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There are several reasons you may want to refurbish your kitchen cabinets:

Aesthetically you may want a lighter more open kitchen space, a change of color for a more modern setting, or it could just be the existing cabinets are worn and tired looking. Replacing existing cabinets can be expensive so refurbishing them is a practical and cost-effective alternative, when done correctly. Remember that, more than any other surface in your house, the paint finish on your kitchen cabinets needs to be able to stand up to a good amount of abuse.

The first consideration to make; is it enough to just change the color. If the style of the cabinets is not to your liking what are my options. You may want to consider adding or enlarging the crown molding which can make quite an impact.  Flat doors might benefit from adding molding. Replacing the doors altogether increases the cost considerably but is still a viable option.

PREPARATION
Over time, cabinets accumulate a considerable amount of contaminates and require thorough cleaning before painting. There are several products that can aid you, but the task should not be neglected. Special attention should be made around sink and cooking areas. Glossy surfaces should be sanded to a dull finish and primed. Paint application can be a fast process compared to proper prep work so be prepared for more cleaning and sanding than painting. 

APPLICATION
There are 3 application methods, spray, brush and rolling. Spraying can be applied to give what is termed a cabinet quality finish and cannot be told apart from new cabinets when applied correctly.  It is, however, the more expensive method, requiring added equipment and time taping to protect surrounding areas (usually performed by a professional cabinet finisher). Excellent finishes can also be obtained by either brush or roller if the proper tools and paints are selected. Careful consideration should be made regarding your selection of brush or roller to achieve the look that most suits your expectations.
 
Below is an example of the impact a color change can make on the look of a kitchen by simply painting the cabinets. This is a cabinet quality finish (sprayed off-site) on both sides of doors and drawer fronts.  The exterior casings were painted with a foam roller eliminating a large amount of work, enabling the client use of her kitchen and reduced costs. The inside of cabinets were in good condition and left as is. The spray and roll technique is found to be acceptable to all but the most discerning client and worth consideration. 

Contact us at Fort Washington Paint if you have further questions or would like assistance with your project.  Additionally, we would be happy to recommend a local professional should your project be more than you can handle.

Fort Washington Paint is proud to support Christmas in April Prince Georges County. They're looking for skilled trade professionals to volunteer on April 18, 2018.

Christmas in April is a non-denominational volunteer organization that repairs the homes of senior citizens who are either low-income and/or physically challenged so they may live in warmth, safety, and independence.

After months of planning and preparation, Christmas in April culminates in a one day repair effort on the last Saturday in April.

Christmas in April relies on the community for support from volunteers to repair the homes, and seeks funding from businesses, corporations and individuals.
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The success of Christmas in April is due to the cooperative efforts of County government, private businesses, civic and community organizations, churches and synagogues.
Christmas in April is neighbor helping neighbor...people helping people.

For More Info visit www.christmasinaprilpg.org/

With Zar Wood Stain you can stain both wood and non-porous surfaces like pvc, fiberglass and mdf. Take a look at this quick tutorial on woodgraining a painted door. Zar Stains and the graining tool available at Fort Washington Paint.

One of the most important decisions affecting the outcome of your project is choosing the right type of brush for the kind of paint you are using, the surface you are painting and the environment you are painting in.

If you are painting with an oil-based paint, a natural bristle paint brush (usually hog or ox hair) is the right choice.  The reason is that these brushes are soft and supple and will deliver a finer, smoother finish than their synthetic counterparts. Truth be told, you can also use synthetic brushes with oil and brush manufacturers are now making synthetic bristles specifically for oil, but pros will always go for natural over synthetic.  White bristles work best on smooth surfaces while black bristles are ideal for rougher textured surfaces because of their extra firmness and abrasion resistance. If you're refinishing furniture with a lacquer (for example) or otherwise require an ultra-fine finish, ox hair is the best choice.  Natural bristle brushes should never be used with water-based paints as they will absorb moisture, lose their shape and become limp.  
 
When painting with water-based coatings a good quality synthetic bristle brush is required as they don't absorb water and will keep their shape.  These brushes are usually nylon, polyester, nylon/poly blend or a variety of other synthetic materials unique to various manufacturers.  A 100% nylon brush will deliver paint to your wall or trim more smoothly but this material doesn't perform as well in hot or humid conditions.  When you can't control the climate go for a nylon/poly blend, it's will hold up better.  Most of today's generation of paints require a fairly stiff bristle, so don't equate a soft brush with a better finish when working with water-based paints.

Still unsure, give us a call and we can talk you through it.