Thanks to shows on HGTV, cabinet painting seems easy enough: just sand and paint and you have a new kitchen to come home to. However, this project requires a little more work than just a weekend to make sure you get the results you want.
Choosing the right products and sidestepping common mistakes are essential to getting professional-grade results that enhance your living space. Contact San Jose Cabinet Refinishing for more information.
1. Not Preparing the Cabinets Properly
Painting cabinets may seem like a straightforward task, but there is more to the process than simply slathering paint on with a brush. Proper preparation is key to ensuring that your project turns out well and looks great for years to come. In order to avoid making any costly mistakes that could ruin your entire kitchen, here are a few things that you should keep in mind while doing the job yourself.
Not sanding or cleaning before painting is a common mistake that can lead to poor adhesion and flaking paint later on. It is important to thoroughly sand the cabinet surface and clean it with a degreasing solution before beginning the painting process to ensure that the primer and paint adhere properly.
Another common mistake that many DIYers make is using a product designed for raw wood that is not suitable for use on preexisting finishes. It is best to choose a polyurethane that is specifically made for cabinetry, as it will be more durable and have better stain-retention abilities than regular wood polys.
Skipping the primer is also a big mistake that can cause your finished results to look patchy and uneven. Primer is essential, especially if you’re changing the color of your cabinets or painting over dark shade, as it helps create a smooth base for your finish. Additionally, priming is important to cover any imperfections that are already on the cabinet surface and help to hide any stains or discoloration from the previous color.
2. Not Preparing the Wood Properly
With all the DIY shows on HGTV and endless home improvement blogs, cabinet painting seems easy enough—slathering paint onto a brush and going to town. But there’s more to it than that, and many homeowners make mistakes that not only look bad, but decrease the resale value of their homes.
One of the most common mistakes people make is not properly preparing the cabinets before painting. This includes sanding, cleaning, and priming. If you don’t do this, the paint won’t adhere and it will eventually peel.
It’s also important to use the right products. Using cheap primers or paints will yield a low-quality finish that will crack and chip more quickly. It’s better to spend a little more up front and get a product that will last longer.
Finally, it’s important to not apply too much paint. Thick layers are difficult to work with, and they can leave visible brush marks. We always use thin coats and allow them full time to dry between each application.
Another big mistake is choosing the wrong paint sheen. While matte paint may be trendy, it’s not durable in a high-traffic area like the kitchen and shows grease stains and other messes far more easily than other sheens. If you want a durable, washable finish, choose satin or eggshell.
3. Not Preparing the Hardware Properly
Cabinet refinishing can make an incredible difference in the look of your kitchen, but it’s important not to rush the project or skip key prep steps. Rushing leads to a poor finish that requires more touch-ups and will be more susceptible to peeling than if you’d taken the time to sand, degrease, and prime correctly. Skipping primer also results in a less durable finish that will fade or peel more quickly than the original. And using the wrong paint sheen can make cleaning a nightmare—matte finishes collect grease, smudges, and water marks much faster than a semi-gloss or satin sheen would.
It’s important to remove cabinet doors and drawers before painting, and to label each piece to avoid mix-ups when reassembling them later. It may seem like a pain, but it’ll result in a cleaner, more even finish. It’s also important to apply thin coats of paint and allow each layer to dry completely before applying another. Thick layers are more likely to bubble, drip, or leave brush marks, and they can dry unevenly, which can lead to a peeling finish.
The cabinets in your home are a major investment and should be treated with the care they deserve. If you’re not ready to commit to a large remodel, consider hiring a professional to refurbish your cabinetry and ensure it comes out looking great. They’ll use the best products and follow the right steps to ensure the job is done right and lasts a long time.
4. Not Preparing the Surfaces Properly
Cabinet refacing is a great way to give your kitchen a quick and inexpensive facelift, but cutting corners at any stage of the process will result in a subpar finished product. This can include using bargain adhesives that will sag and peel over time, sloppy workmanship that will create flaws you won’t be happy with later, or poor finishing choices that will end up looking worse than the original finish (lacquer products are the worst offenders here).
It may seem tempting to skip the cleaning and sanding steps when refinishing cabinets, but these will make your job much more difficult down the road. The surface will be more porous and the paint won’t adhere well to it.
A good cleaning and sanding will leave you with a clean and smooth base for painting, which is important for getting the best results. This is also the stage where any repairs should be made, like filling in nicks or scratches.
Many DIYers also skip the priming step when refinishing their cabinets. This is a mistake because primer not only helps the paint stick better, it will help hide any smudges or other remnants from the previous color. Using primer is the best way to ensure you have a clean, even coat of paint and that your cabinets will look brand new once they’re done. If you don’t use a good primer, your cabinets will start to show their age much faster than they should.
5. Not Preparing the Space Properly
Cabinet refinishing makes for an amazing DIY project, but it’s not the kind of job you can do in one weekend. It requires a lot of prep work to be successful, from cleaning to labeling, sanding, and painting.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is not properly prepping their workspace before starting their project. When you’re eager to get started, it can be easy to skip this step, but it’s crucial if you want the paint to adhere well and have a smooth finish. Taking the time to tape off edges, use drop cloths, and cover your floors prevents messes and saves you a lot of time in clean up later.
Another common mistake people make is not testing out their color choices in their kitchen before committing to them. This can save you a lot of time and money by preventing you from having to redo the cabinets later because they’re not the right shade.
Many homeowners think that they can get away with skipping this step, but cabinet surfaces—especially those near the stove and sink—collect grease residue and grime. Trying to paint over this kind of surface is like building a house on sand: the paint won’t stick and will start to peel sooner than you expect. Choosing the proper sheen of paint and properly prepping the cabinets before painting ensures that your new kitchen looks great for years to come.
6. Not Preparing the Space Properly
Cabinet painting can be a tricky task. It requires a lot of prep work, including thorough cleaning and sanding, to ensure that the paint adheres well. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t do this step properly, which results in a poor finish. This can lead to a number of problems, including a decrease in your home’s value and a less-than-pleasant kitchen to cook in.
Another common mistake that DIYers make when refinishing cabinets is not priming them properly. It is important to use a high-quality primer, such as ICRO’s water-based primers, which are designed specifically for cabinet applications. Not priming can result in a lack of adhesion, as well as bleed-through, which can ruin the look and integrity of your finish.
Also, it is important to prime the backs of your cabinets as well. This will ensure that any grease or oil that may be on the cabinets does not seep through and cause the paint to bubble. Finally, it is important to use the right paint sheen for your cabinets. For example, matte paint might look modern, but it isn’t very durable in a high-traffic area and can collect smudge marks quickly.
Refinishing cabinets is a big project that requires a lot of time and energy. If you don’t want to risk wasting your time and money, consider hiring a professional to do the job for you. They’ll have the experience and expertise necessary to get the job done correctly.