles off.
• Take your doors and drawer fronts off, if you can. It is easier to clean and paint them if they are laying flat.
• Take the hinges off your doors if you can. If you can't, when the time comes to paint you will need to either mask them off, or paint them.
• Use a good, heavy-duty cleaner to clean your cabinets.
• Rinse your cabinets well.
• Allow them to dry thoroughly.

Step #2 - SAND YOUR CABINETS:

To have good looking and long-life painted kitchen cabinets, you need to have a good base for your paint.
Sanding your cabinets before you apply any primer or paint helps the primer and paint to adhere better to the cabinet surface. This will help your paint job to last longer.
• Make sure your cabinets are dry from washing them.
• Use 150 grit or finer sand paper.
• Lightly sand all surfaces that you will be painting.
• Wipe down the surface, eliminating any dust the sanding caused. You can use a tack cloth if you'll be applying an oil-based primer and paint. Don't use one if you'll be using a water-based primer or latex paint. Tack clothes have a drop of oil or varnish in them, and if used in conjunction with water-based products, may result in your finish not looking good.

ALTERNATIVE TO STEPS #1 & #2 - APPLY DE-GLOSSER:
If you'd rather use a deglosser, the new deglossers replace Steps 1 & 2 above. There's still some value in lightly sanding your surface before you degloss, but read the label on the deglosser and follow those instructions.
The older deglossers really have a strong odor. The new ones don't smell as bad, but still have chemicals in them that may be irritating. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and follow the manufacturer's safety instructions.
If you have more time than money, just clean your cabinets and sand them. It will save $10 - $20. Not that much, but if you're on a budget every little bit helps.

STEP #3 - APPLY A GOOD PRIMER TO YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS:

If your kitchen cabinets were originally stained and finished, and now you're going to repaint kitchen cabinets, you must use a primer. The primer will prevent the stain and finish from bleeding through the new paint.
Ask your paint supplier for help in choosing the right primer for you, but the following are some guidelines:
• If you are going to apply oil-based paint, you should apply an oil-based primer.
• Never apply oil-based paint over water-based primers.
• You can apply oil-based paint over a water-based primer.
• You can use a latex paint over a water-based primer or a shellac-based primer (which is quite toxic, as are oil-based primers - you will need excellent ventilation).
Again, consult your paint supplier to make sure you have the products right for your application.
Primer Allows Paint to Bond Well - When don't you have to use primer?:
• If your cabinets are already painted AND
• You are just repainting your kitchen cabinets with a similar color paint (just giving them a fresh, newer look)
When you mask off:
• Use a "Clean Release" painters tape
• Mask off all areas you don't want paint on, like walls, trim, or parts of the cabinet
• Remove the painters tape as soon as the paint is dry. If you wait too long, you might take some of the paint with you that you don't want to (like peeling it off of the cabinets) OR you might damage the wall or trim underneath the tape. Painters tape is made to release easily, but, if kept on too long, especially in hot conditions, it can do damage.

STEP #4 - YOU ARE NOW READY TO PAINT THOSE CABINETS:

Finally, you are going to have painted kitchen cabinets!!
Apply the paint with a high quality paint brush (synthetic for latex and natural for oil). Use a 2" to 3" brush. You may want to use a smaller brush for your cabinet frame fronts.
• Apply your first coat thinly and evenly.
• Make sure your first coat has dried completely.
• Using 320 grit or greater sand paper, lightly scuff the paint. This will remove any fibers, etc., that are standing up and make for a smoother second coat.
• Use a cloth to remove excess paint dust.
• Apply a second coat of paint, with even strokes.
• You may be finished, but apply as many coats as you think are necessary. Two are usually enough, though, especially if you've applied a primer.

STEP #5 - CLEANUP AND RE-ATTACH DOORS, DRAWER FRONTS, AND HARDWARE:

• Clean up your area according to the type of paint you've used. That information can be found on the back of your paint can.
• Be sure to properly dispose of your drop clothes, if used, and any paint cans, etc.
• Make sure your painted kitchen cabinets, doors, and drawer fronts are completely dry.
• You can now de-mask, re-attach hinges if necessary, hang your doors on again, and put on your handles. You might want to think about purchasing new handles for a new or updated look.
Always Remember Safety:
Be sure your area is well ventilated. Painting doors and drawer fronts is often done in a garage with all windows open and garage doors up. Have fans running to circulate air. Never paint in an enclosed area.
Be sure to wear the proper gloves. To be safe, you can always invest in a respirator mask. It is a small investment for your health.
And always follow manufacturer's directions for safe use of their products.