Repainting Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets suffer a lot of abuse over the years and eventually show signs of wear and tear, such as peeling or chipped paint. And since a kitchens' cabinets are a primary focal point in its decorative scheme, if they look the worse for wear, this will negatively affect the entire appearance of the room. However, there is no need for the expense and inconvenience of installing brand new cabinets, especially if you are basically happy with the style of those you have in place.
If you are willing to put in the work, it is possible to give your cabinets a makeover by repainting them. To achieve a professional-looking finish, you will need to take your time to prepare the surfaces and apply quality paint. This added effort is well worth your while, as a good paint job will not only revive your cabinets, but keep them looking great for many years to come.
As with any painting project, it is crucial to properly prepare all your surfaces - skimp here and it will be obvious in the end results. Begin by removing the doors and relocating them to an area suitable for preparation. Remove all hardware for safe keeping unless you plan on replacing the hinges and handles. Remember, prep-work generates a lot of unhealthy dust, wear a disposable (3M) dust mask and goggles for your lung and eye protection.
Prepare Surface for Paint- Wash off grease and dusty buildup with the appropriate cleaner and rinse.
- Remove loose paint and powdery substances.
- Patch holes and cracks with a wood patching compound. Allow to dry and sand smooth.
- For glossy or nonporous surfaces, lightly sand to a dull finish.
- Remove all sanding dust (cheese cloth works fine, but tack cloth is better).
- Avoid spot priming, resulting in an inconsistent finish between primed & unprimed areas.
Once all preparation is complete, thoroughly remove all the dust and debris, so that the work area is completely clean, including air-borne contaminants that may settle on painted surfaces as they dry. It is a good idea at this stage to mask around the cabinets using blue painter's tape. Masking will help keep stray brush strokes off your walls. Now apply a coat of quality bonding primer, a product specifically designed for previously painted wood. There are several varieties available; however, McCauley Painting highly recommends Sherwin-Williams PrepRiteŽ Bonding Primer.
Once the final coat of primer is dry, you may begin painting. Because kitchens can be areas of high heat and humidity, you should use a water-based catalyzed epoxy to get both an attractive gloss and a durable, washable finish. Water-based epoxies are low-odor and highly compatible with other previous coatings to eliminate the paint lifting problem you could encounter with a solvent-based epoxy that often fails to bond to an unrelated base as it cures.
To avoid leaving visible brush strokes, do not run your brush dry, keep it filled with paint and do not over work any surface areas. As the paint dries, levelers activate to minimize brush strokes by allowing the paint to lie-down and dry to a smoother finish. You may need to apply a second coat to get the best results. Read the manufacturers instructions on how long to allow the paint to dry between coats. Once the paint has completely dried, re-attach the handles and hinges, and re-hang the doors. Congratulations, you have survived to give your old kitchen cabinets a fresh new look with paint for a fraction of the cost of replacements.
If you are a South Carolina business, or homeowner and your home, or business facility needs painting call us today at (864) 323-7717. We will complete your painting project professionally, on time and on budget. Then you will know as others do why Our Experience Works for You!
If your household water is supplied by a private well that tends to suffer during dry summers, or your community is under mandated water restrictions, consider a professional pressure washer. Many pressure washing companies have the ability to bring their own water supply in large tanks on trucks or trailers. It will cost more, but still preferable to fines (sadly, neighbors do report violations), or running your private well dry. Call McCauley Painting in Greenwood, SC — Today!
"McCauley Painting of Greenwood, South Carolina has built itself on word of mouth referrals through great customer satisfaction. If you have experienced the quality and value of our painting services and have friends, or relatives in need of a painter, why not suggest they give us a call right now? Better yet, let us know and we'll call them for you."
