First off, lets get to the good stuff. Before and after pictures of my kitchen cabinets:
Now lets get to the details. This is lengthy, but bear with me as there is a lot of
information provided. This is my method
and what worked for me (and believe me I painted a lot of OAK cabinets!), but
if you find something better that you prefer than go for it! So, let’s just dive right in!
Prep:
I can’t stress enough how important this step is. This step will most likely take you longer
than the actual painting itself! There
is no such thing as “no prep painting”. It
is important to clean very well. Paint
will not stick to a dirty surface. I
recommend wiping down the wood with a cleaning solution and then letting it
dry. Then sand with a 220 sandpaper and
wipe down again. For very dirty wood
like an old piece of furniture or kitchen cabinets, I would recommend using TSP
substitute to clean with.
I find it easiest to remove all cabinet doors and drawers to
paint. It is extremely important to
number each cabinet or drawer before you remove it so that you know where it
goes when its time to put it back!
Especially for older wood, those pieces can sometimes warp on their
hinges or in their drawer slot and won’t fit well anywhere else.
Tape and cover anything you don’t want to get paint on. Be cautious of anything even remotely close
if using a spray gun as there is a great chance of overspray. Remove any hardware. Take your time and be very thorough in the
prep work. The key to a job well done is
all in the prep work and is important to have a professional finish.
Priming:
I use BIN Shellac Primer when spraying, or General Finishes Stain Blocker when hand painting. When painting oak, I always use 2 coats of
primer because it really helps to fill in the grain. After the prep work is done and the wood is dry,
I apply the first coat of primer. This
can be done with either a spray gun, brush or foam roller. With primer, I don’t think there is a major
difference in the finish with whatever you choose. Warning: my usual “panic” sets in after the
first coat of primer goes on. Primer
usually looks horrible and with only one coat it is not completely covered so a
lot of the wood still shows through.
Take a deep breath, walk away, and don’t worry ‘cause it will be
okay! Don’t put the first coat of primer
on too thick, it is better to have several thin coats than one thick coat. After the first coat of primer is dry
(usually about 30-60 minutes), I inspect the surface of the wood to see if
there are any cracks or chips in the wood that should be repaired. If there is, I apply a wood filler and let it
dry and then sand it down. Then I apply
a second coat of primer. After the
second coat of primer is dry I again sand to make it smooth with a 220 grit
sandpaper.
Painting:
Painting:
When the primer is dry and sanded smooth it is time for
paint! This is the fun part where you
will finally see progress and it gets exciting!
I use General Finishes Enduro White Poly paint for cabinets. I have tried other brands but this is my
preference for wood. I like that it has
a shorter dry time between coats compared to some other brands, it does not need a topcoat, and it is water based. I prefer to
paint cabinet doors with a spray gun, but if you don’t own a spray gun then a
good brush (Zibra brushes are my favorite!) for any small detailed areas and a foam
roller for any large smooth areas works fine.
Like the primer, it is better to apply a couple of thin coats rather
than one thick coat to avoid drips. If
you happen to get a drip, and its still very wet you can try to smooth it out
with the brush or roller. Otherwise you
can leave it and let it dry and then sand it smooth. It is important to keep a “wet edge” with the
paint and work as quickly as possible. I
typically only sand between coats of paint if there are any imperfections,
otherwise I just dive right in to the second coat of paint after the suggested
drying time has elapsed (review the can for more info). I typically let the paint dry before removing
painting tape, but I always use a utility knife to mark the edge of the tape so
that it doesn’t peel the paint off along with the tape when removing. If any touch ups are needed, I usually just
use paint over the small touch up areas.
It is best to wait 48 hours at a minimum for the paint to dry before
reattaching or putting anything on it.
Keep in mind paint usually takes a few weeks to fully cure, so be
careful with freshly painted surfaces.
Protective Finish:
Polycrylic vs Polyurethane – the difference is that
Polyurethane is typically used over stains whereas polycrylic is used over
paints. The reason being that
Polyurethane is meant to yellow over time and polycrylic stays clear, so you
would not want polyurethane to yellow over a fresh coat of white paint! General Finishes is a great brand and they stand behind their products. I especially like the High Performance Top Coat. I believe applying poly
is an optional step if using the paint that I referenced above. Personally, I
prefer to use a satin or semi-gloss over the cabinets and I have not had any issues with
any chipping and is easy to wipe clean if there are any spills.
Helpful Hints:
- Always stir your paint before pouring from the paint can. The color tends to settle on the bottom so stir really well
- There are ideal temperatures to paint in. Consult the label on the paint can for exact information, but I believe it is 50-80 degrees and no humidity. If you paint outside these guidelines you might expect slower drying times.
- If you are painting cabinet doors and remove from hinges, I always prop on scrap wood to keep them off the ground.
- Always paint the backside of the cabinet door first, this way you get the hang of it before you get to the "good" side and also when you flip the doors if there are any marks from the 2x4s they are on the backside so it is usually okay for small flaws.
- I rarely paint the inside of the cabinets or drawers unless they are in very bad shape and have a lot of stains.
- ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS use a mask if spraying paint! The fumes are very strong and you want to protect your lungs!
- Off the shelf white can be too harsh of a white to use. Sometimes an offwhite color is better for your home. You would never be able to tell it is offwhite and will look much better. Just trust me on this.
- Add water or accelerator to paint to help thin out the paint if needed. This gives a much smoother finish and a little bit goes a long way.
