Painting kitchen cabinets

Question

I am going to paint the kitchen cabinets in the mobile home I just acquired.  The wood has stain applied to it (I think) and a little bit of a gloss finish--not a high gloss.  Is it necessary to sand the cabinets before painting or would it work if I used a good primer and then painted?  Please give me your ideas/suggestions.  Thanks.

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

Lightly sand the wood with a sanding sponge and then clean the cabinets really good. Pay the price for a good primer (Zinsser is what I use) and make sure to get the primer for sealing and stain killing. You can use any paint and I would suggest a semi gloss for durability, shine, and cleaning. Another hint: light coats of primer and paint for better adhesion. Invest in a good brush and always clean it afterward. A brush will last longer if you clean them after each use! You can use a solution of fabric softener and water in a jar to put the brush in to soak for a few minutes and then rinse and dry with bristles up in the air so they do not get bent. If you are on a budget, prime and spray paint the hardware too. ( I use Rustoleum at Home Depot). Good luck

Becky Murphy · Answer

Thank you very much Renee!  only one more question- is it better to use a brush instead of a small roller?  Other than that, you covered it all.  I really appreciate it.

Becky Murphy · Answer

Thank you very very much.  I'm gathering my supplies now.

Building Moxie · Answer

it might be a good idea to use a liquid sandpaper (yeah it's actually called liquid sandpaper) aka deglosser to knock down the sheen. but a light sanding and a good primer should do ya! if you run into problems an oil based primer can set you up to paint anything. good luck.

Becky Murphy · Answer

Thanks 'Building Moxie' - I appreciate your information.  I plan to start my project this weekend.  By the way, is the liquid sandpaper expensive?  That will probably determine if I sand.  Thanks again.

Debbi reis · Answer

I painted my cabinets a few months ago and the salesman at lowes told me to use outdoor porch paint. He said it came in all kinds of colors and it is very durable and boy was he right. I painted them with a satin like paint in white and they came out beautiful and no chipping due to wear and tear.

Janet Smith · Answer

I painted the cabinets in my last (35 year old) home. The key to a good paint job is in the preparation. Clean the cabinets well to get rid of any buildup of greasy residue (especially in any crevasses) Sand and prime with a good primer. I used Kilz. Then use two coats of a good quality enamel lightly sanding between coats with a fine sandpaper (satin finish looks better than gloss) I used a sponge roller and a good quality paintbrush, but if you have access to a paint sprayer, that would work as well. Add new hardware and you will have beautiful cabinets.

Becky Murphy · Answer

Thanks Debbi and Janet for your suggestions; I really appreciate all your help. I'm going to tackle those cabinets this weekend!

Pro Skill Construction · Answer

Good luck Becky! You got great advice! Sanding & Primer are the TOP tips. Think of the primer as the investment in the work you're doing. Pay for the best primer you can!

Reposhture Studio - Kim · Answer

Use TSP to clean the cabinets. It gets rid of so much crude. Alos make sure that you use a 180 grit sandpaper for the initial sanding. Use a hair dryer to blow off all of the dust, low setting. and the wash again. Once completely dry, definitely prime!! Oil based primer is best and most durable. Use a high density foam roller and a sponge throw away brush so no brush marks. I know you want this project to be complete this weekend but letting the primer cure for a day or two will make the durabililty factor increase exponentially. This next step is also critical....sand the primer a bit using 220 grit and wipe down. This will give the paint some tooth to grip. Yo can paint a latex paint over the oil primer with no problem. Sand in between coats with the 220 grit and wipe down between each sanding. I know this sounds like a lot, but if you do these steps, your cabinets and all the work you put into painting will last a very long time. Good Luck!!!!

Becky Murphy · Answer

Thanks Kim for your advice. I plan to start the project this weekend, but I know it won't be finished until later. I plan to take my time and do it right. The only part I really dread is all the sanding. I've never painted anything that you have to sand between coats...and I have a LOT of cabinets. Will light sanding work?

Becky Murphy · Answer

Thanks again Renee. I will heed your suggestions. Have a great weekend.

Painting kitchen cabinets

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Painting kitchen cabinets

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