Can I use regular paint to refinish my Kitchen Cabinets????

If the cabinets are made of real wood, frequently found in older homes, they can be painted with normal paint. They need to be thoroughly cleaned to remove any grease that has accumulated from cooking. Kitchen surfaces collect a thin film of grease and dirt over time. If the cabinets have a gloss or semi-gloss finish, the old surface should be lightly sanded before repainting to help the paint adhere better. Use a gloss or semi-gloss latex paint for kitchens and bathrooms. These paints are intended for use in areas with higher than normal humidity levels and are more resistant to wear.

It is a very good idea to remove the shelves, doors, mounting hardware, and the door handles before you begin to work on the cabinets. The cabinets are much easier to work on if you don�t have to mask the hardware and paint around it. This takes some time at the start and finish, but the cleaning, sanding, and painting go much faster and more easily. The final job will look better, by eliminating those brush marks around the door handles and hinges

The cabinets in many modern kitchens have a simulated wood finish or a non-painted coloured finish. These are fabricated of a synthetic material, such as melamine. The finish can be painted over with a normal gloss or semi-gloss latex paint for kitchens and bathrooms. It should be prepared as described for wood cabinets, with particular attention to sanding. The existing surface should be sanded until it is evenly dull everywhere. If the paint does not fully adhere to the old finish, it can chip, flake, or peel off quite easily. If the new finish becomes damaged in this fashion, you will need to sand the area around the defect to feather the edges of the paint around the defect. This will help prevent a visible ridge when the surface is repainted. A poor finish will look terrible once it begins to chip.

It is a very good idea to apply a coat of melamine primer, or other primer intended for use on synthetic surfaces, before you apply the final finish. These primers are designed to adhere to the existing finish more effectively than regular paints and they provide a good surface for the new paint to adhere to. If the cabinets had a dark finish, two coats of primer may be required. The use of a suitable primer is highly recommended.

We use this company on a regular basis for all types of home decorationg and staging because they offer high quality, brand name hosehold products at clearance prices. View them HomeCenter.com Storewide Sale!

Save 5% on orders over $500. Shop Kohler, Grohe, Blanco and more. Hurry, offer ends January 14th!