3: Do I Have to Sand Before Painting My Bathroom Vanity? Sanding your entire vanity down is necessary for maximum primer adhesion. This is especially important if you have a shiny finish. BUT – and this is a big but – this step DOES NOT have to be a big deal!
Because of the moisture present in a bathroom, combined with consistent cleaning and frequent use, oil-based, semi-gloss, enamel paint is almost universally recommended for painting bathroom cabinets.
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. Choose a high-quality paint.
Before you start painting, it's key to select a primer that's recommended for the type of bathroom cabinet surface you have (wood, metal, or laminate), and have it tinted to the color of the topcoat. This is especially important if the surface is dark or stained because the original finish can show through the topcoat.
Painting cabinets without sanding is a great DIY that is budget friendly! Whether you paint cabinets in the kitchen or bathroom, this is a simple re-do!
Overall, the best finish for painting cabinets is semi-gloss. It ensures maximum durability and is ideal for high moisture areas like bathrooms and basements.
If you don't clean before sanding, contaminates (like cooking grease) will be pressed down into the wood. Contaminates will keep the soon be applied paint for sticking. You can remove the doors here in the process or wait until after you wash them down. It is totally up to you and situational dependent.
If you don't want to sand before you prime, use some mineral spirits and a rough sponge to clean and lightly rough up the cabinet area you're painting. This doesn't open up the wood cabinet material as much as sanding but does get you some additional grippy area for the primer to adhere to.
While sanding is not required for every paint project, rough spots on walls, whether they have been previously painted or not, need to be sanded before they are painted to ensure the paint goes on smoothly.
For wood, brushing is fine, but you may want to hire a professional for a good finish. Using a roller to paint cabinets is a lot faster than brush painting, however, the fabric on the roller will create a 'bobbly' texture on the surface. The texture a roller puts on cabinets makes it unsuitable for gloss paint.
PAINTING CABINETS – when painting kitchen or bathroom cabinets, we suggest that you use a lint free roller to paint the flat surface areas on the cabinets. This helps to reduce any potential for brush strokes.
There's no rule that states cabinets need to be lighter or darker than walls or that they have to match it but depends more so on what kind of effect or mood you're going for. Light colors can make a space feel bright, clean, and timeless while darker colors can make a strong statement that instantly grabs attention.
Pour some latex paint into a paint tray. Paint the entire vanity, including the doors, with a paintbrush. Allow paint to dry completely. Apply a second and even a third coat, if desired, allowing paint to dry between applications.
Eggshell paint is a popular choice for an oil-based paint for wood & metal, however it does come in water-based paints in the form of acrylic eggshell. These emulsion paints can be used in high-condensation rooms, which is why they are an often popular choice for use in bathrooms.
Can you paint bathroom vanity countertop and sink? The answer is YES and YES! If you choose the right paint and follow the steps, you will be amazed at how beautiful and durable your new painted countertop and sink turn out!
Use an oil-based primer as a first coat on your cabinets. This is a good choice because it won't peel off the board in a sheet when pulled, which latex primer can do over time. Since particleboard is rough and any existing veneers may be very smooth, you'll want a primer that really adheres to the cabinets.
Painted cabinets should get a thorough sanding with 120-grit paper, but no matter the finish, do a final pass with 220-grit. Use a sanding sponge to dig into any tough areas that need special attention or corners that are hard to get with your sander.
Note: While you don't have to sand before you prime, you do need to sand lightly after you prime and between each coat of paint. Yeah, it will take a while (probably about an hour and a half for a standard-sized kitchen), but it's necessary to make sure the next coat goes on well.
Sand the cabinets before staining when necessary. A proper and necessary sanding job prevents the stain on cabinets from appearing uneven and lumpy.
The best type of paint for bathrooms is a satin, semi-gloss, or glossy finish with a mildew-resistant additive. Ideally, your chosen paint should last a while. However, if you're set on a flat or matte finish, there are options for you too. Don't forget to clean and prime walls before painting for the best results.
While satin finishes tend to be fairly durable in high traffic areas, they're not as durable and versatile as semi-gloss against mildew and mold. Kitchen cabinets in high moisture environments can, therefore, do better with semi-gloss paints.