It does not have to be exorbitantly expensive

Many people when it comes to improving their kitchen think in terms of drastic and very costly changes which will be able to blow their family and friends away.

However, simply applying a fresh coat of paint to kitchen cabinets is a very cost-effective way to dramatically change the way your kitchen looks and it can have just as dramatic an impact as a complete refurbishing job.

Even outdated and legacy kitchen cabinets can be completely transformed simply by applying a fresh coat of paint to it.

Besides painting you can also look at other things such as new knobs or copper or other metal decorations which may surprise family and friends.

Just take your time and carefully analyze what exactly you would like to do and you also need to make a decision whether to use water based or oil-based paints and primers.

Many older cabinets have in fact been painted with water-based latex paints. It will be best to stick to a similar kind of paint because oil-based paints do not work very well on a latex surface.

In fact, it seems that the latex paints are the safer choice especially if a person cannot determine which kind of paint has been used because latex paint will work on most surfaces.

Be well informed

It is really helpful when you have taken the time to gain as much knowledge as possible about your upcoming project.

This will place you in a significantly better position to consider all of the pros and cons when it comes to the paint which will be used or the tools which you would like to acquire because every little decision could have an impact on the ultimate result.

Because of new technologies latex paints are a lot better than they were but even so oil-based paints are still considered by many experts to be superior because of its ability to produce a smoother finish.

Items thst are exposed to heavy use such as kitchen cabinets should be painted with ain’t that will ensure longevity and durability.

Not everything regarding oil-based paints is good because they are known to produce unpleasant fumes which may not be something which can be endured equally by all people.

There is also the issue of cleaning because painting tools that have been used with oil based paints will have to be cleaned with mineral spirits because if this is not done they will turn hard and will become unusable.

A definite advantage as far as latex paints is concerned is the fact that tools can be easily cleaned with water and soap and furthermore latex paints are just about odorless.

The painting process

Is really important to ensure that you are using a 2 inch tapered brush which is of an excellent quality.

Natural bristle is mostly best for oil-based paints but there are also synthetic bristle brushes available in particular a band which has been designed to be used specifically with oil-based paints.

Synthetic bristles are more than adequate to be used when painting with latex paints.

This is because the natural bristles expand when it comes in contact with the water in latex paints and therefore it is best not to use them.

Everything will depend on how the surface of your cabinet looks.

For those cabinets which does not have any raised panels it is possible to save a lot of time by using a roller instead of a brush.

For unobstructed access

In order to do the best possible job when painting kitchen cabinets, it is best to remove all doors and all hinges. Also remove knobs from drawers and doors.

There are adjustable hinges which have more screws and care should be taken not to tamper with adjustment screws because this can mess up the alignment of cabinet doors.

Furthermore, most commercially fabricated cabinets have genuine wood faces which are fitted to the pressed wood drawers in that cabinet.

It is best to remove these faces which are mostly fitted to the drawer with two or three screws that can be removed from the inside.

It is best to place everything which has been removed as well as its accompanying screws into a special container or zip lock bag so that it can be securely stored until everything is reassembled.

The all-important preparation phase

Make use of plastic sheets in order to protect the floors of your kitchen.

Make use of something such as rosin paper to cover all counters and ensure that they stay in place by making use of masking tape.

Always remember where you are working, this is a kitchen where cooking is done and therefore grease often accumulate.

Paint simply does not adhere properly too greasy surfaces. This is why surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned with some type of the degreaser. A good example is TSP. This is something which is available at most home centers and paint stores in your area.

There is also a phosphate free variant of this product which should always be used with warm water and this should be used to clean all surfaces by using a cloth or a sponge.

Everything should afterwards be properly rinsed by making use of clean warm water.

Using your sandpaper

In order for paint to adhere properly to surfaces it is important to rough up those surfaces sufficiently and this is done by using sandpaper.

It is easier to use a sanding block especially on flat surfaces but when it comes to contoured surfaces a smaller piece of sandpaper will be needed in order to effectively prepare all difficult to reach areas.

This process will result in a lot of dust which can be effectively removed by vacuuming. After, all surfaces should be properly wiped down to ensure that there are no remaining dust particles.

You can now proceed to add primer to all parts of your cabinet. Remember to only work on the plastic sheet which you have previously laid down in order to avoid any spillages.

It is also a good idea to make use of small pieces of wood so that you can have better access to those parts which would otherwise have been laying on the floor.

This will avoid a situation where painted parts are sticking to the surfaces on which they are laying.

The procedure will be exactly the same whether you are painting or priming although it is important to ensure that there is a measure of penetration when priming the wood.

When it comes to the painting part, the finishing is more important and that is why even and long brushstrokes will ensure best results.

Also sand the parts before applying a new coat to ensure a smooth finish.

Make effective use of the available tools

Your masking tape or painters tape should be used effectively because it can help to avoid that the paint ends up on adjoining surfaces which is not part of your current project.

This is also why a tapered brush is best when painting cabinets since it can easily penetrate into tight corners or other spaces.

Painting very carefully all along adjoining edges and surfaces is known in the trade as cutting in.

There are painters who are exceptionally good when it comes to the fine art of cutting in and therefore they simply do not see the need to make use of painter’s tape.

After your paint has become completely dry which can take as much as four to twelve hours a second coat can be applied. This should mostly be sufficient and if everything looks satisfactory the reassembling of all cabinets and parts can begin.

All drawers and doors as well as knobs and other parts of decoration should be replaced in the same position in which they were before they were stripped from the cabinet.

Painting can be highly effective but there are increasing numbers of people who prefer to make use of spraying and this method can result in a very smooth finish resulting in a visually pleasing and result.

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