The first thing we remind our DIY customers, painting cabinets is a very labor intensive project. The cabinets manufactures we represent here at Moscow & Pullman Building Supply use finishes that are actually an opaque stain, which is designed to look like paint and gives the consumer a long-lasting finish. These cabinets are stained in a dust free environment using an eight step process with the final step being oven cured to guarantee the strongest, most beautiful finish.
We have a lot of people ask us how to paint their golden oak cabinets, here are a few tricks and tips to help with this endeavor. The biggest issue with painting oak cabinets is how to minimize the grain that comes with that type of wood. If you have maple or cherry cabinet, they paint up beautifully. Oak can have similar result… it just takes a little more effort to get there.
STEPS:
1. Take off the doors, label them, and remove the hardware.
2. Protect your countertops, backsplash, and floor. The easiest way is buying our in-stock inexpensive roll of red rosin paper (36”x140”).
3. Clean and remove the gloss of the face frame, doors, and drawers. Kleen Strip easy liquid sander deglosser will do the job.
4. If you decide to change the placement of your hardware, this is the time to use wood filler to cover the old holes. We recommend drilling the hardware holes at this time to avoid damaging the final top coat. Laurey Perfect Mount template makes the job quick and accurate.
5. Once the filler is dry, sand using 120 grit sandpaper.
6. Add a two coats of of Zinsser cover stain primer and let dry for one day.
7. When the primer is good and dry you can paint… patience is the key!
8. Choose the right paint, we suggest Rodda Renaissance– Waterborne Alkyd Enamel. Renaissance enamels apply like an oil based paint with great brush feel and outstanding adhesion, flow, and level. Semigloss is the best finish for cabinets and be sure to use a mohair, short nap roller and a quality Purdy brush. It make take several coats of paint to get the finish you are satisfied with. Let dry for two days.
Before/After Pictured Above: Customer/Employee Kitchen in Moscow, ID. Redone with Rodda Renaissance Enamel. Hardware painted with Rustoleum Metallic Paint & Primer In One – Oil Rubbed Bronze
9. Apply a non-yellowing polyurethane as a sealer and protector. The best known is Varathane, ultimate polyurethane water base. Same rule applies as the primer and paint… thin coats, let dry between coats and use a new foam roller.
10. Now it is time to reassemble the cabinets.
It is so nice to here from our customers, who successfully conquered their kitchen makeover. The products listed are available in our paint & hardware department. We look forward to seeing you in the store real soon.
Bye, Bye,
Kelly & Mitz
