If you want to protect your cabinets and extend their lifespan, sealing them is recommended. However, if you prefer the look and feel of unsealed cabinets, it's not necessary.
You can do so by sealing your painted cabinets with a polyurethane or epoxy sealant. Just as sealing a garage floor will guard the concrete from impact, spills, and other threats, a cabinet sealant will protect your paint job from moisture, scratches, fading, and more.
The All-Around Best Clear Coat For Painted Wood Furniture: Varathane Water-Based Polyurethane, Satin. After testing seven different products, Varathane's Water-Based Polyurethane was the clear winner! This clear coat is great for interior products including furniture, cabinets, trim, or any other pieces of wood.
I have primed previously painted cabinets before painting. I've also simply cleaned them and painted a fresh topcoat without priming. Both have held up well, however, you'll need to determine whether or not your specific project would benefit from priming first.
No matter the finish of your cabinet paint — lacquer, semi-gloss, or anything else — stay away from abrasive cleaners or cleaning tools. Using harsh cleaners or rough tools can dull or damage the paint. Avoid strongly alkaline or acidic detergents.
What Affects How Long Painted Cabinets Last? Although professionally painted cabinets should last 8-10 years there are a few factors that can drastically impact your cabinet's lifetime, requiring repainting only 3-4 years later.
Not only will the cabinets look fresh, but they will be fresh, too! Properly sealing the cabinets will prevent moisture and air from entering through the cracks and crevasses, ultimately increasing the cabinets' value and preventing damage to them in the long run.
A polyurethane varnish finish can cut down on the wear and tear of kitchen cabinets, help keep them looking new and extend the life of the cabinets. Polyurethane works best on unfinished wood but can also be painted directly onto painted surfaces.
Paint the cabinet boxes
If you're using roughly the same shade as the existing color, two coats ought to do the job. You might even get away with one. Painting over a dark finish with a light color is tougher and could require three coats. Break out a new brush for each coat.
Once the paint is dry (24 hours) roll on 2 light coats of Polycrylic on the top of painted shelves on the interior cabinets This seals the latex paint so you will never hear that latex sticky sound when you remove objects on the shelves.
If you are wondering why your cabinet paint is showing imperfections like bubbling, cracks, and peels, it may be caused by water damage, wear and tear, or an improper original paint job. The good news is that this problem can be fixed.
Choosing water-based polyurethane as a topcoat for painted cabinets offers several advantages that make it a popular choice. Here are some reasons why water-based polyurethane is often preferred for this purpose: Quick Drying Time: Water-based polyurethane dries much faster compared to oil-based alternatives.
Wood cabinets are ideal for painting, but any surface that can be scuffed with sandpaper can be painted. Laminate cabinets require a special bonding primer. The laminate must be in good condition for best results. A gloss finish will make your cabinets sheen, but it may show a lot of dings or mistakes.
Polyurethane is better for durability, but polycrylic is better for interior surfaces like cabinets, furniture, and trim. However, for light painted furniture and cabinets, polycyrlic is preferred because it doesn't yellow on the surface.
Polyurethane will add a higher level of durability to your painted furniture. Anything that falls into the heavy use / need to clean category will typically need 2 or 3 coats of polyurethane. Best water based polyurethane that won't yellow.
Polyurethane over paint makes it last long and strong. Applying polyurethane provides a durable finish and a barrier that makes the painted surface resistant to mud, rain, fungus, dirt, and even mold. It can also prevent color fading from being exposed to sunlight.
Either paint your solid wood cabinets in the late fall, winter or early spring months when the wood doors do not have any moisture and/or swelling in them. That way when the humid months come-and-go you won't be able to tell because you painted them when they were at their smallest point.
Whether you go with professional painters or tackle it as a DIY project, you'll save significant money by painting your existing cabinets instead of replacing them entirely. New kitchen cabinets cost anywhere between $3,000 and $25,000.
Applying too much paint at once will lead to runs and drips. Two thin coats are usually the minimum recommended for painting kitchen cabinets. In most cases, one coat of primer and two coats of paint are sufficient. Some colors might require additional coats to achieve the desired look.
Murphy® Oil Soap gets deep into grime to break up dirt particles and it's safe to use on wood products like cabinets.
Alkyd paints are your go-to product if you want to paint kitchen cabinets like a professional. Alkyd paint is not typically used on walls but is commonly used on metal or wood and cabinets. It is a good choice for cabinetry because it has a hard and durable finish.
Avoid These Cleaners on Painted Cabinets: Magic Eraser or similar sponges, abrasive powder or scrubbing pads, cleaners with abrasive particles, intense detergents, or ammonia oil soap, spray polishes containing silicone, petroleum products, or wax citrus/orange cleaner. Repairing paint is tricky.