10 Mistakes You Make in Kitchen Cabinet Painting

Posted on December 28, 2019

A beautiful kitchen can easily be taken down quite a few style points from outdated cabinets. Replacing cabinets is one of the most costly projects a kitchen can need. They are a major architectural focal point in the room and require a lot of customization. Some homeowners turn to painting their cabinets to get the necessary facelift. What they don’t realize is how painstaking this particular renovation is. Here are 10 mistakes you make in kitchen cabinet painting.

1. Weekend project.

kitchen cabinet painting tools

Even our pro painters in crews working in groups can’t get through a kitchen cabinet painting project over the course of a weekend. Speeding through the job will inevitably cause your imperfections to show through. This is not a one man, quick, afternoon job. The outcome of the project will directly correlate to the preparation and paint time you put into it.

2. But I’m fast.

Websites will lead you to believe this project is easily accomplished by even a novice and fast. With Pinterest being the biggest offender, you’ll find yourself hopelessly under water on this project if you go with their time tables. A professional painter with tools and knowledge might be able to finish their cabinets in a down and dirty fashion over a weekend. More than likely a novice that has to make several runs to the hardware store will need longer.

3. My cabinets are clean.

Even if you wipe your cabinets clean of dust and debris on a regular basis, you’ll be surprised to see how much grease and build up is left on them. You must take the time to clean the cabinets before painting or risk the new finish peeling off. Get a degreaser and get scrubbing before you start. This will allow the new color to adhere properly to the doors and braces.

4. I’ll just be careful around hardware.

Cabinet pulls

Rookie mistake! Being careful around hardware isn’t really possible. Taping it off can take even more time than just removing it, plus you’ll end up with a better finish. A paint film that is continuous under high-touch areas of hardware will avoid cracking and peeling from use. The only way to get this film is to remove the hardware.

5. I know where the doors go.

It’s surprising how much the doors will look alike all painted and removed. Most painters make the mistake of assuming they will remember where to put them. It’s a bit like putting a puzzle of one shade together. It’s best to use a piece of masking tape on the inside of each door and a marker to label where each door goes.

6. I can skip the sanding.

Sanding kitchen cabinets

Never, never skip the sanding. No matter what shape your cabinets are in, you will need to sand them. Paint won’t adhere to a smooth surface. To create the necessary tooth, use a middle sandpaper, 150 grit, and give each door a good scrape up. There’s no need to sand down to wood. Just make sure you remove the finish.

7. I cleaned the dust as I went.

Again, a good thought but unlikely true. After you’ve sanded your cabinet pieces down, use the vacuum or tack cloth to wipe everything off. Nothing messes up beautiful cabinets quicker than dust in the finished paint job. Cleaning the cabinets off now will save you heartache in the future.

8. Priming isn’t necessary.

When working on a project like your cabinets, which are such a big part of your kitchen, priming allows for another layer of protection. It will allow your paint to adhere better and hide stains from showing through the new color.

9. This color will be fine.

This is a big project. Before you start slathering your cabinets, make sure you’re committed to the color you have picked. It will likely be some time before you come to this project again. Since it’s so time-consuming, you won’t want to start painting over again right away. To test the color, get a small batch of the paint and a big poster board. Paint it completely and allow it to dry. Then in different lights, times of day and areas, place the board. Make sure you check the color from lines of sight around the house. This step, while extra, can help you feel fully confident in your color choice.

10. It’s dry enough.

If you have to say enough, chances are it’s not dry. If you try to put your cabinets back together before they are truly dry, you’ll be dealing with dings, sticking, fingerprints and more. Give the cabinets more time than you think they need before putting the kitchen back together.

Questioning whether you are up to the challenge? We’re here for you. Get a free, in-home estimate to have our pros paint your cabinets.