Should I paint my kitchen cabinets?
#1
10-08-15, 06:23 AM
Should I paint my kitchen cabinets?
I am renovating my kitchen and my cabinets looks very old. They are in great condition, so I thought a nice fresh coat of paint would do wonders. I am thinking I want to paint them white as it seems very modern and that style will never really go out of fashion. Though I know how much work it will take to do it, which I am fine with, but what do you all think?
Would white looks best, an expresso, or leave them be?
Would white looks best, an expresso, or leave them be?
#3
10-08-15, 06:59 AM
That is the original look. That same stain is basically throughout the house (or was). It is on all of the bedroom doors and trim. All of which I painted white. I will take another pic here soon to show some day light on them. They are lighter than this picture shows.
#4
10-08-15, 07:16 AM
Another pic isn't needed. I like the cabinets the way they are. I wish you had asked about the bedroom doors & trim. My parents had a house & the same thing was done, on the interior doors. I thought that it was a big mistake.
#5
10-08-15, 08:58 AM
I also like the knotty pine. The biggest mistake folks make when painting over stained/poly'd wood is lack or proper prep. It needs to be sanded lightly and then coated with a solvent based primer to insure adhesion. The top coat can be latex, oil base or waterborne enamel. While oil base dries to the hardest film [=longest wear] it yellows as it ages. Waterborne [my favorite] dries almost as hard as oil but doesn't yellow.
If you paint your cabinets you'd need to replace the hardware to make it look right. One of the downsides of painting is it will show wear sooner than poly and will need a fresh coat of paint at some point.
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/pa...t-repaint.html
If you paint your cabinets you'd need to replace the hardware to make it look right. One of the downsides of painting is it will show wear sooner than poly and will need a fresh coat of paint at some point.
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/pa...t-repaint.html
#6
10-08-15, 09:22 AM
Thanks for the information!
I've researched this quite a bit on here and through google searches and it definitely is a lot more work than I initially thought. I'm fine with doing the work as I will be couped up all winter.
What if I restained it an expresso color, would that require the same prep? As I keep looking at expresso cabinets, it is making this decision harder for me.
I have lived in my home since I was seven and the cabinet color is getting old to me. I am thinking about renting or selling the home within the next couple of years, so that is the reasoning I am wanting a modern look, to draw people in.
I've researched this quite a bit on here and through google searches and it definitely is a lot more work than I initially thought. I'm fine with doing the work as I will be couped up all winter.
What if I restained it an expresso color, would that require the same prep? As I keep looking at expresso cabinets, it is making this decision harder for me.
I have lived in my home since I was seven and the cabinet color is getting old to me. I am thinking about renting or selling the home within the next couple of years, so that is the reasoning I am wanting a modern look, to draw people in.
#7
10-08-15, 09:33 AM
Personally I prefer the old look over a lot of the new modern stuff ..... but then maybe I'm just old 
To stain the cabinets you'd need to completely strip off the existing finish. This is best accomplished with a chemical stripper followed by sanding. Another option would be to apply a tinted poly like Minwax's PolyShades over the existing [lightly sanded] finish. Tinted polys can be a little tricky to apply! It's kind of like a see thru paint. Any drips, runs or lapmarks will have more color and look unsightly. Thin or missed spots will have less. It isn't a coating that lends itself to touch up.
To stain the cabinets you'd need to completely strip off the existing finish. This is best accomplished with a chemical stripper followed by sanding. Another option would be to apply a tinted poly like Minwax's PolyShades over the existing [lightly sanded] finish. Tinted polys can be a little tricky to apply! It's kind of like a see thru paint. Any drips, runs or lapmarks will have more color and look unsightly. Thin or missed spots will have less. It isn't a coating that lends itself to touch up.
#8
10-08-15, 12:16 PM
I've used this chemical stripper before that worked very well. I forget the name of it, I just remember it looked like pink ooze.
Does anyone have a product they recommend? Then should I do a smooth sand with a 400 gritt or so sandpaper?
Does anyone have a product they recommend? Then should I do a smooth sand with a 400 gritt or so sandpaper?
#9
10-08-15, 01:53 PM
I don't strip very often so whenever that type of job comes up I rely on the rep at the paint store to recommend the best one for the job at hand.
There is never any need to use 400 grit on wood! In fact using too fine of a grit will close up the pores of the wood making it harder to accept stain. 120 or 150 grit is fine enough prior to applying the stain. It is important to sand with the direction of the grain to prevent cross grain scratches that are sometimes difficult to remove. I'll generally use 150 or 180 grit on the 1st coat of poly and 220 on the final coat.
There is never any need to use 400 grit on wood! In fact using too fine of a grit will close up the pores of the wood making it harder to accept stain. 120 or 150 grit is fine enough prior to applying the stain. It is important to sand with the direction of the grain to prevent cross grain scratches that are sometimes difficult to remove. I'll generally use 150 or 180 grit on the 1st coat of poly and 220 on the final coat.
#11
10-09-15, 07:29 AM
Group Moderator
I don't like painted wood but it's your house and Mark gave you the link which provides the info you need if you want to paint. Keep in mind, it will be a bigger job than you think it is and using a darker color paint will not save any effort.
My 2¢ is the same as Pulpo - I wouldn't do it.
My 2¢ is the same as Pulpo - I wouldn't do it.
#13
10-10-15, 03:48 AM
Lets make it a nickel 
While I wouldn't paint them if it was my house [maybe a fresh coat of poly] and while I'd question the customer to make sure that is what they want, if they were willing to pay me - I'd prime and paint them
While I wouldn't paint them if it was my house [maybe a fresh coat of poly] and while I'd question the customer to make sure that is what they want, if they were willing to pay me - I'd prime and paint them
#14
10-12-15, 06:54 AM
I appreciate all of the advise. I'm not quite sure what I want to do yet. I think choosing back splashes will help the case of what I want to do.
Thanks!
Thanks!
