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Restore and Re-paint Your Kitchen Cabinets
With the holidays coming, now is the time to update your kitchen. You don't have to do a complete makeover to get great-looking results. Re-painting your cabinets is a relatively easy project that gives your kitchen a fresh look and is sure to impress your guests.
Visit your local True Value hardware store for all the tools, products and expert advice you need to get your kitchen makeover started. Then follow the steps below.
Step 1. Remove Cabinet Hardware and Prepare Area
Using a screwdriver, remove all cabinet hardware, handles and knobs, as well as any magnets used for closures. You don't have to remove the cabinet doors to re-paint them, so leave them on their hinges. You can paint the hinges to match the cabinets or mask them with painter's tape to keep them as they are.
Place old newspapers on the countertops to protect them from paint drips and spills. If you're painting the bottom cabinets, place newspapers or canvas drop cloths on the floor as well.
Step 2. Clean and Prepare Cabinets
Use trisodium phosphate (TSP) to thoroughly clean and prepare all surfaces you're going to paint. Mix TSP powder and water according to manufacturer's instructions. Use the solution and a sponge to wash all surfaces on the cabinets: doors, the cabinet façades and the front and sides.
Safety Alert!
- TSP can be highly corrosive. Take care when working with TSP, always follow the manufacturer's instructions and wear proper safety clothing.
Once the cabinets have been washed and dried completely, sand with coarse-grit sandpaper until the cabinet finish is dull. This will give the surfaces a rough texture so the primer and paint can better adhere.
Step 3. Prime Cabinets
Apply primer to the front and back of the doors with a roller. Then prime the cabinet façade. If you're planning on painting the underside of the cabinet, you should prime it now. Use a small paint brush to reach any areas where the roller won't fit, including the hinges if you'll be painting them.
Helpful Tip:
- Don't prime or paint the doors when they're closed - you'll risk ruining the paint before it dries or having the doors stick to the cabinet façade. Instead, hold the doors open with the tip of your finger. Open them all the way when you're finished priming and allow them to dry overnight.
Safety Alert!
- The fumes from paint and primer can be strong, so be sure to open windows or doors for proper ventilation. A fan will help ventilation by pushing or pulling the fumes outside.
- If you need to use a ladder, make sure it's properly positioned and stable before you climb.
- Keep all painting materials and equipment away from children and pets.
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Step 4. Paint Cabinets
Once the primer has dried, it's time to paint the cabinets. Using the same method you used to prime the cabinets, apply the first coat of latex paint. Cabinets get a lot of use and abuse, so choose a paint made to withstand everyday use, like True Value EasyCare® paint. Make sure you leave the cabinet doors open and allow the paint to dry overnight. Apply the final coat the next day.
Helpful Tips:
- Before applying the final coat of paint, use fine-grit sandpaper to sand any bubbles that may have formed in the first coat of paint. Be sure to use a very gentle touch so you don't remove too much paint.
- Since you saw where the roller couldn't reach when priming the cabinets, do the brushwork in these areas first when painting. Then follow with the roller.
- Treat the cabinets with care for the next few weeks - even though they're dry, the paint can still get scratched.
Step 5. Cleanup
While the final coat is drying, pour some paint thinner into a coffee can or similar container and let your brushes or rollers soak overnight. Place the roller sleeve in a plastic zipper storage bag and remove as much air as possible before closing it. Throw away the roller sleeve and tray liner. Pick up drop cloths and newspaper from your floors and countertops. Return excess paint back into the can and close it tightly.
Helpful Tip:
- Some states don't allow you to pour used paint thinner down the drain, so be aware of local regulations for its disposal.
Congratulations. Your “new” kitchen will impress your guests this holiday season and for years to come. For all those home projects that get you ready for the holidays, head to your local True Value hardware store for all the tools, products and expert advice you need to start right.
For more projects, go to TrueValuePaint.com. >
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