How to Paint my Kitchen Cabinets or Shelves in San Antonio
When it comes to painting kitchen cabinets in San Antonio, we know there are questions: How do I clean cabinets before painting?
What paint should I use?
What does it cost?
Where can I Buy Kitchen Cabinet Paint in San Antonio?
Relax: repainting cabinets doesn’t have to be intimidating.
With Benjamin Moore’s ADVANCE® paint, a DIY kitchen cabinet refresh can be more affordable than replacing the cabinets outright—and done in less time than you think. The kitchen above was just renovated by Rhino Design Build LLC for one of their clients in Alamo Heights.
Step 1: Flat Surfaces and Space to Dry
A flat painting surface is the key to refinishing kitchen cabinets. Remove all draws and doors, and don’t forget to remove any hardware. Then find an area that gives you enough room to work—and enough space to let everything dry for extended periods of time.
Step 2: Prep! Prep! Prep!
The first rule of cabinet repainting: Make sure the cabinets and doors are clean and dry. Use a gentle grease remover and a damp sponge to wipe them clean, and let everything dry thoroughly. After cleaning, it’s time to roughen things up! Most cabinet finishes are too smooth or glossy to reprime and repaint, so using a medium sandpaper (we like 100- to 150-grit), sand down your surfaces a little—not enough to sand away the current finish entirely, but enough to give the primer a little more grit to stick to. Wipe away any dust with a slightly damp cloth, then let dry.
Side note: You make also choose to use a deglosser like Paso Deglosser instead of sanding.
Step 3: Protect Your Surroudings
Make sure to tape a drop cloth or another protector over the countertops and the surrounding work area while painting.
Step 4: Ready to Prime
When it’s time to prime cabinets before painting, knowing your surface can go a long way. If you’re painting wood cabinets, our ADVANCE Primer (790) has great adhesion that provides the proper foundation for any ADVANCE finish. Plus, it can be sanded and levels well, ensuring a smooth finish and helping to mask minor imperfections.
If you’re painting laminate cabinets, our Fresh Start® High-Hiding All Purpose Primer (046) is the choice of professionals. Do not use lacquer-based primers, as they can impede how ADVANCE adheres to the surface of the cabinets.
After you’re done, take a break: the primer must dry at least 24 hours before moving on to Step 5.
Side note: Painting cabinet doors a darker color? Use a tinted primer as your base.
Step 5: Sand Again
Once your primer is completely dry (at least 24 hours in a well-ventilated area), it’s time to sand again. Using a fine, 220-grit paper or sanding block, sand all surfaces lightly, focusing especially on areas that may have drips or pools (i.e.: inside corners and anywhere two flat areas meet). Make sure the surface is as even as possible—this ensures your paint will go on smoothly. Wipe away any dust with a slightly damp cloth, then let dry.
Step 6: Time to Paint!
Using a premium Benjamin Moore nylon/polyester brush, apply the first coat of ADVANCE paint.
Time-saving tip: Painting cabinet doors (and similar large areas) may go faster if you use a foam or microfiber paint roller instead of a brush. Like with primer, let your first coat of paint dry completely before moving on.
Step 7: REPEAT STEP 5
Sand a third and final time with 220-grit sandpaper.
Step 8: REPEAT STEP 6
A second coat of ADVANCE gives you complete coverage and allows the finish to cure evenly. We love the look of Blueberry Hill 812 and the pop of color it brings to formerly white cabinets.
Step 9: Let It Dry!
The longer the paint dries, the more durable its finish will be, and the less likely it will stick during reinstallation. At minimum, let the cabinets dry in a well-ventilated area for at least 24 hours—however, two or three days is even better. Once everything is fully dry, you can begin replacing the hardware in your repainted cabinets and returning them to your newly refreshed kitchen.
Click here for the full article from Benjamin Moore on How to Paint Cabinets.