Our Proven Method for Painting Cabinets
Painting cabinets is one of the most efficient and least expensive ways to renovate any room in your home. It can make old worn-out cabinets look brand new, and it can instantaneously add a fresh pop of color or brighten up a space. That’s why we have made cabinet finishing one of our specialties. We have refined our craft after doing so many variations of cabinets over the past five years.
We're bringing you our proven method for painting cabinets, so you have a better understanding of what goes into cabinet finishing and how the process works.
Products We Use
First, let’s kick things off with our favorite products. We like to use Zinsser BIN Shellac Based Primer because it can stick to any surface without extensive sanding and dries fast. For a topcoat, our go-to is Benjamin Moore Advance Premium Waterborne Alkyd Paint. We love this product because its low VOC, it goes on smoothly with outstanding overall coverage, and it cures to a hard furniture-quality finish. Suppose you want to go all out with a smooth glossy finish. In that case, we recommend upgrading to a Pre-Catalyzed Lacquer which provides enhanced durability, a thicker coat, and water and chemical resistance. We find it’s best to apply this with a spray gun to get the evenest spread.
When it comes to selecting the best sheen for cabinets, we recommend satin because it holds up great in high-traffic areas and has the perfect amount of shine without overwhelming. It’s a practical choice that is easy to clean and wipe off. One thing to keep in mind is that the glossier the finish, the harder it is to hide imperfections. So if your cabinets aren’t in the best shape, a satin finish will provide a much better overall look than a semi-gloss.
How we ask you to prepare before we arrive
We request that all countertops are cleared and that the insides of the cabinets and drawers are no more than 75% full.
If you do not have room in your garage for a spray booth setup, we ask that you inform your project manager so they can make arrangements to spray the doors offsite.
Our Process
We start by removing and labeling all the doors and drawers and setting up a spray booth (usually in the garage if available.)
We sand the doors, remove all the dirt and grease, and thoroughly wipe down the cabinets to ensure primer adhesion.
After priming both sides of the cabinets, we sand them again to ensure an excellent final finish.
Next, we spray the topcoat on both sides of all doors and allow ample time for the product to cure. The same process is repeated inside on the cabinet frames.
Lastly, we install the doors back in their original positions, add new rubber bumpers, and touch up as needed.
This entire process takes about three days and up to five days if multiple areas are being painted.
If you have any questions about painting cabinets and want some expert advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We are also happy to provide you with a complimentary quote at any time.