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If contemporary pop culture is any indication, we’re currently obsessed with home makeovers. From shows like Queer Eye to
Best Paint To Refinish Kitchen Cabinets
There’s something about that dramatic reveal of a newly-transformed facelift that puts us on the edge of our seats for reupholstery. We eat it up — on repeat (still watching, of course, Netflix). But there’s always one project that satisfies the collective desire for makeover above all others: freshly painted kitchen cabinets.
Should I Paint My Kitchen Cabinets?
Star and design expert Bobby Berk, who says this might be his favorite touch on a project. “You immediately create a change that is visible without making a huge investment in time and money,” says Berk. “And when you choose a completely new color or one that creates more contrast, it has a huge impact on how the room looks and feels.” Ryan Ehrlich of Paintworks & Decorating in Manhattan agrees. “It brings tears of happiness to our customers’ eyes.”
Ehrlich says his clients come to him for a variety of reasons. “Over time, cabinets can look worn and ugly,” he explains. Often it’s simply a matter of wanting a new look that’s stronger than rearranging some furniture. “Tastes and styles change,” he adds.
Maybe you’re ready to have your own reality TV moment and go Bobby Berk in your culinary space. Below is a complete guide on how to paint your kitchen cabinets like a pro, compliments of the experts.
Taking on the project yourself pays off – literally. A professional paint job can cost up to $2,500, according to Forbes. Doing it yourself, the publication also found, can cost as little as $200 in a small kitchen and go as high as $775. Whether you go with professional painters or go the DIY route, you’ve already saved a lot of money by keeping your cabinets, which can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $25,000 to replace, Forbes found. A hardware refresh or a new set of hinges can add to the cost.
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We won’t sugarcoat it: Tackling a kitchen cabinet paint job isn’t exactly something you can finish by noon on a Saturday. Depending on the size of your kitchen and how quickly you work, this can be completed in a weekend. However, a larger kitchen can take six to eight days, according to Ehrlich, so plan a few nights to eat out. Patience is the name of the game here.
“Anyone can do it,” says Renae Brabham, one half of the husband-wife duo behind Brabhams Cabinet Painting in Charleston, South Carolina—together they’ve completed more than 500 kitchen cabinets. “However, if you try to step up, then you will end up calling in professionals to intervene. I get so many of those calls and it almost always boils down to someone getting impatient or using bad products.” In other words, if you’re going to do it, do it right. This is not the time to take shortcuts.
This might be the most horrible shortcut to take – so take our word for it and don’t cut this corner. Fresh paint adheres best to sanded surfaces, which keeps the paint smooth (spots scream sticky) and prevents it from chipping. For those who really despise the arm workout required by sanding two dozen cabinet doors, liquid sandpaper is an option (more on that below).
In fact, three of our experts told us they use both. A brush is ideal for touching up small areas or hard-to-reach spots, such as edges or cutouts. When all these areas have been touched up, a foam roller will go faster and make the paint go on smoothly. Note: Gloss paint is best applied with a brush rather than a roller, which will create a soft texture with this thicker paint.
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Typically, you will use about one gallon of paint for every 350 square feet of surface you want to paint. In terms of non-renovation, this means that one liter will cover a medium to large kitchen with more than 20 cabinets. Ehrlich says the estimate may vary depending on the gloss and color choice.
Rule number one: before you break out the roll, check the condition you’re working with. “Any small chips or cracks in the doors can also be easily repaired with wood filler,” says Berk. But keep in mind that not all cabinet doors and drawers can be painted. If the veneer is peeling or the wood is warped, it may be better to buy new drawer fronts and unfinished doors to replace the damaged ones.
The material of the cabinet is also an important consideration. Wood, laminated wood, veneer, fiberboard and even metal cabinets can be painted effortlessly. However, laminated plastic and thermofelli cabinets may require special paints and techniques that will be more conducive to paint adhesion. If in doubt, test a paint sample in an inconspicuous area, or even remove a door and take it to a paint shop for inspection.
We know, you’re eager to brush on paint. But a little advance preparation ensures that your countertops and backsplash don’t get an unexpected paint job. Gather the supplies listed above, then start preparing the space. Empty the cupboards, clear the counters and move the furniture that gets in your way so that you have enough space to work. Give the room a thorough dusting to prevent particles such as pollen from settling on wet paint. Then cover your backyard, countertops, and floor with brown construction paper or plastic tarps.
The Right Way To Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets And Save $$$ (factory Finish Guaranteed)
Brabham recommends setting up a work area outside the kitchen, such as a garage or basement, with good ventilation and even a few fans. There you can place plastic and place three to four sawhorses with two by fours on top to hold the cabinet doors. You can also set up a painting station nearby with paint, rollers, brushes, buckets and sandpaper.
When it comes to large paint jobs, remember to take safety precautions to avoid unwanted exposure to paint fumes. Keep windows and doors open, use fans to keep air moving, and continue to ventilate the area for at least three days after painting. Also, take breaks while painting.
Yes, it’s a big damn. And yes, you will be tempted to cheat and skip this step. But removing the cabinet doors gives you access to all cabinet surfaces. So if you don’t want a looser shape, don’t cut this corner
Take that door out. Starting at one end of the kitchen (working clockwise or counterclockwise), use a hand drill or screwdriver to remove cabinet hinges, doors, drawers, and hardware. If you are only painting the front of the doors, you do not need to remove the sides.
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“Count the doors as you remove them,” advises Brabham. “Otherwise it would be a mess because not all doors are created equal.” She suggests writing the number in the hole where the hardware was and covering it with a piece of tape to prevent painting. To avoid losing the hardware for each door, Brabham places it on the shelf where each door came from or puts each in a small bag labeled with the appropriate case number.
In the past you had to clean, strip, sand and generally break your back to prepare a surface for paint. But the home improvement industry has evolved beyond soap and scrub brushes—and even sandpaper. There is a product called M-1 Paint Gloss Remover (you can also use liquid sandpaper) that cleans and deglosses the surface. No sawdust. “These things are by no means a miracle product,” says Brabham. “No one cleans closets anymore.” To use, wipe M-1 Gloss Remover on all cabinet doors – sides, top, back – and it will be dry in 20 minutes.
. “Cleaning solutions can be a major culprit in our best DIY horror stories,” says Brabham. If you use a TSP [trisodium phosphate] or silicone based cleaner, you can get what’s called a fish eye on your cabinets. “It looks as creepy as it sounds. This bubble paint effect happens when the paint doesn’t stick and it’s a nightmare because you have to let it dry and then sand it, at which point you’re lucky if you don’t have to take it to a professional. to take. .”
Pinterest has become obsessed with dream kitchen colors, and you’ve expanded your phone storage with apps to help you find the perfect paint shade. But now you have reached your moment of reckoning. While we can’t tell you which color to choose (Berk says green kitchen cabinets are his new obsession), a word about paint type (there are two main categories, latex and oil-based paint) can help in the decision process.
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Whether you choose latex or oil-based paint, you know that both provide a good finish. As latex paint has improved over the years, many advantages have been completely abandoned