A Step-By-Step Guide For Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Is painting kitchen cabinets like any paint job, a simple task? Mastering the perfect glossy finish is all in the prep work, and before a brush ever touches the wood, a lot of time is needed to get the surface ready for paint. That means properly cleaning, sanding, and priming every inch of the surface for the paint to stick. Cleaning kitchen cabinets is the most important step in the process to remove years of grease and food can leave a layer of grime that inhibits paint adhesion. Here is the step by step process to ensure the perfect paint job for your kitchen cabinets.

Prep The Kitchen 

First up, clear all cabinets and counter tops to make the surface available to painters so that they can plan the work. All cabinet doors and drawers will be dismantled and areas that are not to be painted like the floor and walls, should be protected by covering with newspaper.

Prepare your kitchen cabinets for a fresh coat of paint 

Image - Paulkirwan.com

Sand Cabinet Surfaces

Painters will lightly sand the cabinet surface in the direction of the wood grain so that the upper layer is not damaged by the sanding process. A wood filler will be used to fill in dents and grooves, left to set dry and the filled area will then be lightly sanded again for a smooth finish.

Sanding wooden surfaces for an even appearance

Image - 17apart.com

Protect With Primer

After wiping off any loose dirt and debris from the surface, 2-3 coats of a stain blocking primer suitable for glossy surfaces will be applied. Make certain that your painter does not rush through the process and waits between coats, allowing every coat to dry completely before the next is applied.

Priming helps in binding the paint to the cabinet surface

Image - Bhg.com

Apply Paint

Apply at least 2-3 coats of paint on the cabinet surface. An additional step, between coats, is lightly sanding after each layer to achieve a seamless, even finish before the final coat is applied. Just like primer, it is important to give paint enough time to dry too.

Apply 2-3 coats of paint 

Image - Articlesweb.org

Remember Hardware

Your cabinets look brand  new post painting and the last thing you want is the same old hinges and door handles. Buy new ones if possible, or If your on a budget, spray paint old hardware to give it a fresh look.

Spray painting hardware will complete the brand new look
Image - Ginamcmurtreyinteriors.com

Once all the steps are complete, wait for a few days for the paint to dry and set, post which the painters or a handyman should reassemble your kitchen cabinets. 

Painting your kitchen cabinets is not as big a task as it may seem! Have you painted your kitchen cabinets? Was it worth your while? And, more importantly, did you save a pretty packet in the process?