First, let’s talk about my favorite and the best paint for cabinets. If you have flat doors on your kitchen cabinets, you can make quick work of paint application by using a paint roller with ¼ nap (for the most even application and smooth finish). It has a harder finish and is more robust than typical semi-gloss that I use on my wood trim. How about sharing the love in a Google review. It will smear on the wood. While you have leeway as to paint types in other areas of the home, cabinets need paint that is hardy enough to withstand repeated touching, food and liquid splashes, and other physical impacts. For one thing, while it goes on smoothly, oil-based paint takes a long time to dry in between coats—up to 16 hours. The short answer is that latex paint is best for cabinets. Get Started! On this last coat, be particularly alert to any imperfections because this is your final finish and it will not be sanded. The extra sheen offered by this paint finish will help to ward off water spots and stains. Cleaning Choosing the right paint finish for kitchen cabinets is important, since it affects how durable your cabinets will be in the long run. Together, Oil Bond and Hard Coat make painting kitchen cabinets easier, faster, more protected and longer-lasting. The eggshell enamel is between a flat and gloss and has some sheen, but not glaring. Swimming Pools It's also … If you do, remove them and replace after you finish painting. Water-based latex paints are typically available in low or no VOC formulas. Paint: Paint for cabinets is subject to personal preference. Oil paints release VOCs at much higher levels. Paint hardener solidifies leftover latex paint so it doesn't pos… The technology uniquely suspends the ceramic particles throughout the latex paint with unique resins that “lock” the ceramic particles evenly throughout the applied paint. Epoxy is tough to remove from areas you don't want it, so take your time on this section. These paints aren’t as washable as semi-gloss or gloss finishes, and you run the risk of rubbing through your paint job the next time you need to scrub your cabinet doors. While oil-based paint goes on smooth, even over wood surfaces, latex paint is more likely to show variances in the grain or texture. After all the loose areas are repaired you can begin the prep of the cabinets for painting. A primer will assist in making sure the coverage is even and thorough. So whatever paint you decide to use, if your cabinets were previously stained, you will really want to use a primer first. Wood Veneer Cabinets: If your cabinets have a wood veneer—essentially a very thin layer of real hardwood over a pressed material—you will also need to sand before painting your kitchen cabinets. What is the most popular color to paint kitchen cabinets? DIY Tips For How To Paint Kitchen & Bathroom Cabinets. Don’t sand too much, since the veneer is just a thin layer hiding what’s beneath. Plumbing If your looking for quick-curing epoxy resin with a crystal-clear finish, East Coast Resins is the company for you. A few weeks ago, I finished painting a chest/dresser piece for my friend An. Next, use an electric hand sander to sand the surfaces down to bare wood. If you don’t know what type of paint is already on your cabinets, then water-based latex formulas are the safest option—since oil-based paint won’t adhere well over latex paint, but latex paint can bind to a surface treated with either type of paint. Hard Coat is a latex paint additive that adds durability to your latex paint. This way, I can achieve a smooth surface and brush marks are barely noticeable. How to paint kitchen cabinets like a pro. I personally prefer to use an alkyd eggshell enamel by Pratt and Lambert. But you don’t have to spring for laminate-specific products - a quality primer will go a long way in helping paint stick to the surface. Insl-x Cabinet Coat is worth trying out if you’ve been looking for a paint that is as easy to use as your favorite trim paint, but with a harder and more durable finish. First, look over the cabinets and see if any repairs are needed on the drawers or cabinet boxes. Landscaping These factors can make painted cabinets subject to scratching and chips, but you can lessen this by choosing the right paint finish for kitchen cabinets. Next, decide if you want to replace any hinges or hardware. Leave us a review. I also recommend Valspar Cabinet Enamel it for furniture too! Wood Cabinets: Paint adheres best over a scuffed surface, making true wood cabinets a great candidate for painting. Majic Paints > Catalyst Hardener & Reducer Catalyst Hardener & Reducer . You can also run a few screws in to tighten loose joints. Wash the cabinets down with sugar soap or a strong detergent solution. Depends on how patient you are, whether you use the right brushes and paint, and your attention to detail. Many of the chemicals used in standard paint can expose dogs in the home to toxins and put their health at risk. For brushes, always use natural bristles for oil/alkyd paints and synthetic bristles for latex paints. But it can be done and done well. Siding A semi-gloss or gloss finish is the best choice when painting kitchen cabinets. Insl-x Cabinet Coat is a urethane acrylic paint that is made by the same folks who make Stix primer. These products are specially designed to bond to the shiny surface of laminate. Depends. Use masking tape to protect hinges and glass and put down dust sheets to protect other parts of the room as necessary. If you see one, use your brush to gently stroke down the run without disturbing the surrounding finish. You should have a durable finish to your cabinets that will last for years. Too much and the paint doesn't cover well; not enough and the paint doesn't level as well. Do you have flat cabinet doors, or do they feature inset panels and raised edges? A paint with some sheen will help reflect light and be more durable in the long run, which is important in the kitchen environment. Penetrol makes the paint go on more smoothly and eliminates virtually all brush marks. After the primer dried, I used a 0000 steel wool, or the smallest grit sandpaper I could find, to go over the surface and smooth any runs I missed. First, a note about paint. Just make sure that if you’re painting wood cabinets, you properly prep the surface before using latex paint. Non-toxic formula is eco-friendly. It's good to practice your technique on a board first, and then perfect it for the cabinets. However, not all paint survives the atmosphere of a working kitchen well. "Your cabinets and hardware will start to chip and show signs of wear within a month — or even immediately." Make sure to keep some extra paint for touchups. The superabsorbent powders encapsulate the liquid component of the paint, forming a solid block of material. Open the door to new possibilities by painting your kitchen cabinets in a bold fresh color or opt for a classic look with a crisp shade of white. Work from top to bottom, applying the paint across the grain, then tipping it off with the grain. Then wash all surfaces with TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) to remove any dirt and residue. For painting your kitchen cabinets, the best paint is one that’s consistently easy to apply. Oil-based paints are a traditional choice for durability. ProClassic Alkyd Interior Enamel is a traditional oil-based paint that when fully cured (21 to 30 days), provides a harder, more durable finish than latex or acrylic paints. It won't go on as well or last as long as more expensive paint. Laminate Cabinets: Painting laminate kitchen cabinets is possible, but more tricky than painting wood or MDF cabinets. Use a utility knife to go around curved sections. Fencing Snow Removal House Painting (It is not for latex paints.) To paint a bathroom vanity or bathroom cabinets, I use Benjamin Moore Advance–a special type of paint that is specially made for cabinets. The first thing you should do when deciding to paint your kitchen cabinets is to consider what type of material your cabinets are made from. Finally, use a tack cloth and clean off any debris left on the cabinets or doors. While you are painting, regularly check for runs. Without good circulation (such as inside of a cabinet), waiting for the paint to dry can really become an issue. Avoid painting kitchen cabinets with an eggshell or flat finish paint. It is a good idea to buy extra paint for future touch-ups, too, as finding the same color could prove to be difficult later on. Oil-based paints are known for their resilient finish, and so they might be your first thought as the best paint for kitchen cabinets. You could use a flat or gloss enamel, as you prefer. I believe this is where the Penetrol really helps, as the paint levels nicely. Excited to share my love of home design and décor with readers,... As a mom of 3 young girls, I tend to be extra conscious of the... You've spent some time with us! For the next two steps of prepping, please use rubber gloves. Cabinet doors and drawers are subject to touching, pulling, slamming, and more, while shelves routinely have objects being slid in and out. Latex also has natural mildew resistance to it, which is preferable when painting walls, particularly in the bathroom. HVAC Where to start? Painting cabinets and walls in the same shade can look very striking, as this Duck Green kitchen proves, or soft and easygoing, as illustrated by the matching tongue-and-groove walls and cabinets of this Purbeck Stone galley kitchen. Yes. The 10 Best Paints for Interior Walls of 2021, Best Trim Paint to Use for Windows, Doors, and Baseboards, 7 Best Cabinet Paint Brands for a Flawless Finish, Guide to the Type of Paint to Use for Which Room, How to Refurbish Particleboard Furniture With Paint. Advances in water-based paint formulas have made it much easier to use latex paint for kitchen cabinets. You might not be ready for a full kitchen remodel, but you can still spruce up the look of your kitchen with a fresh coat of paint for your cabinets. Oil paint makes a case for itself with its reputation for easy application and a long-lasting finish that can be scrubbed and cleaned regularly, but latex paint is the best choice for most cabinets since it offers lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is quicker to dry. It will keep the paint from adhering. Author Profile: Karen Timpone is an experienced kitchen designer and a cabinet painting veteran. It's sort of a trial and error thing. I started at the left corner of the door and worked from top to bottom while moving left to right until the door was fully painted. Alternatively, you could skip the liquid sandpaper and TSP steps and instead just sand to bare wood, clean with a tack cloth, and then begin painting. Now, you are ready to paint. This is especially important if your wood cabinets are already stained or have a glossy finish - you will need to get through this finish layer first, either with sandpaper or a liquid deglosser. This is due to the fact that more resin and binders are used in formulating semi-gloss and glossy paint, giving the paint more durability. Exterior wood elements become vulnerable to water damage as soon as the paint or other protective finish starts to fail. If your cabinets have been previously painted using a oil-based paint but you want to paint with latex, try using a paint additive like Oil Bond. The oil/alkyd paint tends to be harder and stands up to wear and tear better, so it has always been the choice when painting wood cabinets. I found myself continuing to add the paint hardener to the paint while stirring. The first step here was to paint all cabinet surfaces with an oil/alkyd primer. When excess glue has dried, it can be cleanly removed with a razor blade. Copyright © ImproveNetAll Rights Reserved. Oil-based paint is especially prone to yellowing in low light conditions, so if you plan to also paint inside your cabinets (surfaces like shelves and the inside of doors), you can expect to see this effect more quickly. I always paint in an up and down motion, painting wet into wet. Mixing is easy when your working with a 1-1 ratio. Some might say this is overdoing it, but it's always worked well for me. For cabinet interiors, apply the paint with a smooth-surface mini roller, which leaves a slight orange-peel texture. If your kitchen cabinets look weary and outdated, consider painting them. Waste Away Paint Hardener works but much more was needed to prepare the water based paints for disposal. So you want to paint your kitchen or bathroom cabinets yourself. After a good initial coat of paint tape out the section that you want to hold the epoxy. Tape all the way to the edge of the cabinet … Roofing One important trick for a quality paint job is to add Penetrol to oil/alkyd primer and paints. Increase the hardness by 30%, the gloss by 10%, and decrease they dry time by 40%. How to Paint Over Water-Damaged Wood. Many latex paints are now produced with greater durability for cleaning and can stand up to a good scrubbing. The best paint for cabinets solution to avoid the hassle of oil-based paint is a new-technology waterborne acrylic enamel paint. After using Valspar Cabinet Enamel paint on over 8 items in my home, I speak from actual experience and real life use! You have two priorities when prepping MDF cabinets for painting: seal the edge and use an oil-based primer. You get 30 to 35 minutes of working time. This means you can easily paint in a day and put your kitchen back together pronto. And since surfaces covered in oil paint can take a yellow hue over time, your kitchen cabinets might start to look off-color and dingy. Helping you plan your home improvement project, from start to finish. Choosing standard interior acrylic-latex for your cabinets may seem like a good idea at first, but you will find that it lays down in streaks and easily peels. HDX Paint Hardener is used to harden latex paints. Work hard at making the brush strokes unnoticeable. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. First, go over the outside of the cabinets and all the doors with liquid sandpaper. You’re just looking to make the surface rough enough to give the primer and paint something to adhere to. If you open the cabinet with sticky or greasy hands, you can scrub away any residue without worrying about wearing away the paint or dulling the surface. Hard Coat latex paint additive provides a tougher more durable finish when added to latex paints. The technology is ceramic based, similar to ceramic based exterior paints. The oil/alkyd paint tends to be harder and stands up to wear and tear better, so it has always been the choice when painting wood cabinets. Majic Catalyst Hardener: Increase your protection with Majic Catalyst hardener by adding one half pint to one gallon of Alkyd Enamel. Another important aspect of paint is that you get what you pay for. This is a must for a kitchen, so definitely look for a paint that is described as ‘washable’ or ‘scrubbable’ for your cabinets. Remember to choose a synthetic bristle brush if you’re using latex paint, since the water-based formula will swell the bristles of a natural paint brush. Add Color to Your Life With Valspar ® Paint Colors From Lowe’s. Will they look professionally painted when finished? Many people prefer to remove the doors and drawer fronts and lay them flat to paint, but they can be painted in place, too. Electrical In most areas, waste management companies will not accept latex paint in garbage cans unless the paint is completely solidified. Glue any cabinet edges that are separating. Choosing the most durable type of paint can help homeowners make sure that their cabinets look good and stay in good condition. Again this is aided by using the right amount of Penetrol in your paint. Many of these colors I have either used myself for my own projects, or have recommended to my clients. Flooring Zip Code I wanted to share this project and tutorial with you guys because there are times and good reasons why painting furniture with enamel (oil based) paint is the best type of paint for some types of furniture revamps. I painted professionally for a few years and we used it exclusively for all of our doors and trim. here i am painting the cabinet doors from the" making mdf cabinet doors " video . 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Cleanly removed with a tack cloth and clean up, but it self-levels better than water-based.! For the cabinets down with sugar soap or a strong detergent solution are dry, over.