If you’re undertaking a cabinet painting project, you’ll have to get a makeshift kitchen for some time until the work is completed. The point is always to finish a cabinet painting job within a week or so. It would really be hard to live with your kitchen’s full functionality without it for more than a few days. However, if you don’t mind missing a few meals, it’s certainly doable. You can find many tips and tricks from San Diego Kitchen Remodel on how to accomplish a successful cabinet painting job if only you take the time to do so.
An essential tip to keep in mind is that you have to paint kitchen cabinets using only non-acetone paints. This means that the paint should be oil-based or water-based. Avoid using acrylic paints as they will result in a buildup of fumes and smoke. Remember also to use a cotton swab or paintbrush to apply the paint. This is to prevent any overspray from appearing.
When you’re preparing for your cabinet painting job, it’s very important to take into account the possibility of spills and stains occurring. Therefore, it’s necessary to stock up on cleaning products such as white vinegar, dishwashing liquid, and so forth. You’ll want to be prepared in case a spill does occur. These cleaning products are great for quickly getting rid of stubborn stains. Be sure to keep a tube of these around, just in case the unthinkable happens.
After you’ve painted the cabinets, you need to prime them before you apply the final coats of paint. Most people opt to use oil-based, powder-coated, and latex primers. Although these types of primers are fine for most projects, they can’t be used on wood surfaces, such as cabinets.
When painting the cabinets, choose a color that will work well with the other cabinets in your kitchen. If your kitchen appliances and furniture are white, then opt for lighter colors, such as off-white, cream, or light blue. For colors that look good with your cabinetry, consider the color of your countertops. Also, use a coordinating color for the flooring in your kitchen.
One thing to keep in mind when painting kitchen cabinets back first is that the doors will likely have damage. Therefore, if you paint the doors before repairing any shelves or trim, it will make the repair job go much easier. You can cover up some minor flaws in doors by using a polyurethane coating, but if you have major issues, it’s usually best to paint the doors.
If you choose to tackle your own cabinet painting, then a good way to start is with a gallon of paint and a roll of painter’s tape. Many people like to start out with two coats because you can always add a third coat after the first coat dry. If you’re using primer, don’t paint just one coat. Wait for the primer to dry before adding your second coat.
You can purchase unfinished wood filler at most home improvement stores or lumber stores. This wood filler is used to fill in nicks and cracks in your cabinets. If you plan on using sand cabinets, then you may want to wait until the sanding is finished so that you can then paint them. Sanding is very tricky and not something most do-it-yourselfers have experience in. For best results, let the professional do it.
Another aspect of a cabinet painting project is dealing with the hardware on your kitchen cabinets. Many people will choose to paint their doors. However, if you have a lot of hardware on your kitchen cabinets, then you may want to leave them the way they are. Simply remove the hardware, sand them down and then paint over them. Painting over hardware will make your kitchen cabinets look messy. If you need to hide door handles or knobs from view, then paint over them instead of removing them.
After you’ve primed and prepared the cabinets, it’s time to paint! Use a paint roller or brush to apply the first coat. When applying the first coat, use as much of the wood filler as you can so that you can control how much is shown through at once. The more you paint, the less noticeable it will be if you get in too much.
After you’ve applied the first coat, it’s time to move on to the second coat. Make sure to blend the colors well. For this, I recommend using an old flat board or another flat surface. Blend the colors until they look different from each other and not too close to each other.