Step-by-Step Guide: Painting Cabinetry
Follow these 10 basics for beautifully painted kitchen cabinets.
- Clean dirt and grease off cabinets using TSP (trisodium phosphate)
found at your local home or hardware store. Be sure to wear gloves
when handling!
- Remove cabinet faces, drawers, and hardware using a screw driver.
Number and group each so you know which pieces belong together —
you will thank yourself for this foresight when reassembling.
- Sand cabinet base, drawers, and faces so that your paint will
"take" — make sure to wipe down with a tack cloth after
to remove residue.
- Repair any cracks or other damages in wood by using wood filler
— be sure to sand down so there are no rough spots and clean
residue thoroughly.
- Tape off ceiling, counter, and cabinets and lay plenty of drop
cloths where needed.
- Apply one coat of good-quality primer on all wood surfaces.
- Apply two coats of gloss or semi-gloss interior latex paint or
high-quality acrylic paint specifically made for kitchen and bath
woodwork (to withstand moisture and wear) — allow several hours to
dry between coats.
- Once your two coats are applied, scout for needed touch-ups and
let paint dry for at least 24-48 hours.
- Apply two coats water-based polyurethane to act as a seal; again,
allow at least 24 hours to dry before putting cabinets back
together.
- Reattach hardware and cabinets and reload all your displaced
contents. Then, enjoy your new, colorful, and stylish kitchen!
|
