A fresh coat of paint will completely transform exhausted wooden cabinets, without the need for replacing perfectly good cabinetry. Painting your own wooden cabinets is an affordable way to update a kitchen, wardrobe, or workshop. When painting cabinets, the preparation, material quality, and manufacturers patience are key factors to determine the quality of the final product.
An important consideration is that bad paint jobs aren’t necessarily a result of poor painting, but of limited or incorrect preparation. Peeling paint, visual brush marks, and uneven paint finishes are basically always caused from using the wrong products, or rushing the process.
The following article highlights how you can paint your cabinets with a professional finish. We will investigate how to prepare, paint, and protect a finish to stand the test of time.
How to prepare cabinets for painting
Every successful paint job has been put through a quality preparation phase. Spending time in preparation will save resources and problems later in the life of the paint job.
Before painting:
- Remove all hardware, doors, and drawers from cabinets
- Completely clean every surface for the removal of wax, grease, dust, and cooking residue; these will stop paint from properly adhering to the surface
- Fill in any dents, scratches, and holes with a wood filler and sand it smooth after it has dried
- Use a fine sandpaper and sand every wooden surface
- Clean all surfaces so they are free from dust; a vacuum followed by a damp micro fibre cloth will do the job
If any of these steps are not completed comprehensively, the chance of paint peeling or chipping dramatically increases.
Choose the best paint and primer
Different paints are designed for different applications. For example, wall paint is relatively soft and not as resistant to moisture, knocks, and regular cleaning as other paints are.
Therefore, search for a paint that is designed specifically for cabinets and furniture. These paints dry harder for the increased durability that’s required for their regular use.
Also note that using a primer is extremely important. A good primer will improve adhesion, prevent stains, and assist in creating an even and smooth finish. Primers are especially important when working with darker woods or previously stained timbers.
Painting wooden cabinets: step by step
Once the preparation stage is finished, the painting process is quite simple:
- Use a high quality brush, roller, or spray gun to apply a thin and even coat of primer
- Use fine sandpaper to even the coat once the primer has dried
- Apply the first coat of paint evenly to the material
- Wait for the paint to fully dry, each manufacturer will provide a guide to drying times
- For a second time, lightly sand the material
- Apply a final coat of paint and allow the paint to fully dry before reinstalling the doors and hardware
A thin coat of paint will always work better than a thick coat. Applying a thick coat of paint will lead to brush marks, dripping, and a finish that takes a long time to fully dry.
Benefits of using a water based polyurethane
Most modern paints for cabinetry are highly durable, so an additional clear coat is not necessary. However, if cabinets are being used heavily on a daily basis, a water based polyurethane will add an extra layer of protection against damage.
When comparing a water based poly with a traditional oil based polyurethane, there are several advantages of the water based product:
- Exceptional resistance to wear from everyday usage
- Quicker drying times
- Lower odor and VOC emissions
- Less yellowing allowing the paints natural color to be retained
- Easier and safer water clean up
Is my finish food safe?
Food safety is a very important consideration when it comes to painting cabinets. Even though paint and protective finishes won’t usually have direct contact with food, it is safer to choose products that are designed for interior uses and have low VOC emissions.
Many paints and water based polyurethanes are considered safe for incidental food contact after they have been fully cured. As a result, these finishes are a great choice for protecting kitchen cabinets, cupboard interiors and pantry shelving. Although they are considered safe, these finishes are not designed for surfaces that are used to directly prepare food, for example as counter tops and chopping boards.
It is imperative to always check a manufacturer’s instructions when painting cabinets to properly understand drying times and recommendations surrounding food contact.
Pro cabinet painting tips
The little details will always make a huge difference. Our tips for a professional finish include:
- Always clean your working area and ensure that it is dust free
- When painting and drying, make sure that your area has a consistent temperature
- Never use cheap brushes, rollers, or spraying equipment; quality tools always result in a better finish
- Patiently wait the full drying and curing time
Plan your cabinet project with confidence
Careful planning makes every stage of finishing easier, whether you are painting new wooden cabinets, or existing items of furniture. Before grabbing a paint brush and slapping on some paint, properly understand your material, products, and how they are best going to be finished for a professional look. Remember that patience is key. Patience is what often separates a professional from a DIY paint job.
If you are planning to design and build new cabinets, PolyBoard is a tool that can help you design professional cabinetry. PolyBoard is a software that will generate all dimensions, cutting lists, manufacturing drawings, and CNC files.
Download and test PolyBoard to explore its full range of cabinet design features. If you are interested in using this software in your workshop, please contact our team to arrange a demonstration session and discuss how it could fit into your workflow.
