If your kitchen is looking a little outdated, you can change the entire look by painting the cabinets. Painting can make cabinets of just about any age and condition look like new. Flat wood is the easiest surface to repaint. Wood laminate and metal are also fairly easy. Plastic laminates may require special paint and techniques.
Preparing the Surface of your Old Kitchen Cabinets Before You Begin Painting
The first step is to remove the cabinet doors and the hardware. They will need to be numbered and labeled as you remove them so they will be put back in the correct order. All surfaces that are to be painted need to be properly cleaned. Using a solution made from one part tri-sodium phosphate and four parts water is recommended. After the cleaner has been applied, rinse, but don’t soak the cabinets with clean water and allow them to dry completely. Sanding all surfaces to be painted is the next step. If the paint is in good condition you won’t need to sand down to bare wood but you’ll need to roughen the surfaces so the new paint will adhere better. If the old paint is flaking off, it’s probably due to moisture or greasy residue getting under the paint, which is typical in a kitchen. These areas will need to be sanded to bare wood. Feather the edges when sanding down to bare wood to allow the paint to lay flat. Vacuum all the dust or use air pressure to blow it off. Then wipe with a tack cloth. Tack cloths are specialized wiping cloths that are treated with a tacky material. It is designed to remove loose particles of dust, dirt, and lint that would contaminate a surface that is to be painted, coated, laminated, or otherwise finished. Next, apply a primer-sealer to all surfaces and allow it to dry.
How to Paint your Kitchen Cabinets
Painting can be done with a spray, a brush or even a roller if you’re working on a completely flat surface. Paint the inside edges first and the openings of the face frames, then the outer cabinet sides, and finally the face frame fronts. This will allow work to go quickly in the less critical areas, and allows you to see and correct any drips or smudges on the most visible areas. Paint the cabinet doors and drawer fronts, along with separate pieces of wood or moldings. Always paint in thin, light stokes and make sure to cover all areas. Thin coats are better because it leaves fewer visible brushstrokes and dries quicker. Thick layers and too many brush strokes will create air bubbles in the finish, leaving bumps and pits when it dries. Allow four hours of drying time in between coats. Re-sand surfaces lightly before each coat, making sure to wipe with the tack cloth again. Usually two coats of a good paint should be enough, sometimes a third, as kitchen cabinets take a lot of abuse from cooking heat and day-to-day use. Allow the paint to dry, replace the hardware and hang the cabinets back up.
Professional Painting Services in Amagansett, East Hampton, Southampton, Wainscott, Bridgehampton, Montauk, Sag Harbor, Shelter Island, Watermill, Westhampton & The Hamptons New York
Most home painting jobs can be completed by the homeowner but when it comes to cabinet painting it is best to have it done by professionals to get the best results. Cabinets should be sprayed whenever possible, which will produce the best imaginable finish. Call L.W. Winslow Painting, Inc to give your cabinets a fresh look.