#LARRYSLESSON How to paint your cabinets!

Welcome back to #LarrysLessons! In this article, you will learn the exact steps taken to paint your cabinets, whether in your kitchen, laundry room or bathroom! Our previous lesson went over the preparatory steps, which will help you to ensure long lasting results and an efficient, clean cabinet painting process. It is highly encouraged to review that article before embarking upon this one.

After having reviewed that, you are now ready to learn to tricks of the trade on painting cabinets. Cabinets are very intricate, but add so much character to a space. They are important and deserve to not only look good, but to be treated with quality materials that ensure it can withstand the wear and tear that they will inevitably endure!

Ensure to reach out to the professionals if you have any reservations on doing this on your own. Our expert painting crews can deliver the following, with assured efficiency and quality – so you can have peace of mind. This is a lengthy process and can take multiple days. It takes organization, patience and skill. If you are ready to work hard, please continue reading and enjoy!

1. To begin, we have already prepped the majority of the space and the cabinets themselves! We are getting ready to paint them (see this article for the full preparatory steps). 

Now, the next steps depend on what method you plan to use for painting your cabinets. You can either brush & roll OR spray paint your cabinets, doors and frames. Often, brushing and rolling is used for the frames either way, as it is much easier. Spray painting can get you a smoother and richer finish, but takes more time, skill and is therefore more expensive. That being said, roll painting can give you a very nice finish, using the right technique and tools, and is less expensive.

If you plan to brush & roll, follow the instructions below:

1. As outlined in our previous article, using a bonding primer, available at hardware and paint stores, apply one even coat on all surfaces. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but it is typical to allow to dry for 24 hours. This will allow paint to stick to surfaces that are glossy and resistant to adhesion (like laminate, glass, ceramic, etc.).
2. You’re going to take your first cabinet door. It should be labelled by number. If you have used tape, take the piece of tape off and place it nearby so you don’t mismatch numbers. You’re going to place this door on a “painting tripod” (or any support that won’t damage the surface) which will keep the door elevated so as to protect the paint from getting scuffed by the surface below.
3. Start off by using a paint brush to prime any crevices on the surface of the cabinet doors. Lightly brush the surface with the primer, not using too much of it so as to create brush/lap marks. Depending on the style of the door, curves and crevices may be all over the cabinet or very minimal. Nonetheless, prime those areas first and then take a mini roller (preferably with a finer nap) to prime the flat surfaces!
4. Additionally, you are going to prime the cabinet frames. Grab a ladder if needed, and use a brush and mini roller to prime any exterior sides of the frames. If you plan to paint inside the cabinets as well, start priming from the back and move forward, to avoid scuffing anything in the process.
5. CONDITIONAL If the cabinets have been previously painted, a bonding primer is not necessary (however, check your paint instructions to see what preparation is required). Just prep and go to the painting step. However, if the previous paint job is peeling and failing, it will need to be stripped off, re-primed and then painted. You would strip by using a paint stripper and following the manufacturer’s instructions.
6. Let the cabinet frames & doors dry, per the primer manufacturer’s instructions or ideally for one day. 
7. Once they are dry, you are going to flip the doors onto the opposite side and prime them, following the same procedure. Then, let them dry as well, again following the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Once the primer is dry, you are going to do the exact same procedure with your paint of choice – using a brush on any curves or angles, roll painting the flat points, letting it cure and then flipping it over and repeat! For cabinets, we typically use water borne alkyd or enamel paints. These offer durability and toughness for heavily used cabinets and surfaces.

If you plan to spray paint, follow the instructions below:

1. If you don’t have your own sprayer, you can rent one from your local hardware store or paint supplier.
2. Set up a makeshift work booth to contain the spray. Ensure the room you’re working in is well ventilated. Set up a work surface, such as a bucket, sawhorse, table to place the doors on, for painting. Be sure to lay down paper or plastic on top of the support. Hang plastic sheeting around this area and cover the floors to avoid paint spills and splashes. 
3. As a note, you can also use a hanging mechanism to allow easy painting of both sides of the cabinet drawers at once (as opposed to resting them flat on a surface, and having to flip them). This will save time and minimize handling of doors.
4. Wear a mask respirator when spray painting. Practice spray painting before starting so you understand how much distance is needed, what pressure to apply, etc. to avoid excessive paint which will create drips and runs or too light of a coat.
5. Put your door on the support, prime and put aside to dry. Do this for all your doors (both sides) and your drawer faces, including the edges. If using a hanging mechanism for spray painting, both sides can be done at once. Please note: you will also have to have a hanging mechanism for drying. Prime cabinet boxes using your desired method and leave to dry.
6. Your cabinets can be spray painted or rolled with a fine finish roller to an excellent finish. Spray painting of course gives a superior finish, eliminating any brush strokes. However, the preparation of the surfaces will determine how good that finish is.
7. Repeat the above steps with the paint you have chosen. This will require two to three coats. You can mix the paint with floetrol, which can allow for a smoother finish. Be observant of the finish for blemishes after each coat, so they can be sanded and repaired if necessary, before the next coat.
8. Touch up any paint runs with a brush or roller, before the paint dries. If it is dry or tacky, you can wait until the next day to sand the runs (or any imperfections for that matter) and repaint it.
9. Allow to dry sufficiently so finger prints aren’t left when the doors are handled. Typically, this would be one day but could be more under humid conditions.

When you have finished painting (using either method):

1. Remove any tape used for masking and clean up your area.
2. Re-place the doors and drawer faces on the cabinets, using your new or reused hardware.
3. It is vital that you do not immediately use the area and start touching the cabinets. If done, you risk damaging your cabinets with finger indentations, chipping, etc. It is our recommendation to leave the painted surfaces untouched for a few days. Please note that most paints’ curing time is approximately 14 days. Do not clean the surfaces with chemicals or harshly, before your cabinets are fully cured. If needed, use a soft cloth and water to clean.

There you have it! You now have the tools to paint your kitchen or cabinet set. As you can see, this does take hard work, patience and attention to detail. Please ensure you have the allotted time and space to do so. If you have any hesitations, please reach out to an expert painter in your area for guaranteed quality. We are a call away.

Our contact information:

(416) 690-3890

www.larryspainting.ca

sales@larryspainting.ca