Painting kitchen cupboards

Perhaps this might help? 😊

Recommended tradesmen

Regards

Maria

Hello Max01,

If you find a post from a recommended tradesman or any post that you want to reply to,  press quote just before you reply,  so that the person will get your reply.

Or press private message beside their name to send private message.

If you receive help, press “this is helpful” 👍

Hi Max01

Leroy Merlyn sell a good range of cupboard paint & top coat. I have done mine with a roller & they look great. Ask in the paint department they are usually helpful.

Thank you  for this information.  Did you have to sand down and remove hinges first?

Hi Max

There is a lot to painting kitchen doors and units and preparation is just as important as choosing the right roller and brushes to paint with.

Ideally, take off all handles, remove drawers, remove doors and take hinges off.

Once you have a bare shell to work with the next part really is cleaning, this is before sanding. Using sugar soap will remove any kitchen residue. Like it or not grease build-up is inevitable. Once this is removed you are ready to sand.

Sanding can be straight forward if you have a door without profiles, anything with a design in the door is a little more hard work but I recommend the sponge based sanding blocks, with a 600 grit (or finer) finish. A light sanding is all that is needed.

Remember, if you do not have solid doors then you will have veneered doors, either in wood or typically a vinyl wrap. It is always worth checking to make sure no doors etc have blown due to the ingress of water. At the same time if you find any nicks or dents then this is the time ot repair them. I have polishers wax blocks which are easy to use and apply and set well.

When you are ready, you start priming. After each coat of primer, you need a light sanding again. If your finish is close to the original colour, ie not going from dark to white, then you may be ok with one coat of primer.

Then you are ready to paint. 

Personally I would avoid a high gloss or matt finish when hand-painting doors. Satin is the best in my opinion.

A couple of coats will give you the best finish, again sand between coats.

Don't forget to paint the end of carcasses if you are changing colours dramatically if it bothers you that is. Also, end panels need the same treatment.

EDIT - I forgot to mention that for a better ability to wipe clean and for a slightly tougher paint finish you can finish with a coat of clear polyurethane, but make sure it is water based for use on acrylic/latex paint.

Once finished, put the hardware back on, the drawers back in place and refit the doors. 

It is a laborious job, one which I always advise to change doors rather than go through the work if you have standard doors sizes and the budget of course. To hire someone to do the work will take 5 days for a medium-sized kitchen. These are not full days as there is a lot of waiting for coats to dry, but nonetheless you are hiring someone per day.

Good luck with your project and perhaps post some feedback and before, during and after pics to help others!

Attached photos show an example of before and after with a change of lighting colour (warm white to cool white) also making an impact

Hope that helps