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I’m going to help a friend re-do the finish on their kitchen cabinets. They are 35 year old birch veneer built ins in excellent condition except for a very ugly colored stain and layers of crud like furniture polish etc. The doors and drawer fronts are flat.
They want to strip all the old finish off and paint them to match the other kitchen updates. Can one of the paint experts tell me what type of paint/finish would be the best to put on kitchen cabinets? Thanks………
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Replies
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Hi G. and Joe,
I have seen some beautiful cabinets that were painted with melamine. High gloss, white looks exceptional! Any advice, Joe?
Beatrix
*I have sprayed using automotive primer & paint. Like the others say. CLEAN them real good. I have used a brush on paint by Pratt & Lambert that is designed for painting cabinets. Its quite hard like melamine. L. Siders
*The cabinets don't need to be stripped. A good scrubbing with naptha and a ScotchBright pad will clean and scuff enough. Prime with Benjamin Moore satin Impervo alkyd, tinted toward the finish color. Top with 2-3 coats of B M high gloss impervo alkyd.
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The best results will be from 'Schreuder' alkyd high gloss. It puts a finish that rivals most automotive laquers.
*Whoa Joe - Painting cupboards can be done with a lot less prep work if you use a Melamine Paint. Melamine is a low lustre paint and gives the nearest look to a factory finish that I have ever seen. Big Bonus is that most Melamines are self-priming over substrates such as cupboards, melamine countertops,filing cabinets etc. Your only required prep will be to simply wash the suface with TSP (trisodium phosphate) and allow to dry. A light sanding is a good idea if you are working over a high gloss surace - remember you are only sanding to give the substrate some "tooth" - you aren't attempting to remove the old finish!Please bear in mind that melamine is an alkyd (oil) paint.The preferred applicator is a high density foam roller. As with most alkyd paints, you will do best if you apply the paint in thin coats. Remember to apply the paint in thin coats and allow an overnight dry time. - Never aim to achieve good coverage in one coat - you will end up with a mess and a lot of paint runs.Try Benjamin Moore if you are in US and Para or Benny Moore if North of the Border. Best Luck to you. Linda
*Linda,I wouldn't generalize about Melamine paint, just as I wouldn't about acrylics. Some may be good, but I've run into dogs, as well. One in particular, with a brand name that starts with Mela-(something) -- I forget now -- yellowed in a year or so in a previous kitchen of mine, contrasting horribly with the adjacent white enameled trim pieces. The finish, however, was quite smooth, having been applied horizontally with a quality bristle brush and sanded and tacked between coats. The paint laid well, but the yellowing was a big disappointment.Barry
*Thanks everyone! I'm learning something from everyone.....I'm going to start Saturday, so if anyone has other ideas, please let me know!!
*I have sprayed 2 sets of kitchen cabinets with Guardsman Pre-catalyzed lacquer. First, I cleaned the wax and dirt buildup with TSP and then lac thinner. Filled imperfections with autobody filler (takes 2 or 3 thin coats but is quick). Then sprayed with Guardsman white sanding sealer - dries to sand in less than 30 min. Then another coat. Sand. Then two coats of finish coat. I used 60 which is a high luster, but not gloss. Can be tinted. I did some passage doors, crown and base with a brown tint. Beautiful.Good luck! Worst part of the jobs was the cleaning out of the cupboards :)
*Hi Barry - Well, Barry, you're absolutely right - generalizing can be pretty dangerous and I suppose there is no product that is perfect. I find that all alkyd paint yellows somewhat over time - my understanding of this is that it is the actual oil in the paint coming to the surface that causes the discolouration. It can be exceedingly frustrating when as in your case, you have other factory-white pieces you're matching to. Actually there is now an acrylic latex melamine on the market in Canada (don't know about stateside). I love that it will not yellow, but I miss the wonderful flow and flawless finish of the alkyd. Thanks for writing.Linda
*Dear Barry - You're right - generalizing can lead to trouble. I find that most alkyds will yellow over time - my understanding of this is that the actual oil in the surface eventually comes to the surface and causes this yellowing (although I'm not sure if I'm technically correct on this and welcome any corrections!) There is an acrylic latex melamine available in Canada now (I don't know about stateside). Being latex, it shouldn't yellow but I miss the wonderful flow and flawless finish of the alkyd.Thanks for writing.Linda
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I'm going to help a friend re-do the finish on their kitchen cabinets. They are 35 year old birch veneer built ins in excellent condition except for a very ugly colored stain and layers of crud like furniture polish etc. The doors and drawer fronts are flat.
They want to strip all the old finish off and paint them to match the other kitchen updates. Can one of the paint experts tell me what type of paint/finish would be the best to put on kitchen cabinets? Thanks.........
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As always I seem to be batting clean up, seems that everone has covered most of the common fixs and I have only a few to add.
1 Prep No paint will hid a bad prep job.Make sure that you remove all the grease. We us primer for cabnets.
2. Don't over look the spray cans that are used for auto's. Gives a good look for less money and saves having to drag that sprayer out