Spray painting is the easiest way to refresh old kitchen cabinets and enhance the shine of new cabinets. It is a quick and cost-effective do-it-yourself way to give your drab cabinets a silky smooth painted look. Professional painters also recommend spray painting because it can create a smooth, high-quality finish to the kitchen cabinets. There is another benefit which many homeowners may consider: the entire spectrum of colors available at their service, instead of a few stock of color choices offered by the cabinet manufacturer.
Here is the ultimate guide on how to prepare and paint your kitchen cabinets step-by-step while being cautious about safety.
Reasons to Choose Spray Painting
Here are some of the reasons to choose spray painting for kitchen cabinets and make the project easy for homeowners.
Cost-Effective - It is better to buy spray paint for an entire kitchen's worth of cabinets, just like the "cup style" paint spray which holds 1.5 quarts, instead of a canned spray paint which can only cover the space of 20 square feet.
Fast and Easy Process - Instead of traditional painting style like using a paintbrush or roller, which can take time to reach all the corners and grooves, spray paint can speed up the process and easily cover large spaces in less time.
Professional-Looking Finish - Opt for a smooth finish that is free from any brush strokes or other imperfections to achieve a professional appearance.
Preparation Before the Painting
Prepare and clean the surface before you start the project, as the kitchen cabinets get dull over a long period of time due to grease and residues. Following preparation, processes comprise a large part of the project.
Required Tools and Materials
Make sure to gather the following supplies before starting the job.
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Remove Cabinet Doors and Hardware
There are three important parts in the elimination process of cabinets, doors and hardware. First, remove the doors and drawers fronts from each cabinet, and then remove the hardware. Second, label all doors and drawers to match each cabinet. Lastly, place them into plastic bags and keep them nearby to avoid the need for adjustments when reassembling them into the cabinets.
Clean the Surfaces
Use tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) to clean the kitchen cabinets, walls and other surfaces to remove dirt and grease. Make sure to give extra attention towards areas near the stove and oven which usually gets greasy.
Sand the Cabinets
Sanding the cabinets helps to reduce the sheen and not to remove all the coatings and paint layers. Therefore, make sure to lightly sand down all surfaces with fine-grit sandpaper using an orbital sander. Show extra carefulness with Thermofoil-coated cabinets. Otherwise, the micro-thin layer will tear off due to aggressive sanding.
Use a wood putty to patch the cracks and holes and sand it down lightly, after it has dried. This helps even the surface, making it easier to apply paint. Sanding it down also ensures that they don't show through the paint.
Step-by-Step Guide
After the cabinet surface is sanded and cleaned, here's the step-by-step guide to get a clean and smooth painted kitchen cabinet surface.
Step 1: Apply the Primer
Start by spraying the back of each door and drawer surface, followed by spraying the sides, insides and outside frames. Then spray over the top, and keep in mind to cover all the surfaces and then let it dry before shifting to the other side.
Perform the same task with each cabinet. But, begin by spraying the corners first, followed by the central area. When painting the cabinet edges of the outside area, tilt the gun slightly to overlap two-to-three sprays in the middle.
Step 2: Start Spray Painting
It is performed in the same manner as the primer is applied. Begin painting with the back, followed by the front, edges, bottom and edges. Make sure to paint all the surfaces twice. Apply the second topcoat after all the surfaces have dried.
You can sand, vacuum, and wipe the surface with a tack cloth between the coats to ensure the topcoat sticks strongly to it.
| Some Tips | Thin the topcoat in the ratio of 80% paint and 20% water. |
Step 3: Reassemble the Cabinets
Start resembling hardware and attach the doors and drawers to the cabinets. Make sure everything is aligned for a smooth finish look.
Final Thoughts
As much as it is needed to be aware of the tools, materials and procedure, it is also important to be alert as to avoid mistakes like spraying too close or too far. One more important aspect is the regular maintenance including regular clean and touch up when it is necessary. It will set your kitchen cabinets with a seamless look after the job is done.