Before painting cabinetry doors and hinges (if applicable) should be detached to make reassembly easier and reduce drips.
Most nonprofessionals tend to neglect this step, thinking sanding and cleaning will do the trick. However, this step is essential in creating smooth layers for chalk paint applications.
Preparation
Painting cabinets yourself is an inexpensive and time-saving alternative to hiring professionals, though the project takes at least two days of prep work and painting drying before reattaching doors and drawer fronts.
As part of your cabinet renovation, it will be necessary to take steps such as unhooking cabinet hardware, cleaning surfaces and sanding cabinets before priming and painting all cabinet frames and drawer faces, including handles. Reattaching drawer and door handles may also be required – numbering doors and drawer fronts as you remove them can help ensure their quick reassembly using appropriate hinges and handles.
Before beginning, cover floors and countertops with tarps or paper to protect them from paint splatters. It is advisable to move food items out of cabinets temporarily until drying occurs; then move back once all is completed and dry. In addition to emptying and thoroughly cleaning all interior cabinets using grease-cutting cleanser, empty and thoroughly clean their contents as well.
Primer
For optimal results, coat your cabinets with an oil-based primer before painting them. Choose one that’s tintable and suitable for the material of your cabinets – for wood surfaces try BIN Shellac Based Primers ($18/gallon, Amazon). Simply roll or brush this product on, sanding lightly with 220 grit sandpaper afterwards to smooth over its rough surfaces before wiping down with a lint-free cloth to remove dust, dirt and residue, allowing everything to dry overnight!
KILZ Adhesion Interior/Exterior Primer ($18/gallon on Amazon) is designed specifically for vinyl and laminate cabinets and ensures your latex or oil-based paint sticks securely to the surface. In addition, it contains stain-blocking properties as well as mildew resistance – it dries quickly with low odour, stain blocking properties, stain blocking capabilities and mildew resistance; plus it comes quick drying. If painting over darker colors or using oil-based paint, however, shellac or alcohol-based primer may provide better adhesion properties than water-based ones but may take longer to dry completely and be more difficult for cleanup afterwards.
Paint
Painting cabinets is a time-consuming project, so depending on the intricacy of your cabinet design and your DIY skills it may be worth your while to hire professional refinishers. However, if you decide to refinish them yourself it’s essential to purchase quality paint, apply it according to instructions, sand between coats as directed and prime the surface before priming and painting again.
Experts advise applying multiple thin coats of paint using a smooth-surface roller and allowing each application to dry fully before proceeding to apply the next one, followed by additional applications and additional coats as necessary until reaching desired coverage. They then sand between coats in order to create a seamless finish.
Select durable acrylic or latex paint, which offers easy clean-up and low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Oil-based enamel spray paint offers additional durability but should be used in well-ventilated areas due to its volatile odor emissions as it dries. There are hybrid products marketed specifically towards cabinets that combine both ease of application and low VOC emissions from latex paint with durability from oil-based enamels spray paints.
Finish
Once your cabinets have been painted, it’s time to add details. If you’re repainting, lightly sand the cabinet doors, wood drawer fronts, and face frames so that scuff marks form; fill any dents or imperfections with wood filler as necessary; if staining, apply pre-stain conditioner so the wood absorbs color evenly for an impressive finish.
If using an oil-based primer, wear a mask to protect yourself from its fumes. Also lay down a drop cloth or newspapers for collecting drips and paint spills; use a foam roller and lightly sand any roller or brush strokes before letting your cabinets dry according to manufacturer’s instructions; choose either semi-gloss or satin finishes to facilitate easy cleaning; finally seal off your cabinets with an acrylic urethane top coat to guard against moisture damage before using your kitchen again.
