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Copyright © 2008
Smoky Mountain Painting
Painting your kitchen cabinets is a great alternative to purchasing new cabinets. Not only can you save a lot of money but if done correctly the results are fantastic.
The easiest way to complete this project is not to paint the inside of the cabinets . The inside is only seen when the cabinet is open so I would recommend that you leave them unpainted. Plus if you don't paint the inside of the cabinets you don't have to remove everything from inside the cabinets.
Make certain that the room you are painting the cabinets in is well ventilated because the oil based primer and paint does have a very strong odor. Consider using a fan placed by an open door or window to help and pull the fumes out of the house.
Step 1. Take off all of the cabinet hardware including all knobs, handles and pulls. Cover all countertops and flooring using drop cloths or tarps. Leave the doors attached. Using painters tape, tape all the hinges on the doors.
Step 2. Clean cabinets thoroughly using a cleaning solution such as TSP. This is a cleaning agent which is readily available at most hardware stores. Wash the exterior of all the cabinets that are to be painted using your cleaning solution. Allow the cabinets to fully dry and then sand them to a dull finish using a fine grit sandpaper.
Step 3. Prime cabinets using a good oil based primer such as BIN or Zinsser primer which you can also purchase at most hardware or paint stores. Apply a thin coat of primer using a brush and a short nap roller. Prime the front of the doors first then open and prime the backs of the doors. After priming the doors, prime the remainder of the exposed cabinets. After the primer is completely dry, take your fine grit sandpaper and lightly sand the cabinets.
Step 4. Paint the cabinets using a brush and short nap roller the same way you applied the primer. You can use either oil or latex (water based) paint. The oil is going to be more difficult to apply but will be more durable than the latex. If using oil,you may also need to thin the oil using paint thinner in order to acheive a smooth even finish. Be careful and do not thin the paint too much. Start out by thinning the paint a very small amount and thin more if necessary. You will also need paint thinner for cleaning up the paint and primer.
Step 5. Once the cabinets are completely dry, lightly sand any bubbles that formed in the first coat of paint using fine grit sandpaper. Do not sand so hard that you remove the paint you just put on. Apply the final coat of paint using the same technique as before. Allow the cabinets to dry at least 24 hours before reattaching the knobs and pulls.
Step 6. If you used an oil paint, clean the brush and roller sleeve using paint thinner. If you used latex paint you can use regular tap water to clean your brush and roller sleeve. If you used an inexpensive brush and roller sleeve you may want to discard them instead of trying to clean them.
Painting cabinetry can be a tedious task so just take your time and follow the steps in this article. If you do this I believe you will be happy with the results.
The author has over thirty years experience in the home improvement industry and is the owner of Smoky Mountain Painting in Pigeon Forge Tennessee.
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