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Mike Goebel
Mike Goebel has been involved in the construction and home improvement industry for more than 40 years and is currently the Senior Vice President of the Home Center Division at Star Lumber & Supply Co. Inc. You may contact Mike by e-mail at mgoebel@starlumber.com or by phone at (316) 942-2221.
Home Improvement
2003-08-01 11:02:00
Painting kitchen cabinets
: How does one go about painting kitchen cabinets? 
ANSWER: Painting instead of replacing kitchen cabinets can sometimes make a lot of difference for a lot less expense.  A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your kitchen and your spirits. First you will need the following materials and tools:    Primer- Our first choice for a truly trouble free finish is a white pigmented primer. There are a couple of brands that are water based latex primers that have outstanding adhesion properties. For your finish paint, you can use a solvent base enamel in gloss, semi-gloss or satin finish or a latex based enamel - the higher the gloss, the tougher the finish. Latex enamels are not as durable as the solvent based paints but they have less odor and cleanup is easy using water only.    You will also need the following: miscellaneous sandpaper in 120 and 150 grits, rags, cleaner such as TSP, a small can of spackle, caulk for cracks, masking tape and newspaper, a tack rag, a small can of lacquer thinner for stubborn stains, mineral spirits for final cleanup, a 2"-3" paint brush for "cutting in", and a 6" roller frame with a short nap roller cover and a roller pan.      To prepare the cabinets for painting... remove the door and drawer handles and mask off or remove the hinges. If they are rusty or nasty looking you can paint them with the same materials or refinish using a spray can of enamel.    Cover the countertops and floor under the cabinets with newspaper. Clean using a strong solution of TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate) and rinse well. Allow to dry thoroughly before priming. Lightly sand the surface using 120 grit sandpaper and remove sanding dust by wiping with a tack rag.    Once you're ready to apply your primer, do so in an even thin coat. In this case, more is not better. You are going for a nice even coat and should not be concerned about trying to cover the old color or surface.   For large areas use a 1/4" nap mohair roller.  It leaves a very small orange peel stipple that looks good and helps to hide blemishes. Do all of your brush or "cut-in" work first.    Allow to dry overnight and sand lightly using 150 grit sandpaper. Apply at least one coat of finish enamel... but two coats are recommended. Once fully cured and dry, remove your masking tape, reinstall hinges and pulls and cleanup any spills or splatters using mineral spirits.    Never clean your painted surfaces with abrasive cleaners such as scouring powder. Use products like Soft Scrub as they will not dull the painted surface. Safety should always be first.  Always remember to provide plenty of ventilation, avoid open flames such as pilot lights, no smoking, and protect your skin and eyes from spills and splatters. A light application of hand cream to your exposed skin areas makes for easy cleanup and good protection.
 
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