And if your project estimate includes filling any existing hardware holes, we do that now too. In that case, we use a special heavy-bodied primer that is designed to fill 95% of your cabinets grain. 
We remove them and leave the boxes themselves in place (which means you can leave items like silverware inside the drawers during the whole process). To make reattaching the doors much easier later on, number each cabinet door as you remove it. We remove all the hardware such as drawer pulls and door handles. Interior Painting Checklist for Homeowner. Cabinet Painting & Interior Painting Awards, Home Advisor Certification - (few Members have this), LEED Certification for Individuals LEED Accredited Professional (LEEDAP). "Instead, use an oil-based primer and then apply the latex paint on your cabinets," he advises. To increase the longevity of the paint on your cabinets, it's imperative that they cabinets be prepared properly by Washing thoroughly (all oils and foods removed), Sanding to create a surface that the primer can adhere to), Filled, Patched, and Primed.An important factor in extended the life of your painted cabinets, don't skimp on paint! When it comes to interior painting, we do it all: trim, doors, walls, ceilings, fireplace mantles and brick, staircases, and pillars.
5 Tips for How To Choose Your Wall Colors. Protect your floors. "If youre seasoned and know how to use an airless paint sprayer, this is the best option for cabinets because you can get beautiful, even coverage," Gibbons says. "Painting cabinets can be tedious, but if you take your time to do it the right way, youll be so happy with the results," Gibbons says. All Rights Reserved. This helps the primer bond to your cabinets, and is a critical step! Even if your hardwood cabinets are in near-perfect condition, you still have to sand them down to the bare wood finish so the paint sticks, Gibbons says. However, its easier said than done, since there are a slew of painted kitchen cabinet mistakes to consider before you even think of grabbing your paint brush. By the time weve fixed any small imperfections and sanded the primer layers, your cabinets will feel smooth as butter! If you're stuck on where to start, check out color paint trends for inspiration! You can also test a sample of the paint you want to use in an inconspicuous area, so you can make sure it will bond to the material. We think the best paint for kitchen cabinets is lacquer, but if theres a downside, its that lacquers are smelly while theyre being sprayed, theres no way around it.. Just schedule a free in-home estimate, with either our Austin or San Antonio locations. Will the primer fill the grain 100%, over every square centimeter? This way, youre guaranteed a smooth, professional finish on BOTH sides of your cabinet doors. We remove the doors and drawer fronts and either use a specially-made rack to hold the doors while were working, or take them off-site to our cabinet spray shop for spraying. Or dealing with finding a place in your home to spread out all the cabinet doors so you can paint one side, then wait for them to dry enough so that you can flip them over and paint the backs . Most give you some basic pointers geared to the non-professional,the homeowner on a budget. Painting cabinets is our specialty, and wed love to show you how beautiful your cabinets can look! Ask about equipment: Find out if the pro is comfortable purchasing paint and other materials on their own, or if you're required to pick up some of those tasks. Now we reassemble everything! 2022 New Life Painting, Inc. All rights reserved. Painted cabinets may be dry to the touch within a few hours, but the curing process can take several days. We cover everything that wont get painted countertops, backsplash, appliances, floors with either masking paper or plastic. First of all, why is there such a huge difference between DIY-painted cabinets and a professional cabinet finish? There's a Name for ThatHere Are 8 Ways You Can Break Through It. 9 Cheeses You Can Eat Even If You're Lactose Intolerant, Feel Like You Don't Enjoy Anything Anymore? Here's the Right Temperature for Your Refrigerator and Freezer (Because a Few Degrees Makes a Difference). If you want to save money, you can do it yourself. "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. "Your cabinets and hardware will start to chip and show signs of wear within a month or even immediately." Sand between coats. The wrong pressure or setting on your spray gun, or the wrong distance youve got the spray tip from the surface, or the wrong speed that youre moving your arm . She suggests painting a big poster board with a tester can in the color you're considering (you can usually get a small one for just $5). Now for the most exciting part of painting cabinets: We spray the color on! And without professional spray equipment, its almost impossible to get the smooth, factory finish look of new cabinets. And you can always call us at 512-522-4887 (for Austin, TX) or 210-655-3626 (for San Antonio, TX) if you have a question we havent answered! "No matter how clean you think your kitchen is, you need to wipe everything down with a grease remover," says Fahrbach. Click to learn more about our cabinet refacing and painting services. Cabinet Painting Gurus quality painting experience dates back to when Kevin founded the largest house painting business on Long Island in New York state. Exterior House Painting in Arroyo Grande Our painters recently finished an exterior painting project on a beautiful home in Arroyo Grande, CA, that included the, Exterior House Painting in Santa Maria Our painters recently finished an exterior repaint on a beautiful home in Santa Maria, CA. Dings, cracks, or other imperfections are easier to see after priming, so we take care of them now. We've been painting a long time. Wood, wood-laminate, formica, and previously-painted cabinets can be painted so it can look new again, and it can last for many years. While it may be a bit more than some other paints on the shelf, it's worth it. New Life Painting serves the Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo areas. "The biggest mistake is not taking the time to properly understand what is needed to prep the cabinets for painting," says David Steckel, Thumbtackhome expert. "Priming helps paint to adhere to surfaces and is a critical step if youre painting cabinets," Gibbons says. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Once the paint on the hinges starts to crack, all you can do is sand everything down and soak the hardware to remove the paint, so save yourself the aggravation. Until the cabinets are fully cured to a hard, durable surface, they'll be more susceptible to chips and marks. If properly painted and cared for, your newly painted kitchen cabinets can last up to 15 years before needing another coat of paint. The pros dont do it this way. 7 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Painting Their Kitchen Cabinets. Read More, 2022 Cabinet Painting Guru. It helps your paint dry to a very hard, enamel-like finish. Plus, if you keep the cabinet doors out of the way, such as in a garage or separate workspace, you'll be less likely to bump into them as the paint is drying. . Maybe youve heard tips like these: Wash your cabinets first. Next, we mask off your kitchen to get ready to spray the base cabinets. Weve been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. That means less money and dust. Attention DIYers: Is Kitchen Cabinet Painting For You. We would be happy to speak with you! Any small particles that aren't cleaned up can waft into the paint and ruin the pristine surface of the cabinet. Whether you're starting with wood cabinets or dark paint, primer will create a barrier so your chosen paint color can shine. . Sometimes the fronts are made to unscrew easily from the drawer boxes, which is the ideal scenario. Well show your our professional process for painting cabinets step-by-step. If your cabinets have plastic laminate surfaces, you should speak to a knowledgeable paint dealer.
And a more experienced DIYer might like the finish provided by a spray gun (like Jenny at Little Green Notebook uses), but it's a bit more unwieldy than a brush. Our 18-point process will help you to understand why the Cabinet Repainting Guru process is different. Lastly, how you care for your cabinets makes all the difference. Each individual door hinge gets labeled, so we can put each one back in the right place when we reassemble. Well always paint both sides of your doors, both sides of your drawer front pieces, and the outsides of the cabinet bases and frames themselves (whether or not were painting the insides). Can you paint over cabinets that are already painted? You'll also want to sidestep some common cabinet painting mistakes in order to avoid chipped paint and perpetually dirty-looking cabinets down the line. It is worth the money to buy the best paint there is for your cabinets. "Older cabinets are typically painted with oil paint. You can also use newspaper to protect the insides of your cabinets. You can begin with the back side of your cabinet doors. Otherwise, your painted cabinets will still have the texture of the woods grain underneath. Plus trying to paint both sides of the doors and drawer fronts while theyre still in place is extremely tricky, and its almost impossible to get a smooth result without getting paint on your hinges or leaving brush strokes on every surface. In that case, well paint the outside but not the insides of your cabinets. We go the extra mile to make the whole project as comfortable for you as possible. Even if you don't have a ton of cabinets, once all of the doors and hardware are removed, it can be difficult to remember what goes back where. However, the most common paint today is latex paint. We fill dings and sand out rough spots, taking extra care on the fronts, or visible sides of your cabinetry. But none of these posts or articles shows you what the professionals do when they paint cabinets! And you likely won't be using more than two gallons of paint, so costs won't be as prohibitive as if you were painting an entire room. 2. If this is a DIY project or you hand the work off to a budget painter, you really will get what you paid for and can't expect your cabinets to go the distance in terms of time. The messy part of painting cabinets is over. She suggests using a two-inch angle brush for cutting into the inside corners and crevices of your cabinets and a roller for the flat surface areas. 3. Well, we think its the best primer for kitchen cabinets if you want to fill grain, but its not a miracle product! The area's leading professional painting contractor service since 2007. Ask about time: Request an estimate for how long the project will take so you have a good idea of what you're up for before you dive into it. But for cabinets, it's important you get it right the first time. Painting your kitchen cabinets is one of the easiest ways to give your kitchen a brand-new look, without embarking on a complete remodel. Paper Moon Painting. (We paint our cabinet door samples on grainy oak, so you can get a real-life example of how beautiful theyll look once were done.). Just be sure to use the right primer for the cabinets you're painting. I would highly recommend him! A mini-sized roller thats around 4.5 wide is best for a smaller surface area like a cabinet. She recommends sanding them lightly with 120-grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge. Plus the air scrubbers clean your air on a continuous cycle within the spray area. In that case, everything needs to come out of your cabinets and drawers before we arrive. However, its not a project you should tackle without first considering the cons and evaluating whether you can do the work. Don't just jump right in: Gibbons suggests painting the insides of your cabinets first then tackling the doors. Should I Paint My Cabinets Two Different Colors? 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. Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. We usually use professional-grade lacquer because it has a lovely, silky-smooth feel to it, and is what cabinet manufacturers use. But it will fill almost all of it, enough that your cabinets will look smooth and lovely, especially on the front faces of your cabinets where it matters most. To make cabinets easier to wipe clean, a slightly shinier paint finish is ideal. Not every last bit of grain is always filled. When you tackle this project yourself, it can be a surprisingly affordable (yet time-consuming) DIY. And we treat your kitchen refinishing project like its our own. From the Bucket to the Brush,Were the Painters You Can Trust!, Painting | Remodeling | Restoration | Team | Community | Customer Reviews | Mission Statement. "A traditional woven roller will create too much texturing in your finish, so opt for a finer material such as a microfiber option to ensure an ultra-smooth finish," she says. Be sure to pick the right paint roller nap as well, Gibbons advises. They do great work! no plumbing or electrical, of course, but certainly painting or a little carpentry. Keeping foods chilled properly helps them last longer and stay fresher. . This step isnt fun, and it wont give you the thrill of progress, but its absolutely critical when youre painting cabinets! RELATED: How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets, in 7 Doable Steps. Even the best paint for kitchen cabinets wont stick to grease and grime. Try one of these three easy methods to make sure your ring fits perfectly, every time. And because professional cabinet painting is all we do, youll be surprised at the quality of your finished cabinets. Then we pop off or remove the cabinet doors and take off the hinges. We put in zippered walk-through openings in the plastic walls, so you can still enter your kitchen when were not working, and access your refrigerator, sink, and pantry. The Pros Say Avoid These 5 Design Mistakes, 8 Easy Ways to Update Your BathroomNo Remodeling Required, Not Letting the Cabinets Dry for Long Enough, All products and services featured are selected by our editors.
If you apply latex paint on top of oil-based paint, the paint will slowly peel off and require you to re-paint quicker than you anticipated," says Steckel. Offers may be subject to change without notice. (Well . Putting drawers and doors back (new hinges and pulls recommended). "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.". Get into the habit of wiping down the cabinets by your garbage area and under the sink, as they receive the most wear and tear. 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. Nothing else quite matches the gorgeous look and feel of lacquered cabinets, in any color or sheen. Todd helped me choose colors and the crew, especially Amanda, made sure I was extremely happy with the work. Rachel is the chief technologist & executive technical director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees testing methodology, implementation and reporting for all labs. Just painting them doesnt make them go away, folks! We sand and then typically apply a second primer layer. As with anything, to get the longest life out of your kitchen cabinets they need to be properly prepared and then painted with the best products available that are designed for cabinets and are furniture grade materials that are created to be durable and stand the test of time. 34 Great Books to Suit Any Mood or Interest. If you decide to hire an expert rather than DIY the project, Steckel has some recommendations for finding the best painter for the job: Check the painter's experience: Painting cabinets requires keen attention to detail and experience removing cabinet doors or drawers without damaging the cabinet itself. 5616 I-10 This is a big reason why painting cabinets isnt always a great option for a DIY project. If there was ever a problem, Todd and Amanda made sure to make me happy! Ive got time, how hard can it be? I used to be pretty handy back in the day, and Id try household projects all the time . review process. 7047, Porpoise) already sprayed on the cabinets in the upper left: Once the final color goes on, you can really start to envision how beautiful your kitchen will be. For most non-professional painters, the paintbrush is the weapon of choice for painting projects, but it will typically leave unwanted brush marks behind if you use it to paint the cabinets. In an effort to make painting your kitchen cabinets a breeze, we checked in with Nicole Gibbons, founder of the paint brand Clare, for her best tips and tricks. Since your cabinets are already fully prepped, primed, and sanded smooth, painting cabinets in the final color goes surprisingly fast. Its a classic DIY or amateur move to leave the doors hanging in place and not have to remove all the parts and label the hinges. Consider Clares fast-drying, multi-surface paint primer that can help conceal any imperfections and even block stains.
However, if the insides of your cabinets are either stained dark or previously painted in a solid color, then the best design choice would be to paint the cabinets inside-and-out. office@papermoonpainting.com, Copyright 2020. "This project is easy, but it's not the kind of job you're going to want to redo any time soon if you don't like the color," says Petersik. Flat-front doors and drawers can be easily repainted. How do I care for my new painted cabinets? Most homeowners who paint their kitchen cabinets are looking for professional-quality work that makes their cabinets look new again. Kitchen Painting Projects Before and Afters. Great communication as well. And pro cabinet painters use products that arent easy for a homeowner to master over a weekend or two. Get a 6 roller for the big flat surfaces, and an angled sash brush for the corners and edges. Apply one coat, wait 24 hours and then move on to your second coat of paint. (Scuffing is a quick, light sanding to remove the top glossiness of the existing finish.) For starters, Nicole says it pays to go bold with color rather than just settling for white. Suite 103 Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. If theres a way to reduce smell and make the process easy for you to live with while were in your home, were doing it! Doors typically require a good amount of time, because you need to paint both sides and let them fully dry in between coats. Napo Ghonda | Posted on September 3, 2021 |. Because the founder of our company is an artist, we see our work as an art form. Copyright 2022, How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets, in 7 Doable Steps. 6. 3007 Longhorn Blvd We vent everything out to the fresh air outside. All you need is a tape measure and a little free time. "While white paint can create a clean feeling in a kitchen, there are plenty of opportunities to add more colors that go beyond the basic," she says. Before you know it, youll have a new kitchen to enjoy and show off to family and friends in no time. Oops, there was an error sending your message. After 24 hours, flip the doors over and paint the first coat on your front-facing side. You may have to relocate furniture and other items ahead of time. When painting kitchen cabinets, the goal is to create a durable surface that can survive daily use. Not only is this a long process that can take an untrained painter days, missing any of these steps will produce sub-par results. Here's what not to do the next time you paint your kitchen cabinets. Yes, it's frustrating to wait days for paint to cure. ", "Project Paint got my home interior painted and completed within my timeline and very respectful. He recommends a paint-prep degreaser called TSP, and a non-scratch delicate scrub sponge for stuck on spots. Visible damage to the wood that didnt get fixed but got painted over, like cracks, dings, and dents. You won't regret having it done and will wonder why you didn't do it sooner! This list has you covered, no matter how you're feeling. "And remember that upper and lower cabinets dont need to match. PowerPoint Parties Are the Party Trend You Have to Try: Here's How to Host One. "To fix it, you'll have to sand it and repaint it all over again.". Then we use primers that are specially modified to bond to smooth surfaces. How NOT to Pick Paint Color 5 Common Mistakes, How to Choose Wallpaper Online Tips and Tricks. Ready to learn how to paint your kitchen cabinets? Patience and waiting the recommended drying time between coats will pay off with a sturdy finish. Silver lining: this is your chance to go through the contents of your kitchen, keep whatever is still useful or valuable, and donate the rest! Having painters in your home is a big deal, so we make it a point to be as low impact as possible. Here are the steps we follow for painting kitchen cabinets: If youre looking for the best way to paint kitchen cabinets, be sure to get in touch with us. Wash with a terry-cloth rag, warm water and mild dish soap. If you don't prop up your cabinets prior to painting, you risk missing edges and corners. (And check out our Google, Angies List, and Houzz reviews to see how our customers are thrilled with their new kitchens!). All these things can cause paint to sag, drip, or go on so thin it doesnt cover well or last long. Want to see how we can transform your kitchen? Skip the matte paint in favor of semi-gloss or satin. We take care of any obvious surface imperfections. You might be able to remove a door, so you can bring it to the paint store. Although there are lots of steps involved in painting cabinets, its a process weve researched and practiced over and over to get the best results.