Spring and summer offer us plenty of time to open our windows and put some fresh paint on the walls, or your cabinets if you follow the trends! You can use these tips for any wooden cabinets such as kitchen, bath or even in your potting shed!

To-Do... figure out what kind of cabinets you have

Wood and MDF can be painted without much drama. The hardest part is removing the stain or the finish with a deglosser (also known as liquid sander). Plastic laminate cabinets are tougher, sometimes impossible, to paint successfully. Discuss with a paint consultant at a home improvement store before attempting these yourself. 

To-Do... take off the cabinet doors, pull out the drawers, and remove all the hardware, including hinges

Label everything so reassembly is easier. You may have problems with doors not properly closing if you do not follow this step carefully! 

Not To-Do... rush through cleaning

Kitchen cabinets are magnets for grease and food splatters. Get rid of gunk with a heavy-duty cleaner like phosphate-free TSP.

To-Do... consider an alkyd paint

This specialty paint, popular with pros, is like a hybrid of oil and latex paints: It gives cabinets a super-durable finish that can withstand lots of use — and abuse — dries to a glossy sheen, and is resistant to moisture and humidity. 

Not To-Do... think you can rush through this project

With all the prepping, cleaning and painting, you’ll probably need a minimum of two weekends to finish everything, so plan (and pace yourself) accordingly. 

Coal Infantino

Coaldwell Banker

(717) 676-5545