Asked on Aug 16, 2015

Which first for my kitchen redo?

I want to redo my 1990 kitchen...get the cabinets painted white, do concrete counters over the tile, get new flooring and do a new backsplash. My question is which comes first? I want to do the backsplash and probably concrete counters myself. Do I do one of them before the cabinets?
my kitchen now!
  13 answers
  • Julia Julia on Aug 16, 2015
    I'm having my kitchen remodel, Home depot told me that the backsplash is always done last.
  • Joan Joan on Aug 16, 2015
    Paint first. You won't want to get paint on your new countertop and backsplash. Then do the countertop. Concrete work is messy. Be prepared to touch up your paint. THEN last, do the backsplash. You will want it to overlap your countertop. If you are doing anything with your floor, do that last! Mess falls downwards!
  • Trish Butler Trish Butler on Aug 17, 2015
    I had my kitchen remodeled to sell and they painted first.
  • Jennifer Lynn Jennifer Lynn on Aug 17, 2015
    I just redid my kitchen. I painted the cabinets first, then I did the backsplash, floors are next. I would throw the counter in first, concrete is a disasterly mess!
  • Lucy Nunn Lucy Nunn on Aug 17, 2015
    Concrete is a messy business. I agree with Jennifer Lynn...concrete first, then paint, then floors, then backsplash...
  • Jonnie Hammon Jonnie Hammon on Aug 17, 2015
    Paint first, then cover them, to protect them while you do the others.
  • Ann O'Connell Ann O'Connell on Aug 17, 2015
    Amy at 11magnolialane has great posts regarding painting cabinets and installing backsplash; I think you can paint first and it may be easier to install countertops and backsplash while the cabinet doors are removed for painting. I hope to see your remodel! It sounds fabulous!!
  • HouseLogic.com HouseLogic.com on Aug 17, 2015
    We agree with @Jennifer Lynn. You may also find these tips helpful: http://goo.gl/6eqHy0
  • Carolyn Kelso-Bell Carolyn Kelso-Bell on Aug 17, 2015
    Well..my hubby HATES the idea of concrete..and doesn't love the rustic look. So we will be getting the cabinets painted first I think. Thanks for the advice. I do love the Lowe s stick on tiles that look like tin...(saw blog about that)...so that's the plan for the backsplash. Haven't decided about the floor..they are sheet vinyl and uneven. Planning rafters and new lighting, and a coat of paint on the walls. Thanks all!!
  • Sarah A. Victory Sarah A. Victory on Aug 17, 2015
    I can only tell you what I did. I had the interior and exterior painted before I moved in as well as 3 rooms of wood flooring done along w/replacing all the appliances. The granite and bath fixtures as well as the garbage disposal,sinks were next. then the kitchen backs plash, tile to kitchen, laundry and baths.later new kitchen Island, windows all round and some of this may be slightly out of order as the list goes on and on to this 27 yr old fixer-upper.
  • Donna Woodard Donna Woodard on Aug 17, 2015
    Billy Benson says chose countertops and appliances first s. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/532621093407712404/ Not
  • Beverly Beverly on Aug 18, 2015
    Carolyn, as an Interior Designer for over 30 years, I get these questions all the time. I would recommend you take off your old tile first. Then have the painters come in to paint your cabinets. Now you are ready to do the concrete countertops and tile backsplash. The new flooring should be the last installation. You can do it just have fun, take your time and know that your kitchen is going to be a messy construction zone for awhile but will be beautiful when completed!!!
  • Cheryle Fuller Cheryle Fuller on Aug 22, 2015
    Demo first. Remove the floor tile if you are replacing that. Then paint your cabinets, inside and out. You can remove the doors and take them outside. If you have a paint sprayer it goes pretty quickly. Mask off what you don't want paint on and go to town. You can rent a paint sprayer if all your prep is done first, which includes masking, sanding, etc. If things are grimy, wash well, rinse and dry. TSP is a good cleaner,- degreaser -paint duller, and wash your wood with that, rinsing well. Sand lightly with 220 grit and then 330 grit, patch bad spots and sand again. Paint with sprayer or roller and brush. If there are 2 of you, work together using a foam roller and try to apply and have the second person back brushing behind you. Wait for them to catch up before starting the next cabinet. Better 2 thin coats than one thick one. Sand with 330 grit between coats. Let dry well before putting items back in. Choose new hardware before painting, as you may have to fill the old holes with putty. Then rip off those countertops and make your new concrete ones. i saw a show where they used styrofoamsheets over their 3/4" plywood base as a filler to make them lighter. Just be sure the edges are thick enough, and you have about 1/2" on the top. use your sander against the form to work out the bubbles in the concrete. You can stain the countertops with Ironite sprikled on a damp surface, then swept off when the colors are what you want. Use the extra Ironite in your garden plants. Wax or seal with concrete sealer. I want to do this on my cabinets and will use several 14" stainless steel rods set into the concrete about 1/4 way. I plan on sloping the concrete towards the undermount sink edge just slightly, so the water will run down into it. The stainless steel rods will be a built in drainer. By the time your concrete is mostly dry, you can begin your backsplash, making sure to continue it up to the cabinets, and behind whatever appliances will be near it. Then go to your floor.