Q. Should I use paint or enamel?
A. Enamel is more expensive but longer lasting, with an elegant finish. Paint has its upsides, too. This short overview will help you make a more informed decision on which product to use.
Q. Should I use oil-based or water-based paint?
A. Like enamels, oil-based paint is more durable and results in an elegant finish. However, it does have a much higher concentration of VOC’s, and requires good ventilation. If you’re hiring a professional to paint your cabinets, oil is a good option. If you’re doing it yourself, we don’t recommend messing around with oil-based paint. Water-based paint poses less hazard and is much easier to clean up.
How long will it take you to paint my cabinets?
We wish we could give you definitive answer to this, but the truth is we can only do that after seeing the job. However, we can tell you that you should expect to have your kitchen at least partially out of service for a full week. Larger jobs may take longer than that.
Can I keep using my kitchen during the process?
You might be able to, to some degree. The fastest (and therefore, cheapest) way to get the job done is to let your painter take over it as much as he needs to. However, at certain stages of the process, you might be able to make limited use of your kitchen after work hours.
How long will a new paint job last?
This primarily depends on a) the type of paint you use, and b) the quality of the prep and application. Enamels and other oil-based products tend to retain their beauty for at least a couple years longer than water-based materials. Usage will also affect how long your paint looks “new”. Vapors from cooking can accelerate wear.
Paint should last about as long on cabinets as it does on walls, but keep in mind that your kitchen probably has better lighting than other areas, so wear is going to show more on your cabinets. Also, your cabinets are being constantly touched, opened, and closed, so certain spots might experience a lot of wear.
How much will it cost to hire a professional to paint my cabinets?
Unfortunately, we can’t predict the cost of a job without knowing things like material type and dimensions. Resources like HomeAdvisor can give you a reasonable range for market prices in your area. This should help with budget planning but we advise you to not get married to the prices you see there.
Can I hide the grain by painting over real wood cabinets?
Yes, it can be done if it’s what you want. It just requires the application of a product to fill in the grain lines, prior to painting. This will increase material cost and time/labor, though.
Can you paint over laminate cabinets?
This also possible. This, too, will come with extra steps, such as sufficiently scuffing the cabinet surfaces so the paint can adhere.
Should I spray, brush, or roll my cabinets? Which is best?
Professional painters apply cabinet paint with a sprayer, because 1) it’s the most efficient way to move material from the container onto the wood, and 2) it results in very even coverage.
If you don’t have access to a sprayer, rolling can result in a very elegant finish – if the proper material and proper technique is used.
Brushing also works, but it’s the slowest method, and it will leave brush marks in the finish, which some people don’t like the look of.
Can I paint the hinges and hardware?
Absolutely. Metal surfaces require a different paint than wood and laminate, though. The most practical way to paint hinges and handles is to spray them. DIYer’s can accomplish this with canned spray paint.
Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to paint your hardware when it is still attached to the cabinets. Removing it will make the process stress-free and ensure that you get total coverage.
Can I paint my cabinets myself? What does it take?
Cabinet painting is a manageable project for confident DIYers, but it is a pretty involved job. The upside of hiring somebody is that you get it over with fast and the results are assured. The upside of doing it yourself is that you can work around your own use of the kitchen. If you’re tackling it yourself, here’s what we recommend:
- Don’t be in a hurry and don’t set an urgent deadline for being done. It may take longer than you think.
- Do remove the doors and hardware and paint them in a separate area (garage, basement, or shed is ideal. Outdoors is only acceptable in pleasant weather)
- Spraying is ideal if you have access to a good sprayer, but rolling is perfectly fine if you don’t
- Leave oil-based products to the professionals
Get a quote on your cabinet painting project
Homeowners and property managers in the Twin Cities area can get a quote from Cedartone Painting here. Cedartone Painting can paint, enamel or stain both new and existing cabinets.