What You Should Know About Painting Kitchen Cabinets?

What You Should Know About Painting Kitchen Cabinets?
Do you want to update your kitchen without emptying your wallet and buying and installing brand-new appliances? Many people have a positive answer to this question. Especially if they spend long hours in their kitchen, they want it to look contemporary and trendy. This can be achieved by painting the cabinets. When properly applied, a fresh coat of paint on your kitchen cabinets may drastically alter the appearance of your kitchen without burdening your budget.
However, there are some things you should be aware of so that you know how to do it properly. For one, not all styles of cabinets will suit your home the most. So, if you’re eager to discover more details about this, you’ve come to the right place as we’ll uncover it all. Read on and enjoy!
Put a label on every panel of the cabinets
When you’re painting, you are bound to dislocate drawers and parts of the kitchen cabinets. So, you'll need to come up with a method to remember where everything goes when you take drawers out of their slots and cabinet doors off of their hinges. To make it simple to reposition each piece after they are dry, create a little schematic and mark each piece appropriately.
Additionally, you'll need tape to properly cover hinges, fasteners, and edges. You'll also need rosin paper or brown builder's paper to cover counters. Like with any paintwork, the better the preparation, the better the outcome.
Yes, you can paint over black
Of course, it's simple to paint your white or light cabinets to a deeper, more fashionable hue. But if you've gotten bored of dark gray or the deep blue that was popular a few years ago, have no fear. With a little work, you can get your cabinets back to a brighter color. It’s all about the primer. In this regard, one of the world-class painters Albert Ridge advises tinting the primer to match the color you want to have in the end.
You can consider adding a layer of the underbody, like Fresh Start, which is a denser, less translucent primer that conceals more and can also be tinted if your color change is drastic. You can try going to the paint store to do the tinting.
A good rule of thumb is to ask for 75% of the final hue, making it lighter but near.
Use a brush of 2 to 2.5 inches
When it’s painting time, an important aspect to think about is the size of the brush. Use a 2 to 2.5-inch fine bristle brush, which can reach the minor details and corners. This will help you get the best finish on painted cabinets.
Alternatively, you can use a roller. If you must use it, look for a small one that will fit easily on smaller surfaces. After that, use a brush to run over the surface to remove any roller marks and to get into any small places.
Don’t forget to paint the interior of the cabinets
The benefit of open shelves and glass-fronted cabinets is that you can show off what's within. But keep in mind that this also makes the interiors of your cabinet boxes visible. This is sometimes overlooked by kitchen owners and the result is pretty horrific and unprofessional to look at.
The insides of the cabinets typically require a delicate layer of paint, or you could choose a different color for the inside to add mystery.
Spray paint is a nice idea if you’re running out of patience
One of the top questions many interior designers get is if spray painting is okay. Spray painting your cabinets is an option if hand painting seems tiring. Carefully do all of the same preparation processes, then before spraying, take your cabinet fronts and drawers outside or thoroughly cover anything else in the room. Choose a sprayer of top quality and keep in mind to apply several thin coats rather than one heavy one.
Wood is the go-to material
Any type of wood will work for cabinets when it comes to painting. According to painter Albert Ridge, all types of wood like unfinished, painted, and stained woodwork nicely. The same goes for compressed or faux wood and MDF.
Painting, however, is fairly easy on materials found in the kitchen. You can work with anything that can be scuffed up with sandpaper to allow for the paint to stick. This is one of the reasons why laminates aren’t a good option for kitchens. Yes, you can paint them, but the paint won’t stay long on the surface.
Keep in mind that shiny surfaces such as stained wood must first be de-glossed. People tend to apply Wil-Bond or other liquid sanders using a cloth.
Make sure you clean the cabinets

You cannot store food in your cabinets while you paint the external elements of the cabinets. But don’t worry as now is also the ideal time to arrange what you already have.Take everything out, arrange everything and take out the stuff you don’t want and/or need. Additionally, you should spend some time using a grease-cutting cleaner to scrub your cabinets completely from the inside out to get rid of any residue or spills that may have accumulated over time. If at all possible, keep food items in a different room while your cabinets are being painted. Once the painting is completed and the cabinets are dry, bring them back.

Hard finishes are simpler to clean
For cabinets, avoid matte and eggshell finishes in favor of semi-gloss, gloss, or satin. They are more durable, easy-to-clean finishes. Furthermore, they not only look nice but they tend to be easier to maintain.
To make sure you won’t need to paint again soon, it’s recommended to go for a wipeable and durable surface.
Use white to brighten your kitchen
A renowned interior designer Gustave Carlson advises the color of the cabinets to match the one that is dominating the kitchen space. White is very calming and brings additional light, too. It represents a relaxing backdrop for all the activities in the kitchen without assaulting the senses and attracting unwanted attention. Also, white is easier to combine with other colors and color palettes. Yet, the bottom line is that it’s all a matter of personal preference.
Experiment with colors – exchange blue for yellow
Blue cabinets and green cabinets have each had their time. They used to be those colors you utilized if you were feeling experimental. But now they are more widely accepted. So, interior designers have moved on to another color. What is predicted to become the next big thing in the kitchen? Yellow.
People are experimenting now more than ever and yellow seems to be the new go-to color for this new wave of interior designers. Yellow cabinets will bring brightness and attraction to your kitchen. Also, you can combine it with other colors like black, white, gray, blue, green, orange, and similar.
If you're feeling brave, try it. After all, you can still go back if it no longer seems like the right color for this part of your home.
Final Remarks
All things considered, painted cabinets are nice additions to your kitchen that will slightly alter its appearance for the better. It can be a challenge to get everything right but luckily there are many things to try until you settle for what works for you. Whether it’s white cabinets, black ones, or another color entirely, what matters is that the kitchen satisfies your taste and expectations.
We hope through all of the information we shared, you got the idea of what you want and how to do it. So, good luck and share your experience with this in the comments. We would love to hear what you think about painting your kitchen cabinets.

What is the Average Costs of Cabinet Refacing:?

Cabinet Refacing: What is the Average Costs?

Kitchen cabinets should be neat and designed appropriately to make the best kitchen. If you cannot replace them, you can consider refacing them. Refacing kitchen cabinets only change the exterior part, but the cabinet remains intact.

Cabinet Refacing entails covering the outer part of your cabinets with natural wood or plastic laminate or simply replacing the drawer and cabinet fronts. It is incredible to add a brand new look by replacing pulls, knobs, and hinges when replacing. When compared with putting in all-new kitchen cabinets, refacing is more economical.

What are the Benefits of Refacing Kitchen Cabinets?
Other than the economical option, refacing entails various benefits. Furthermore, there are several factors to consider when deciding whether to reface or replace. Here are some of its top benefits:

● Quick & Easy Way of Giving Your Cabinets a New Look
Refacing your cabinets is a quick procedure and gives your kitchen cabinets a new look. You are allowed to choose from the wide range of refacing options that can enhance your room without undergoing the more back-breaking approach of full cabinet replacement.

● Cost-Effective
Cabinet refacing will enable you to save more money since replacing some parts of the cabinet is much more affordable than having an entirely new one installed. Plus, it takes little time to reface, unlike cabinet renovation. The procedure takes approximately three to five days, depending on the full cabinets so you can also save on labor cost.

● Less Hassle
There is little mess and hassle involved when doing cabinet refacing. In fact, your kitchen will still be accessible during the process.

Procedure on How to Reface Cabinets
There are various steps to follow when refacing your cabinets, and they include the following:

The first procedure is removing doors from the cabinet. If the doors are still in good state and shape, they are wiped to clean and sanded. This means deep cleaning to remove debris comprising grease and dirt. Lastly, you need to smooth the surface to finish the cleaning process. This step is essential because dirty doors will not hold new veneers. The cleaning and sanding process enables the veneer to hold on securely.

Secondly, flaws are supposed to be corrected. Any dents and nicks in the cabinets are attended to and fixed accordingly. If they are large, they are repaired with wood filler. Minor flaws are just sanded out from the cabinet.

When you find that the door’s shape is in bad condition, then plywood should be inserted into the surface before the veneer is attached. To work efficiently, the cabinet fronts should be measured accurately for the plywood cut to fit. Plywood, therefore, is glued onto the surface of the cabinet. After it has dried, wood veneer or laminate is then attached to the plywood.

Finally, the end process is installing new hinges, knobs, and latches and then reattaching the doors.

How to Determine Whether Your Cabinets are Good Candidates for Refacing?
If your cabinets have water damage, broken frames, or warped, you are likely to replace them instead. You need to understand that refacing does not function well for all kitchen cabinets but only those that are structurally sound. Cabinets in good working condition should not have mechanical damage or broken parts. If the doors are broken or in critical condition, you might need to replace them.

Suppose you want a hire a kitchen cabinet refacing company. In that case, the workers will reinforce and modify your kitchen cabinet and ensure doors open and close with ease. If you are currently experiencing problems with doors opening and closing properly, then the time to fix them is during the refacing process.

You don’t have to focus only on the state of your kitchen cabinets when making the choice to reface or completely replace your cabinets, but you should also consider if you are interested in changing the kitchen layout. Suppose you are not interested in keeping your current cabinet configuration. In that case, replacing your kitchen cabinets may be a better choice to give you the option to reconfigure your kitchen design and layout completely.

What is the Cost of Refacing Kitchen Cabinets?
HomeAdvisor found that in homes, they spend approximately $4000 to $9000 on refacing kitchen cabinets. This shows about 30% to 50% less than replacing cabinets. When compared, replacing cabinets cost up to $18000 on average. On custom installation, it costs a total of $24000 or even more.

The least expensive option is refinishing kitchen cabinets. It starts from around $1,500 to $4,000. The process entails sanding and coloring the external surface of the cabinets.

When you decide to install new hardware on the kitchen cabinet at the time of refacing, it will cost you an additional $2 to $4 in each knob, hinge, and pull beneath and $20 to $50 for high-end hardware.

What Factors can Alter the scope and Cost of Cabinet Refacing Projects?
There are very many available options in terms of workmanship, colors, and materials. For example, when you prefer wood veneer, you will pay a slightly higher amount than if you opt to use a laminate. The cheapest types of wood are oak, cherry, and maple. Before going for wood, confirm the type of wood you choose to match your desired design and color.

Another factor affecting the cost of kitchen refacing is the number and size of your cabinets. Larger cabinets have more unusual dimensions hence, therefore, higher cost of refacing per cabinet. On the other hand, the smaller the cabinets, the less refacing.

The size of hardware you choose to put on your cabinet and the cost per unit will indicate the cabinet refacing amount. The project will obviously cost more if replacing the drawer, hinges, and knobs. Additionally, the average price of refacing kitchen cabinets can vary greatly based on current labor rates at the time of your project execution.

Final Words
The cost of cabinet refacing greatly differs from one case to another. However, if you prefer to opt for higher-end hardware, you can expect the cost to rise as well. Nevertheless, it is still much cheaper than having new cabinets installed.

The Advantage and Disadvantage of Cabinet Refacing

Is your cabinet a good candidate for refacing? The following elements will indicate whether your cabinets could be a good candidate for refacing:

  • Sturdy box construction made of MDF panels or plywood that are smooth and in pristine condition.
  • Internal hardware in good shape
  • Face frames made with solid hardwood

The Advantage of Cabinet Refacing

The reason why cabinet refacing has been increasing in popularity is because of its long list of benefits. These benefits include:

  • Cost-effective

Kitchen cabinets account for the majority of the kitchen remodeling budget. But, if your kitchen cabinetry has good backbones, then opting for a cabinet refacing would be a much more cost-effective option instead of changing everything entirely.

  • Eco-friendly

Since you will only be replacing some parts of your cabinetry, you will not use too much new wood or dump the old ones. This makes the process more eco-friendly because you will not be contributing much to the landfills. At the same time, you wouldn’t be cutting down trees and making them into new cabinets.

  • Plenty of Style options

There are tons of veneer options for you to choose from. Whether you want natural woods or laminates, you can have it if you choose cabinet refacing.

  • Kitchen Layout is Retained

If you like your kitchen layout and it works for you, then you don’t have to worry because cabinet refacing will not change that at all. This will also help quicken your remodeling period because refacing is much faster than ripping out old cabinets and fitting new ones.

The Disadvantage of Cabinet Refacing

Of course, there are also some downsides with cabinet refacing which is why it is not always a recommended option. These disadvantages include:

  • No Space for Upgrade

Suppose your current cabinet does not have enough storage solutions for your needs. In that case, cabinet refacing might not be a good option for you. This is because the cabinet-box interior will be retained. The only thing that will have significant change will be the exterior.

  • Cost Control

Yes, cabinet refacing is significantly more affordable than buying and installing new cabinets. However, the associated cost with kitchen refacing can easily add up. For example, changing the hinges and handles can be a bit expensive, especially if you choose higher-quality and more modern-looking options.

  • The Layout Cannot be Changed

This was mentioned as an advantage of cabinet refacing, but conversely, it can also be a disadvantage. You have to remember that you will be keeping the skeleton of your cabinets with cabinet refacing. This means that the layout will remain the same way as it is right now.

If your current cabinet layout does not work for you or you want to make some changes, you might want to explore other options instead of cabinet refacing.

  • Other Potential Challenges

It is possible for you to do DIY cabinet refacing. However, doing it without the necessary skills or experience can be quite challenging and can even result in costly mistakes. Installing hinges and handles will be very manageable, but veneering is actually an acquired skill. Although doing it on your own might be more cost-effective, it is best to have professionals handle it to save time, effort, and money.

Bottom Line

Basically, cabinet refacing is the process of changing the skin of your kitchen cabinet to change its appearance without needing to install new ones. The main advantage of this is that it is more cost-effective compared to replacing it entirely with newer cabinets.

However, just like with anything in this world, cabinet refacing also has its fair share of disadvantages. Some of these disadvantages include no room for upgrade, unchangeable layout, cost control, and other potential challenges.

At the end of the day, whether kitchen refacing is the best choice for you depends on your needs, preference, and priority. Hopefully, this article has been helpful in your decision-making process.

6 Easy Steps for Refinishing your Kitchen Cabinets

Bringing your kitchen back to life again doesn’t have to mean undergoing a massive renovation. In fact, simply repainting and fixing minor flaws on your cabinets can make your kitchen look brand-new again.

The excellent news is that you can refinish all the kitchen cabinets yourself. However, you will need the right tools and knowledge to do the job successfully. You’ll also need enough perseverance, especially when it comes to planning and measuring your cabinets.

With that said, if you’re ready to take on this project, here are 6 easy steps you can follow to refinish your kitchen cabinets.

 

STEP 1: Prepare the Kitchen and Yourself

It may be tempting to skip this part, but doing this is vital to protect you and your kitchen from accidents and damages. You can start by removing all cabinets’ doors and drawers and make sure you label them with numbers so that you won’t forget which one goes where.

Next, you should cover the interior of your cabinets with plastic to keep the dust and debris from work out. Aside from that, make sure you don’t forget to cover the backsplashes to avoid any paint from sticking to them. You should also remove all small or movable appliances from the kitchen.

However, if they’re too big, you can just seal them with some plastic or cloth to protect them from dust or liquid.

Lastly, don’t forget to protect yourself. In this case, you need to wear clothes that will allow you to move freely but won’t obstruct you from doing your job correctly. You should also wear protective gear like gloves, masks, and eye protection, especially when handling dusty items and chemicals like wood cleaners.

STEP 2: Degrease and Clean the Surfaces

Degreasing and cleaning your cabinet’s surfaces is essential if you want a clean outcome. First, you can start by scraping off any leftover grease or food residues from the surface.

Next, you need to wash and scrub the surface with soap and water using stainless steel wool. Doing so will remove the grease on the surface. However, if you’re dealing with tough grease, you can use a solution of TSP (trisodium phosphate) and water to remove it. TSP emulsifies grease, making it easier to remove than with soap.

After you’ve done these tasks, you should let them all dry completely before moving on to the next step.

STEP 3: Stripping Off the Finish

Next, you need to strip off the existing finish. However, before you do so, you need to choose a well-ventilated working space so that you don’t inhale any of the harmful chemicals.

Once you have a well-ventilated space to work in, you can then determine what type of finish your cabinets have.

Doing so would help you choose which stripping agent would work best for your cabinets. To help you out, here are some of the most common stripping agents and their corresponding finish types:

  • Turpentine: This works best for a wax finish.
  • Denatured Alcohol: A few drops of this stripping agent would work best for shellac and paint finish.
  • Lacquer: This is best used to dissolve a lacquer finish.
  • Xylene: This is best for a water-based finish.

You’ll only need a few drops of these stripping agents to remove your cabinets’ existing finish.

STEP 4: Sanding the Surface

Before you sand the cabinets’ surfaces, you should keep in mind that the hinges’ holes are crucial for remembering which cabinet they’re used for. That’s why you should avoid sanding these holes when you sand the cabinets.

With that said, you can start to sand the surface of the cabinets using sanding sponges. You will need to scuff all the surfaces to elevate the adhesion capacity.

Then, once you’re done sanding, you can remove all the dust using a vacuum to ensure you have a clean working environment.

STEP 5: Prime the Surface

Before you can paint your cabinets, you first need to prime them. Applying a primer will prevent you from having chipping or uneven finish on the wood surfaces.

However, you need to ensure you choose a suitable primer for your surface. This is because the wrong primer is just as bad as painting a cabinet without a primer.

A traditional oil primer has a different and noticeable odor. In contrast, most modernized primers have a low odor, which significantly benefits families with children and elderlies.

Once you have a suitable primer, you can apply it thoroughly using a brush, sprayer, or roller. Don’t forget to apply the primer on the corners as well.

Then, once you’re finished priming it, be sure to let it dry completely before proceeding to the next step. You can also lightly sand the surface again once it’s dry before applying the finish. Doing so will give you a smoother and more even surface.

STEP 6: Finishing

Once everything is primed and ready, you can now apply the finish. However, make sure you carefully follow the instructions to avoid unexpected results. With that said, you can use the same technique in priming to apply the finish.

First, you can start with the backside of your cabinet doors. It would be best to lay them flat and even on a well-protected surface.

It’s also better if you place them somewhere where they’re less likely to be moved or touched by others. For example, if you have children around, it’s generally better to place your cabinets out of their reach.

Next, you can gently apply your coating on the surface using a sprayer, brush, or roller. It would be best to have patience with this step to ensure a more even surface.

Once you’re done, you need to let it dry. Then, once it’s completely dry, you can flip it over and start coating the front part using the same process. After you have covered everything, applying a second coat is generally recommended to increase its protection and shine.

Conclusion

Refinishing your kitchen cabinets is a simple yet effective way to revamp your kitchen’s appearance. It’s also less costly and offers you more flexibility and freedom.

However, you need to make sure you follow all the necessary steps if you want to have excellent results.