Painting Cabinets

Our kitchen cabinets are only about 5 years old - except we hate the color and would love to paint them white. How can we do that? What do we have to do? I assume we have to sand them down - but is it really that simple? Help!

Re: Painting Cabinets

I did this. I had to sand them down with steel wool.... the thickest grade.. just to get the sealed top layer off.

then I primed them with primer.

I then painted them with oil based paint and a fabric roller. the foam type rollers left bubbles. I used more of a cotton type roller. After I tried and failed with the foam rollers I went back to the hardware store and the guy told me to try the cotton fabric type roller and that worked.

The only thing, oil paint takes a good amount of time to dry to a hard finish... I mean days or even a week. But once it dries it can be wiped clean.

I read the oil based paint is the best to use for cabinets.

it honestly wasn't that hard and I would do it again. Good Luck!!

Re: Painting Cabinets

I agree with above. I didn't do that because I didn't care enough to have them last a long time. But if they are new (unlike my 1950s) take the time to prep them and use oil based paint.

Re: Painting Cabinets

We were renting to buy our old place. Did some work to it, REALLY wanted to own it. Lived there 6 months then the termites came out to mate then the kitchen ceiling fell down while we were showering due to a slow leak in the walls. Needless to say, we left. But, before all this started, we fixed up the kitchen by painting the cabinets and adding new hardware. My stepdad who just passed away was contractor specializing in painting and wallpapering and taught me everything that I know.

First we sanded down the cabinets with two different types of sandpaper. We hit them with a 110 to get all the polyurethane off of them then a 220 to smooth it out. Then we washed them down with a water and ammonia and sponge. We didn't use a primer. We used BM White Chocolate oil based and added a glaze to it. Like the PP said, a good quality mini roller is a must. No foam or home depot 99 cent special because the fuzzies will come off. With the oil based, you can't double roll, meaning no going up then rolling back down in the same paint. Don't press too hard or you will get lines from the roller. Let the first coat dry for 24 hours. Go back with a second coat. Should be enough, you may want to do a third.

Make sure to label the doors before you take them off!

Re: Painting Cabinets

Posted by 2boys4me

We were renting to buy our old place. Did some work to it, REALLY wanted to own it. Lived there 6 months then the termites came out to mate then the kitchen ceiling fell down while we were showering due to a slow leak in the walls. Needless to say, we left. But, before all this started, we fixed up the kitchen by painting the cabinets and adding new hardware. My stepdad who just passed away was contractor specializing in painting and wallpapering and taught me everything that I know.

First we sanded down the cabinets with two different types of sandpaper. We hit them with a 110 to get all the polyurethane off of them then a 220 to smooth it out. Then we washed them down with a water and ammonia and sponge. We didn't use a primer. We used BM White Chocolate oil based and added a glaze to it. Like the PP said, a good quality mini roller is a must. No foam or home depot 99 cent special because the fuzzies will come off. With the oil based, you can't double roll, meaning no going up then rolling back down in the same paint. Don't press too hard or you will get lines from the roller. Let the first coat dry for 24 hours. Go back with a second coat. Should be enough, you may want to do a third.

Make sure to label the doors before you take them off!

Re: Painting Cabinets

Posted by MrsKS

Posted by 2boys4me

We were renting to buy our old place. Did some work to it, REALLY wanted to own it. Lived there 6 months then the termites came out to mate then the kitchen ceiling fell down while we were showering due to a slow leak in the walls. Needless to say, we left. But, before all this started, we fixed up the kitchen by painting the cabinets and adding new hardware. My stepdad who just passed away was contractor specializing in painting and wallpapering and taught me everything that I know.

First we sanded down the cabinets with two different types of sandpaper. We hit them with a 110 to get all the polyurethane off of them then a 220 to smooth it out. Then we washed them down with a water and ammonia and sponge. We didn't use a primer. We used BM White Chocolate oil based and added a glaze to it. Like the PP said, a good quality mini roller is a must. No foam or home depot 99 cent special because the fuzzies will come off. With the oil based, you can't double roll, meaning no going up then rolling back down in the same paint. Don't press too hard or you will get lines from the roller. Let the first coat dry for 24 hours. Go back with a second coat. Should be enough, you may want to do a third.

Make sure to label the doors before you take them off!

did you have real hardwood cabinets?

my cabinets were wood but the more manufactured kind... almost like a processed wood.
I think that might be why yours needed more sanding.
You post made me think of why type of cabinets they are ... that's important..

OP: if you have the more wood kind then you might want to sand more like this poster did.

Re: Painting Cabinets

I did it in my house to built in cabinets that were there already let me see if I can find the thread, I have pics too

Re: Painting Cabinets

here is the link to the thread