Painting Kitchen Cabinets

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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.

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