


Painting Kitchen Cabinets to Save Money
by James Mahoney
Kitchen Designers Ideas.com. If you want to find out more about kitchen
design software go to Kitchen Design Software. He also publishes a
newsletter on kitchen design. For more about kitchen remodeling advice go
to kitchen remodeling advice
">If replacing your cabinetry is too expensive for your budget, after cabinet
refacing, painting kitchen cabinets is the least expensive option and can
really transform your kitchen. Plus this kitchen remodeling job can be
accomplished over a long weekend or about 3 days with the right kind of
preparation and planning. Depending on the area of the country you live in it
is probably not a good idea to do this type of job in the winter months
because you will need to have windows and doors open because of fumes
from the paint and primer.
Kitchen cabinets take up most of the wall space in most kitchens and
because of this by making a change in the look of your kitchen cabinets as in
painting, you can greatly improve the look of the entire kitchen.
Whether you want to lighten up dark cabinets or brighten them up with bold
colors, paint can provide an instant makeover for almost all types of
cabinets. Because of problems of paint adhering well to laminate and
melamine cabinets, it isn't recommended to paint these types.
Painting your kitchen cabinets can be the fastest and easiest method to
update a tired worn-out looking kitchen and increase the value of your home.
Painting the cabinets is a simple and low-cost alternative to an expensive
kitchen-remodeling job. Painting the kitchen cabinets can give them a fresh
new look. Painting kitchen cabinets will save you money while making it look
like you spent a lot on remodeling your kitchen.
You can easily change the kitchen cabinet accessories such as the cabinet
knobs and handles. You can leave the insides of the kitchen cabinets alone
except the insides of the doors to save even more money on the job and the
hassle of having to take out everything that is inside the cabinets.
Preparing the Kitchen Cabinetry for Painting
First you can begin by take off the doors removing any screws and all the
hardware from the cabinets. Make sure to clean the cabinets thoroughly
before starting to paint with a wood cleaner containing orange oil. This type
of cleaner is good for removing grease. If there is any grease, oils or even a
little dirt the paint may not adhere to the wood surface correctly. Make sure
the surface is totally dry before applying the primer.
Now check for any rough areas on the doors and the cabinet base, sand
them down, and wipe away any dust or sawdust from the surface.
Apply an even coat of primer-sealer to the cabinet doors, starting in the
center and following the grain of the wood. By using primer-sealer you will
not have to sand down and degloss the wood before painting it.
Painting the Cabinetry
When it comes to the choice of the type of paint either a high-gloss or a
semigloss paint are recommended for cabinets. Some people feel that
semigloss can provide a richer finish however. Use a good quality brush for
applying the paint. This will insure a more superior finish. As with the
application of the primer-sealer you should start in the center and follow the
grain. Two or three coats are required to achieve a good quality finish. The
paint should be allowed to dry about four hours per coat. Using thin coats
make for fewer brushstrokes and less time for drying.
Once you have all the doors painted, start on the bases. Follow the same
steps you did for the doors: sand, clean, seal, then paint. You will not have
to worry about doing the inside of the cabinets. It will only be necessary to
tape off the edges for a clean finish and just leave them as they are.
However you might want to start thinking about replacing the hardware for
the drawers and doors to totally complete your new kitchen look.
If you proceed carefully and follow all the necessary steps, you should have
a like new kitchen with a fresh look to be proud of.
James Mahoney is the author of many kitchen design articles, visit at Kitchen
Designers Ideas.com. If you want to find out more about kitchen design
software go to Kitchen Design Software. He also publishes a newsletter on
kitchen design. For more about kitchen remodeling advice go to kitchen
remodeling advice
View more articles from James Mahoney

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