Steps for Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinets are fundamental to your kitchen and as you paint the walls, you should never overlook them. 

While working on the cabinets, it is easy to make mistakes and end up messing up everything.

Whether it is painting over the wrong area or putting doors in the wrong cabinet, making a mistake is not unusual. That is why many homeowners choose to work with an experienced professional instead of trying to do it themselves. 

If you choose the DIY approach you should follow these simple steps, to help avoid any mishaps.

Removing the Hinges and Cabinet Doors

You should not paint the kitchen cabinets when the hinges and the doors are still in place. They must be removed carefully and to avoid confusion and they should be labelled.

By labeling the doors and the hinges you can avoid wasting time trying to figure out what goes where. 

The areas where the hinges sit should also be taped to prevent painting over. They should only be returned to their position when the paint has dried.

Washing the Cabinets

Cleaning product residues, oils and grease left on the cabinets as you remove something while cooking inhibits bonding. Some of these substances cannot be seen, however they affect the final painting result.

This should be cleaned using a household degreaser so that the substances will not prevent proper bonding. A liquid de-glosser should also be used to remove any gloss from the cabinets. 

Choosing a Primer

It is advisable to go for oil-based or shellac primers rather than water-based ones.

Basically, a universal primer will do well on your kitchen cabinets as they will not only cover stains, but they will also seal them. Proper sanding, durability, and the superior bond that they offer are reasons to choose these primers.

Choosing Cabinet Paint

One common mistake that homeowners make while choosing paint for kitchen cabinets is choosing those that are made for other uses.

You should not use trim, wall, or exterior paint. Instead choose a paint that is specifically made for cabinets. Also do not overlook the durability and the theme of your kitchen or home while choosing the colour and style.

In Summary

Painting your kitchen is a serious task. It’s just like painting the walls and the exterior of your house.

Even if you choose to hire a professional, it helps to have basic knowledge on what the contractor should do before they start the project.

Removing the doors and hinges, cleaning the cabinets, choosing the ideal primer and paint are basic things that should be done. An experienced contractor should understand this.

When the paint has dried, you can then put back everything in its place ensuring you are satisfied with the results.