Cabinet Painting Sacramento is a big job that requires attention to detail and a lot of time. Hiring a professional is often worth the extra cost.
Number each cabinet door and drawer front as you remove them. This makes reattachment much easier later. Also, be sure to collect all hardware (hinges and pulls) for each piece and label it accordingly.
Cabinet Painting may seem like a simple weekend project, but proper surface preparation is the unsung hero behind any successful endeavor. It’s the first step that can make or break your results. If you skip it, you may find yourself fixing mistakes or even having to start over again later.
The biggest thing to remember is that you need to completely clean your cabinets before you begin. If you skip this step, the old paint and grease will remain on your surfaces and impede how well the new finish adheres to them. This can lead to peeling paint, flaking, and other problems down the line.
Start by taking everything out of your cabinets and moving it to another room or outside, if possible. If not, then carefully stack it in neat rows or piles and cover them with tarps or drop cloths to protect the areas you’re not working on. It’s also important to label all the hardware with painter’s tape so you know which pieces go back where once you’re done. Once you’ve cleaned all the doors and drawer fronts, use 220-grit sandpaper or finer to lightly sand the surface of each one. Be sure to clean off any dust created during this process using a damp cloth or lint-free tack cloth.
When your cabinets are dry to the touch, you can begin painting. Be careful not to slam or open them until the paint is fully cured. This can take up to 30 days, so be patient!
It’s recommended that you use a high-quality, cabinet-specific paint that resists chips and scratches. It’s also essential to apply at least two coats for full coverage and durability. Spraying is the best method for a smooth, factory-quality finish, but brushing can also be effective if you have the proper equipment and technique.
Primer
Whether you’re painting cabinets in your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or any other area of your home, it’s crucial to use Cabinets primer before applying your final paint. It improves the adhesion of your paint and helps create a smooth surface, covering flaws and hiding colors that might show through without it. Cabinets primer can also be used to prevent moisture from damaging your finished job.
There are many types of Cabinets primer that you can choose from, depending on what type of surface you’re working with. If your cabinets are made of melamine or laminate, you’ll want to choose a specialized Cabinets primer that will stick to these surfaces. If you have wood cabinets, a general-purpose latex or oil-based Cabinets primer will work. However, if your cabinets are natural or stained, you’ll need to use a bonding primer designed for this type of surface.
If you’re changing the color of your cabinets, it’s important to use a high-hiding Cabinets primer that will hide the old color. Otherwise, you may end up with blotchy, patchy results. This is especially true if you’re switching from dark to light colors.
Once you’ve chosen your Cabinets primer, it’s time to prep the surface for painting. Use a clean cloth to wipe away any dust or dirt from the cabinet surfaces. Then, lightly scuff-sand the cabinets to help the primer and paint adhere to the surface. For this step, you’ll want to use a fine grit sandpaper (around 220-grit). When you’re done, just wipe down the surface with a damp cloth to remove any dust or residue left behind.
While most people would recommend sanding solid wood cabinets before painting them, this is not always necessary as long as you use a good bonding primer first. A good Bonding primer can seal pores and provide a level surface for your finish. This will save you time and effort and give your paint a longer life.
A good Cabinets primer should dry quickly and resist moisture and grease, which is exactly what you need in a kitchen! The best Cabinets primers will also have low VOC levels so they’re safer for your home and won’t have a harsh odor.
Paint
Cabinets are the most visible square footage in a kitchen, and painting them well is a big job. If you don’t do it right, your finished product may not look good or last long, and re-doing the project can be costly.
The first step in the paint process is primer. Primer prepares the surface for the topcoat and ensures proper adhesion. It also helps to increase your paint’s durability so that it holds up better against wear and tear over time. Primer is available in tinted formulas to match almost any color, and only one coat is typically needed.
Before applying the final color, it is important to repair any chips, dings, or scratches on the cabinet surfaces. A small amount of acrylic wood filler works well on all types of cabinets, and it can be easily sanded down to smooth out dents and dings. It is also a good idea to mask off any areas where you don’t want to paint. This can be done with tape or even newspaper. Once you’ve masked off the areas that you don’t want to paint, clean the rest of your cabinetry with degreaser. You can use a liquid degreaser or trisodium phosphate (TSP) to remove any grease and grime on the cabinets before you start painting.
Once you’ve repaired any dents or dings, it is time to apply your primer and then the actual paint. A water-based latex paint is a great choice for most cabinets because it dries quickly, has fewer odors than oil-based paint, and is easy to clean up. However, if you have cabinets made from open-grained hardwoods, you may need to consider an oil-based primer. Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore both make alkyd paints that are similar to oils, but they dry more slowly, have lower VOCs, and don’t yellow as quickly.
Once the cabinetry is ready to be reassembled, it’s important to label where each door and drawer should go when you remove it. This will make reattaching them much easier when the project is complete. You should also keep track of the hardware for each door as you remove it and place it in a bag marked with the corresponding cabinet number.
Finish
Cabinets are the most visual element of any kitchen, so it’s important to take your time and do them justice. A shoddy job will be obvious to everyone, and will look worse over time. If you’re not a stickler for details or have little patience, it may be best to have professional help.
If you decide to DIY, it’s important to plan out your project before you begin. It’s easy to make mistakes that will ruin the results, especially if you don’t prepare the surface correctly. It’s also a good idea to map out where each door and drawer will go before removing them, so you can re-install them in the right place once they’re painted. You should also label the hardware so you know where to reattach it once the cabinets are re-hung.
Before you start painting, you should wipe down all surfaces to remove dust, grease, and dirt. You can use a degreaser to do this, or a solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Be sure to wash the inside of each cabinet, as well.
After washing and sanding (as needed), you can apply your primer. This helps ensure that the new paint will adhere properly and won’t chip or peel.
Once the primer is dry, it’s time for your cabinet paint. There are a few different kinds of paint you can choose from, depending on your budget and the desired finish. Latex paint is easy to clean, dries quickly, and emits less odor than oil-based paints. However, it isn’t as durable as an oil paint.
If you’re looking for a long-lasting, high-quality finish, opt for an alkyd paint. Both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams offer alkyds that are based on oil paint but don’t off-gas like oils do. Alkyd paints are more expensive, but they’ll last longer than latex.
Another option is to get a hand-painted polyurethane finish. This will give your cabinets a beautiful, natural look and is easy to clean. It’s a great option for homeowners who want their cabinets to last. You can also add a glaze to your cabinets for a more rustic or modern look.
