Whether you want to
lighten up dark and
dingy cabinets or enliven
things with bold colors,
paint can provide an
instant makeover for
most types of cabinets.
Because paint doesn't
adhere well to laminate
and melamine cabinets,
it isn't a good idea
to paint these types.
Painting with a short
(4- or 6-inch) foam
roller lets you cover
the faceframes with
a single stroke and
quickly handle the wider
doors. Satin enamel
paint is an excellent
choice because it covers
well and is easy to
clean.
Remove all screws,
hinges, knobs, and pulls
and set aside ones you'll
be reusing. Empty drawers
and pull them out. Thoroughly
clean all surfaces with
TSP (trisodium phosphate).
Rinse completely with
fresh water and allow
to dry. Fill any holes
with wood putty and
allow to dry. Then sand
all surfaces with 150-grit
open-coat sandpaper
and vacuum to remove
any dust and sanding
grit.
Mask off all adjacent
surfaces and position
drop cloths to protect
counters and floors. Paint
the parts in this order:
faceframes, inside surfaces
of the doors, drawer fronts,
fronts of the doors. If
additional coats are required,
allow the first coat to
dry overnight and lightly
sand all surfaces with
220-grit wet/dry sandpaper.
Vacuum thoroughly, then
apply the paint.
Painting
Kitchen Cabinets
STEP
1:
Mask off all adjacent
surfaces and position
drop cloths to protect
countertops and
flooring. Begin
by painting the
faceframes, then
turn your attention
to the doors and
drawers.
STEP
2:
Next, paint the
insides of the doors
and, while you allow
them to dry, paint
the drawer fronts.
Then paint the fronts
of the doors.
STEP
3:
Once the painted
surfaces are dry,
install the drawers
and attach the doors.
Carefully lay out
and drill holes
into a jig and through
the doors at the
desired hinge location.
Finally, install
the pulls.
