I have repainted and refurbished many kitchen cabinets over the years. I’ve tried various paints, techniques, and tools. With each piece of furniture, I discover new things, but every kitchen cabinet involves some familiar steps that are worth not skipping. I have now gathered these steps so that if you decide to refurbish your kitchen cabinets, you can enjoy the process from the beginning and it won’t come as a surprise to you.
How to remove paint from kitchen cabinets?
It matters whether you are planning to refurbish a laminated MDF ( Medium Density Fiberboard ) or laminated kitchen cabinet. It is advisable to remove the foil from laminated MDF, as it is applied to the MDF board through a special heat treatment technique, making it more vulnerable than a wooden surface. It easily shrinks when exposed to heat, so it can detach itself from a door above a stove. You can remove the foil with a heat gun.
How to clean kitchen cabinets before painting?
If you are buying a new apartment or house and the kitchen cabinet doesn’t quite match your taste, you can easily repaint it. Before you start painting, it’s crucial to assess its current condition. Cleaning is an essential step in furniture painting. If done improperly, the paint may peel off. Therefore, it is the most important first step. Here’s a tip on how to do it:
If you want a robust solution, I recommend using a soda-based cleaner, especially if you are unsure about the cleaning done in the kitchen before your takeover. In my assignments, I often find that a significant amount of dirt accumulates in kitchens that have not been cleaned regularly or consistently. After using the cleaning solution, it’s important to rinse the surface with clean water.
For an environmentally friendly option, clean with a combination of vinegar and baking soda. Do this three times. It works more gently than a strong and environmentally taxing cleaning agent, but it’s not as impactful on the environment.
After the cleaning solution, make sure to clean all surfaces with clean water.
If you have a steam cleaner, use that. In this case, there’s no need for a cleaning agent; steaming the surface is sufficient.
How to paint kitchen cabinets without sanding?
Sanding comes after thorough cleaning! Although every manufacturer claims that sanding is not necessary for their paint, based on my experience, I would still advise you that, for example, in the case of lacquered wood and laminated surfaces, the primer adheres much better if you slightly roughen the surface with a 120-180 grit sanding sponge after thorough cleaning.
Sanding can be skipped in the workflow if the surface of the kitchen furniture to be painted is sufficiently homogeneous. The surface can be painted, stained pine, particleboard, or even laminated MDF. If you want to carry out the refurbishment without sanding, first treat these surfaces with a primer. The primer is primarily justified because it allows the paint to adhere well to the furniture, making the furniture durable over time during use.
If your goal is to create a weathered surface reminiscent of aged paint layers, then the step of roughening can be omitted. If you aim for a smooth, homogeneous surface and you are painting non-laminated furniture, it’s advisable to at least roughen the surface.
Roughening is not a long and strenuous process. It simply means thoroughly rubbing the furniture surface with sandpaper. The goal is not to restore the raw surface. This is important because it allows you to remove aged, loosened layers and get rid of impurities deposited in the deeper layers of the surface. Therefore, roughening is not equivalent to sanding.
How to paint kitchen cabinets professionally?
A chalk paint adheres well to almost any surface. However, for surfaces like particleboard, polished, laminated, or varnished ones that undergo greater stress, it’s advisable to first apply a primer. A water-based, adhesive-enhancing, white primer works well, providing excellent adhesion for the chalk paint. It creates a more stable surface for painting and starts from a lighter base. If I want to paint the kitchen in white, two coats of primer and three coats of chalk paint result in a perfect, homogeneous white surface. Colored shades usually provide better coverage, so for them, one coat of primer is sufficient, followed by two coats of chalk paint for a beautiful finish. With this method, even chocolate brown kitchen cabinets can be painted white.
Since kitchen furniture is subjected to greater use, I usually seal the surface with lacquer. It’s important to wait for 24 hours before lacquering. I apply the lacquer in 2-3 very thin layers, allowing one and a half hours of drying time between layers. The first layer of lacquer may not cover perfectly, but after the second and third application, a nice, uniform layer of lacquer is achieved.
How to paint oak kitchen cabinets
A natural wood is an ideal material for crafting kitchen countertops. The durability of oak is widely appreciated, and its quality surpasses that of other woods. A work surface made of oak material typically remains in good condition for an average of 30 years. When it requires refurbishment, it can be coated with a different colored lacquer, bringing a fresh look to the kitchen’s appearance.
How much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets professionally?
The cost depends on several factors. For example, when assessing a kitchen awaiting renovation, I take into account how many elements the kitchen cabinet consists of and how much assembly work will be involved. For painting, the kitchen cabinet needs to be disassembled to ensure that every side of each element receives a fresh coat of paint.
Additionally, the price is influenced by the condition, material, and base color of the kitchen cabinet. Based on these parameters, it can be determined whether the kitchen cabinet needs sanding, whether it requires a primer layer, and ultimately, how many layers of paint are needed to achieve perfect coverage.
For the price calculation, I always personally evaluate the kitchen in Saint Augustine to provide an accurate quote to my clients.
If you would like to entrust the repainting of your kitchen cabinet to a professional painting expert, feel free to reach out and request a quote in the Saint Augustine area! Call us for a quote! 1(904)217-968
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