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If you ’ve been looking at your storage locker and thinking that a new pelage of paint might be the staring path to translate your kitchen into a space you may get it on , check that your cabinets are in good condition and you have the skills to carry out the chore .
“ Rolling / brushing cabinets without a sprayer is a “ three - weekend ” project because the DIYer postulate to be able to take their clip and paint without tumbler pigeon or brushstrokes . The DIYer needs to be semi - ready to hand and , above all other skills , very patient , ” says Paige NeJame , owner ofCertaPro Painters of the South Shore and Boston . “ Our professional painters who spray the doors off - site often take a few days , so this is not a project that we even finish quickly . ”
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Painting kitchen cabinet can cost $ 840 on average . hire a professional costs up to $ 1,200 for an ordinary sized kitchen , and about $ 155 per storage locker door , cabinet side , or locker drawer , accord toCertaPro Painters .
After valuate the following 5 key factors , you ’ll be capable to serve : Should I paint my kitchen cabinets ?
Consider the cabinet material.
If you do n’t know what your cabinets are made of , it ’s time to do some investigative work . Thebest blusher for kitchen cabinetswill depend on the cabinet material . Wood is more porous and will absorb some of the cabinet paint . On the other hand , the paint will have a harder metre sticking to something nonporous like laminate .
“ Certain cabinets are hard to paint and should not be paint , include out of practice or unfinished alloy cabinets , teak , and rosewood ( oils may bleed through ) , ” allege NeJame . “ Melamine ( laminate ) can be done with specialty primers and preparation , but often still peel . ”
“ Thermofoil or laminate are the most challenging , ” says Joel Ruiz , possessor ofRuiz Renovationsand a Purdy embassador . “ Because they ’re slick and nonporous , pigment wo n’t adhere well unless the control surface is thoroughly scuffed and a secure soldering primer is used . Skimping on preparation here will lead to peel or chipping . ”
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Even some kind of mutual wood can be challenging . Ruiz says that oak is “ easier to paint , but the exposed grain can show through the finish unless it ’s fulfill or sealed first . If you need a crack smooth look , spare steps are needed . ”
Determine whether the cabinets have a finish.
Before you could commence to get wind how to paint kitchen cabinets , you need to valuate the cabinet material . Wooden cabinets likely already have a stain or glaze on them , which can be difficult or ineffective to paint over . Knowing what finish is already on the cabinets will determine the stage of preparation workplace needed . If the open is burnished and water astragal on it , it ’s likely got a coating . If water absorbs , it does n’t have a finish .
“ If the cabinets have a previous culture , apply a bond primer as the first coat , ” says NeJame . In some cases , you may find more achiever if you sand the subsist goal before applying the soldering undercoat . deprive with chemical is another way to remove a finish , but it can be potentially hazardous and clock time consuming .
“ Cabinets endure more wear and tear than wall ; from grime and wet in the kitchen to daily treatment in bathrooms , ” says Lisbeth Parada , Color Marketing Manager with Dutch Boy and Krylon . “ Using pigment specifically formulated for console see to it you ’ll get a long - hold out finish that resists break off , fading and staining . storage locker paint has a more lasting finish , which is essential for attain a refined , professional look that stays beautiful over time .
Inspect the cabinets to assess their condition.
Before making any esthetic decisions , look at your console to see whether pigment can better their appearance or if they will need to be replace altogether . Older cabinets may have been subjected to serious wearable and tear over time , and conglomerate layers of grease and grime .
After wipe down the cabinet with a dampish cloth , closely valuate the cabinets . If you see any chipped woodwind , swollen or warped surfaces , delamination , or cracks in the frame , plow the problems before you begin to paint . For some nonaged issues , sanding can serve .
Multiple areas of damage might point that you ’re good off replacing the console , but consult a professional to see if repair is possible before head off to the kitchen showroom . While paint can refresh up a kitchen ’s appearing , it wo n’t do anything to heighten the cabinet structurally — you may just be delaying the inevitable . When cabinets have many issue , you may need to consider locker refacing or replacing or else of house painting .
Painting cabinets is time-consuming and requires special gear.
paint a wall commonly want minimal material and experience — just some prep oeuvre , forbearance , and time . When it comes to painting kitchen cabinets , you may not retrieve there ’s anything you need to acquire . While it may seem more doable because individual cabinets are small than a wall , it ’s definitely a more demanding task .
Depending on the kitchen ’s sizing and number of cabinets , it could take weeks to complete a project of this weighing machine . You postulate to bump off the storage locker doors and the ironware .
low error and thicket solidus may not be unmistakable on a large wall , but they can be glaringly apparent on cabinets . So you may be charm to vest in particular gear like a blusher atomiser , but it ’s not necessary to achieve a professional destination . And if you ’ve never used a paint sprayer , you ’ll require to budget extra time to practice with it .
Paint brushes and froth rollers can achieve a smooth finish , particularly if you apply rubric paint . Gloss can aid hide any imperfections while lusterlessness paint can play up them . It ’s also essential to permit the pigment completely cure before putting bloomers and cabinets back in place , or you risk ruining all your hard body of work .
Be honest about your DIY skills.
There ’s a time to try young things , and there ’s a time to leave the meter - consume tasks to the professionals . If you have never painted cabinets before and you do n’t have weeks to be methodical , it ’s usually right to leave this job to expert who have the appropriate equipment and old age of experience to secure your kitchen look as safe as newfangled . If you seek to take on this project yourself , you could end up investing money in a outgrowth that has to be salvage by a professional , which will be more in the longsighted run .
“ achiever hinges on two key factor : the quality of your homework work and the paint you select , ” tell Ruiz . “ thrifty sanding , cleaning , primer coat , and using a eminent - timber cabinet - specific paint will make a significant difference in the final result . With longanimity , attention to contingent , and a commitment to each step . ”
master will ascertain that the kitchen is appropriately prepped to keep all of your appliances and take aback safe . They ’ll also ensure that the physical process is done as expeditiously as potential with fiddling disruption to your daytime - to - Clarence Day sprightliness .
This Is the yr for a Kitchen Renovation
Whether you ’re sell or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . Learn why we look at this restoration the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stay on on budget .