If you’d like to spruce up your kitchen cabinets and give them a new color scheme, you might consider cabinet-painting. However, this DIY project can only last so long before the color starts to fade. And, as with most DIY projects, the longevity of the finished product depends on how carefully you paint it. If you don’t know where to start, here are some tips to save money while painting your cabinets.
Cost of cabinet-painting
How much does cabinet-painting cost? The cost of cabinet-painting varies wildly depending on the size and complexity of the project. A simple task can take one day, or even a week, while a complex project may take a few days. Before you can estimate the cost of cabinet-painting, however, you need to know the approximate dimensions of your project. Then, determine how much paint you need.
In a survey conducted by Walls by Design, almost all of the costs are labor. This is not the case with a normal house paint job, where the materials are roughly equal. For cabinet painting, the costs are largely labor-based, with the remaining costs being incurred by the painter. A painter’s labor price will vary based on whether the project requires prep work, such as sanding or cleaning. Whether you need primer or bonding is also an important factor in the final cost.
Preparation
The most important step in cabinet painting click is preparation. Before you begin, label all cabinet doors. Prepare your work area. Store all hardware and clean all surfaces. After you have completed these steps, it is time to apply the paint. Make sure the paint will not dry before you put on the final coat. You will also want to apply a second coat to provide a flawless finish. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Before you begin the actual painting process, you should sand your cabinets. You can use a wood sanding block to avoid rounding the edges. Although you do not need to remove any existing paint, sanding creates a smooth surface for new paint. It is important to remove flaky paint before painting, as this indicates that the finish did not bond properly and moisture and grease seeped into the wood.
Primer
Before you begin painting cabinets, prepare the surface of your cabinet by sanding it first. Sandpaper of 100 to 150 grit is a good choice. The sanding process does not need to remove the entire finish; only enough to allow the primer to adhere to the cabinet. If you don’t have sandpaper, you can use a de-glossing liquid or abrasive pad with protective gear. Be sure to do this in a well-ventilated area. Before you begin applying primer, clean up any sanding dust that is created by sanding the cabinets. A tack cloth will help.
Before applying primer, be sure to dry the cabinet surface with a paper towel and a paintbrush. If the surface is smooth and dry, a thin coat of primer can help prevent the paint from transferring. Also, a primer should be able to adhere to laminate surfaces. A low VOC, water-based primer is a good choice for painting cabinets. A good primer should also have an odor-blocking additive to prevent the paint from developing mold.
Finish
Before painting your cabinets, you need to prepare your workspace. Set up a flat work surface or set up a sawhorse and lay down a drop cloth. To paint cabinet doors, prop up the edges of the wood using a long ladder. This will prevent drips. If you do not have a sawhorse, you can use a long ladder to paint the cabinet doors. Once the paint has dried overnight, flip the cabinets over and continue painting.
Choosing a paint finish for your cabinets is important for many reasons. The quality of the paint will determine its durability, how well it reflects light, and how well it hides surface imperfections. Different paints come in different sheen levels, which define the glossiness and sheen of the finished product. Higher sheen levels contain more resins and binders to create a smooth, shiny surface. On the other hand, lower sheen paints have more pigment, making them more easily scratched and marked.
