How to Paint Cabinets

Remove all the doors and hardware. It’s easier to clean, sand, and paint without having to cut around the hardware.

Degrease. Use a good degreaser and wipe down all the cabinets. You want to remove any oily residue to ensure proper paint adhesion.

Sand. Use 220 grit sandpaper and sand all parts of the cabinets. This step is very important and should never be skipped. Sanding allows the primer/paint to adhere properly and will prevent any chips in the future.

Caulk. If you have any small gaps on the front of the door panels, use a little caulk to fill the space. Wipe any excess off. Make sure you use a paintable caulk.

Prime. Use a good primer like Gripper, which can be found at Home Depot or Kilz Adhesion. Do one coat of primer on all parts of the cabinets. Wait 24-48 hours, then lightly sand and wipe down with a damp cloth to remove any debris before applying your first coat of paint.

Paint. Get good quality paint. At least an eggshell or satin finish is recommended.  Use a brush to get in the corners of the cabinet doors and use a foam roller to smooth the finish and remove brush strokes. You could also use a paint spray for a flawless finish. I recommend the Graco Magnum paint sprayer. Let your first coat dry for about 24-48 hours, then apply a second coat in the same manner. Again, wait 24-48 hours and once the second coat is dry. Be sure to lightly sand and wipe down between the coats.

Tip: To hide any brush strokes, roller marks, or even to get a spray finish smooth as glass, I highly recommend using Flood Floetrol. Mix 8oz in 1 gallon of paint.

Paint recommendations:

• Behr Cabinet & Trim Enamel
• Benjamin Moore Advance
• Sherwin Williams Emerald
• Behr Ultra Scuff Defense (This is a flat finish and I’ve had great results with durability)

Poly. This step is optional, but it will seal your cabinets to prevent chipping. I like a matte water based polyurethane.

Put hardware and doors back on. Be sure to use bumpers on the corners of the doors and drawers, so the paint doesn’t stick together. Be careful with the freshly painted cabinets for about 2 weeks. They take awhile to fully cure and have a durable finish.