HELP! Painting kitchen cabinets - they look streaky afterwards!

Did you use a primer, ligthly sand and then paint, lightly sand and then second coat? My first thought is that you used a paint with Primer as your second coat that may be incompatible with original primer. Check with your paint store. Sometimes, primers need to dry very well or cure before the first paint coat is applied. This often depends on the weather and humidity.. Were both cans of paint - latex? Also a very expensive brush eliminates this problem altogether.

Seems he did most of the process correctly. Lightly sand to remove any gloss. Prime with a stain blocking primer ( I like to use Zinsser 123), then paint with your color. Seal with at least three coats of a water based polyurethane (doesn't yellow). I also use a small foam roller and a foam brush for a smooth finish. No paint brush streaks.

I agree, you might need another layer of sealer. Good luck- you're doing great!!

if you are using a real glossy paint that would be the problem too..try going over it with semi-gloss..very easy fix

From my personal experience in turning honey oak hollow-core doors into a nice cottage white, the only way to truly get rid of all streaking is to use a paint sprayer. It DOES take practice, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be thrilled with the results.

Thank you! I just posed another question about painting the cabinets b/c we are still having problems getting a true white. I will tell my husband about your suggestion. Thanks again!

hi,

In the midst of painting my cabinets also.

Paint conditioner! Floetrol. Gives you more time to work the paint and enhances the leveling properties. Trust the paint will level and step away. Down, up, down, and stop.

Pant brush. Purdy. Don't be frugal here.

And lastly, big fan of Benjamin Moore Advance for cabinets and trim.

best of luck. people who say painting is easy are welcome to paint my place. ugh.

Thank you for the advice! We've already spent a ton on this project but I will definitely tell my hubby to buy a Purdy paint brush. He's got all of the trim work done - just needs to paint the cabinet doors. Will have him run to Home Depot or Menard's to find the brush.

Thanks again.

I had the same problem with my kitchen doors. I ended up sanding the doors down until the streaks were gone. I bought a little foam roller, only 6 cm wide. I rolled the paint on...no more streaks !

My husband just recently used a foam roller too. It does make a difference! Thanks for the advice!

I agree about the small foam roller. They can make a big difference.

Foam rollers or foam brushes are the way to go. I've done some furniture painting projects and always used a traditional paint brush (A good quality one). I always had streaks and brush marks. My friend is a perfectionist and HATES streaks/brush marks, and he uses foam brushes and rollers. I started using them, and won't go back to a brush. It made the difference!!

Thank you. My husband is using them now.

Does it look better ? Want to do my cabinets but have not due to fear of this very thing !!

Yes, it does look better. However, we had to sand, wipe down, apply a primer and then 2-3 coats of paint. The last coat was done with a foam roller.

It takes time but they look great!!

Even just regular rollers should eliminate streaks, but yes those foam rollers do rock!

Clean really well and sand before priming. Light sanding betwen every coat, let dry completely between coats this could take days but worth it. At least two coats to three after primer.

That's basically what we are doing now, and it's working! Thanks for the advice!

You can also use Floetrol in your paint. It slows down the dry time, but it helps allow time for the paint to settle and flatten. I use it any time I'm using glossy paint.

Thanks for the tip!

I suggest using a foam roller, rather than a brush. They are available everywhere (Home Depot, Walmart) and make a nice smooth finish. No brush marks/streaks. If I am doing a project and need to stop for the day, I just put the whole roller in a plastic zip close bag, with the

handle sticking out. I can reuse the same roller for more than a few days. They cost less than a buck each and the ones I use are about 6” wide. I use them for all my painting, they are great for walls, too!

Foam rollers work best. Paint them and then go over lightly in one direction the length of the cabinet.

i would go with a semi gloss..it doesnt show every roll or stroke

If you are removing too much paint from either your brush or foam applicator this will leave streaks, but you also have to be careful about the runs. A good primer is the key and then a compatible final coat which can be either latex or a matte or semi-gloss. Semi-gloss will wear longer.

Try using a small roller instead of a brush and using an Eggshell finish paint for a more professional look.

I would use a paint with a more matte finish and perhaps try a roller instead of a brush for less noticible marks.