Painting Cabinets...

[Coach1310]

My wife and I are set to close on a house soon. The cabinets are in good shape, but the dark, dark wood and big/wide grains leave something to be desired. We are going to paint them and put some new handle/pulls. Anywho, what tips would you give us for the painting process? Any types/brands of paint work better than others. I have read some stuff online about sanding etc., but any tips are welcome. Thanks!

[nofishfisherman]

I've had good look with Behr paint over the years. You'll want to make sure you get a kitchen and bath paint. It will allow you to wipe the cabinets off easier when then get dirty.

Expect to put multiple coats on. Take your time and really watch out for drips or runs. They will show up big time on cabinets.

Are you going with white? That tends to be the most popular color and it usually looks really nice and really modernizes the kitchen.

[MIKE IN lINO III]

Coach,

We had really dark wood cabinets in the kitchen and my wife wanted to paint them. I really like the look of wood so I convinced her to let me refinish them rather than paint.

It took some time but they turned out great.

Just a thought.

Good Luck.

Mike

[Chef]

We use Benjamin Moore for all of our important paint jobs. I mean the ones where you really want the best results you can expect. A bad or thin paint will look less than professional or make you wish you'd just bought new cabinet doors and facing.

If you're going to use a light tint, you should primer first, don't skimp and you'll be really pleased with the job.

[Neighbor_guy]

Second Vote for Moore's....

With paint you get what you pay for. Painted cabinets either turn out great, or horible. Most improtant things to remember...

Good Primer, Good Paint, Patience, and a very clean painfully dust free work area. (and "wet" sand between coats)

[Mike Wallace]

Coach,

Depending on what you end up using, latex paints can take up to a month to fully cure. Until that time, they can be soft and may stick a little on the drawers and doors.

We painted our white cabinets a deep red. Used Behr products. First tinted primer and then latex.

They have held up well, once we got past the initial curing period.

[leech~~]

Coach, my wife and I are thinking about doing the same thing. Please take pic's and document your process, so I can follow along!

[herdog]

If your around St. Cloud go to Menards and talk to Steve in the paint department. He knows his stuff.

I had not bought paint for some years and what I bought last summer is darn impressive.

[Snowking]

if the cabinets are oak your not going to like the finish. the grain will come thru and they will look like [PoorWordUsage]. pull a draw front off and piant the back side so you can see the finished product. trust me you wont like it.

[Surface Tension]

One weekend when I was gone fishing my wife thought she would surprise me.

I walked in the door, there she was to greet me with a big & proud smile.

My eye was caught by the painted stark white kitchen cabinets. My heart fluttered as my jaw hit the floor.

I didn't have the heart say it but I wasn't happy at all.

I could live with the white but knew that she didn't prep the surface. Which was verified soon after as the paint started to scratch off and continues to do so.

I've used a process of removing the old varnish on frame fronts, doors, and drawers with a product like Formby's Conditioning Furniture Refinisher. It is a lot of work and messy but gives a very nice finish when done.

[Coach1310]

First of all.... thanks for all the response. I didn't think I would get this much feedback!!!

We are planning to paint the cabinets a chocolate color so I doubt we will have issues with the grain showing through..

What do you all recommend...

1. Sand.... clean.... primer

2. Sand.....clean..... paint

3. Sand.....clean..... paint

How many times the process has to be completed I'm sure depends on the results and I am pretty sure there isn't any clear coat or finish on them either, but if so, do I need to strip that off or can I just sand them??? Thanks again for the help. We are also changes hinges and drawer pulls to a stainless/brushed nickel look too..... I will try to take before, during and after pics and post them. Our closing got pushed back so it will be a while yet.... thanks.

[Jim Almquist]

The one thing that I found that helped with painted cabinets was to get some of those little felt stick on pads that prevent your painted surfaces from touching each other. Until the paint completely cures it will stick and sometimes pull one of the surfaces off.

[crothmeier]

+2 what jimalm said along with what Mike Wallace said, that latex paint doesnt fully cure right away. closing the cabinet doors will leave a line and possibly start to pull/peel the paint when opening it. get the little felt cirlces, or go to a cab shop and get the clear plastic buttons that stick on the back side of the doors/drawers. they double as bumpers if the door or drawer slams shut too hard.

sand, prime, good paint. You could put a good poly over the top of it or a laquer sealer also to give it hard, easy to clean surface once the paint has cured.

[larryz]

There is a nice article in the December/January issue of The Family Handyman magazine on painting kitchen cabinets.