What's the Best Way To Paint Kitchen Cabinets?

Thinking about painting your kitchen cabinets? You’re not alone! It’s one of our most popular specialties, with more and more homeowners looking for cabinet painting services around both our Naples and New Jersey locations.

But here’s the thing: with such high demand, a lot of painters have jumped on the bandwagon and are marketing their “expertise.” Cabinet painting is actually a very specialized service, calling for a specific set of skills, tools, and experience. If it’s not done right it’s VERY obvious; maybe not immediately, but certainly not far down the road. Poorly applied cabinet paint just won’t perform the way you need it to.

So, what’s the difference between low-grade work and high-quality cabinet painting services? Let’s take a closer look.

How do you paint kitchen cabinets?

Each project is unique, but there are some key steps in the process that need to be followed:

• Carefully prepare the space. We’re talking meticulous masking, taping, and fully containing your kitchen.
• Disassembly. Cabinet doors, drawer faces, and hardware are removed, labeled, and organized.
• Surface preparation. This step makes ALL the difference! You absolutely have to carefully clean, repair, and sand the surfaces, creating the ideal profile for the new primer and paint to grip onto. This step is one of the first to be overlooked by less experienced (or scrupulous) painters, setting your project up for disaster.
• Priming and painting. A durable, beautiful paint finish is built, not just applied. The right primer needs to be used, followed by multiple thin layers of topcoat. More on this below.
• Reassembly. After everything is painted, it’s time for a careful reassembly and final touch-ups.

What’s the best way to paint kitchen cabinets?

Some specific techniques may call for a brushed finish, but most of the work can (and should) be done with a sprayer. Paint sprayers deliver a load of paint at an adjustable volume, giving a skilled painter total control over the application. It’s both an art and a science. Done right, you get a beautiful, smooth finish that looks like it came from the factory that way. Can you use regular interior paint on kitchen cabinets?

Can you use regular interior paint on kitchen cabinets?

Using regular interior house paint is another mistake a lot of painters and homeowners make. You MUST use paint specifically formulated for high-wear surfaces like cabinets and trim. These products create a harder finish, like a protective shell, that makes the paint durable and washable.

How do you choose a cabinet painter?

Here are a few quick tips:

• Take your time! You have a LOT riding on your cabinet repaint and need to be 100% sure you’ve found the right local painting company.
• Don’t hunt for a bargain. Trust us, we’re homeowners too and know how important it is to find a good deal and stick to a budget. When you’re painting your cabinets, however, you need to be sure the job is done right without any cut corners, otherwise it becomes much more expensive in the long run.
• Ask tough questions. What kind of prep do you include? What kind of products do you use? Do you guarantee your work?
• Look for longevity. A proven track record will speak volumes about your cabinet painter and whether or not they’ll even be around to honor their warranty.

If you have any other questions about cabinet painting in Naples, FL, or coastal New Jersey, please contact us at Clean Lines Painting. It would be our pleasure to serve you and your kitchen!