Kitchen Cabinet Painting West Chester, PA: What You Need to Know
When you look at your kitchen cabinets do you notice they’re old and dated, but still intact?
Maybe you are not ready to replace them because the cabinet structures and doors are still in good condition, or because a complete renovation does not fit your budget.
Whatever the reason, for a quick makeover, all these cabinets need is a lick of paint.
This task requires a little patience, skill, and the right tools, but it can be completed by most seasoned DIY enthusiasts.
In this article, we will be sharing kitchen cabinet repainting tips and what you need to know for a durable, flawless paint job.
Prepare the cabinets before applying the paint
The most important processes of a cabinet paint job don’t happen when painting, but long before, during preparation.
To ensure the job gets done right, you need to have prepared the site and surface thoroughly.
One of the mistakes people make the most when painting their kitchen cabinets is not removing the doors from their hinges.
However, this step is crucial. Detach the doors, remove any hardware, handles, hinges, and drawers you plan to paint.
This will make the painting process much easier.
After removing all accessories, identify the doors, drawers, and hardware by marking
Label each door well with masking tape so you know where they go when the job is done.
Use numbered labels or pieces of masking tape stuck to the back of each piece.
Clean The Cabinets Surfaces
After removing and separating the pieces by identifying them, you will need to spend some time preparing the surface.
This involves cleaning, sanding, and putting a coat of primer on every inch of said surface.
The cleaning step is crucial because it allows the paint and the primer to adhere properly.
Kitchens have to deal with their daily share of grease and grime, sometimes even years of accumulated grime sticking to the cabinets.
So, you will need to pay special attention to removing residue build-up.
To accomplish this task, you will need to use a degreaser. If the cabinets have been cleaned recently, or are not too greasy, a light product will do.
Any remaining grease could stain your freshly painted cabinets, which is undesirable.
If you notice any imperfections on the surface of the cabinets and want to fill them in, now is the time to fix them. For wood cabinets, use wood putty.
Sanding
Even if your cabinets are new or in good condition, don’t skip this step.
Sanding helps prepare the surface to receive paint and primer.
By skipping this step, you might end up with an uneven result that you will regret.
A mini-sander can be used to accomplish this task, especially with flat surfaces. Sand the sticking parts or small details by hand.
Don’t forget the door edges! You will be able to determine the type of sandpaper according to the current condition of your cabinets.
If you’re not sure, go for the safe option: medium-grit sandpaper.
If your cabinets had already been painted, you might need to strip them, which would be an extra step.
Apply Primer
Some people will want to skip this step or buy an all-in-one product. Be careful, because neither of these options will have the desired effect.
Applying primer to the surface is another technique for preparing the surface, in addition to hiding any knots that might show up months later.
Make sure you choose a water-soluble primer or a product that is suitable for the type of surface you are working on, as well as for kitchens.
Also, it is important to choose a primer that matches the topcoat, which is especially important if the surface is dark.
You’ll want to prevent the undercoat color from showing through and affecting the new color.
When your primer is dry, sand away any imperfections you find on the surface, but proceed with caution since you want the primer to remain intact.
The painting stage
Once you have completed the initial steps, you are finally ready to paint the cabinets! First, make sure you choose the right color. While this is a fairly straightforward project, that doesn’t mean you’ll want to redo soon.
Paint a test surface to see how the color looks when it dries. If you’re happy, you can go ahead with the rest of the project.
Get FREE Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing Quote
If your cabinets are looking a little worn out but still physically intact, you don’t have to replace them, our team at Left Moon Painting can help.
At a fraction of the cost of replacement, we can repaint, re-stain, or reface your kitchen cabinets to a brand new look.
We have years of experience offering cabinet refinishing and repairs, along with residential repainting services in Kennett Square, PA, and West Chester PA.
If you would like to give us a try, request a FREE estimate below to get started or call us at (484) 757-5295 for more information.