Oil-based primers are the best primers for kitchen cabinets. Existing cabinets almost always have a smooth painted finish or lacquered finish that is difficult for paint to adhere to. Oil-based Primer is the glue that provides a good base for the first coat of paint.
If the cabinets are heavily stained, use a stain-blocking primer, which dries quickly and seals knots and other surface defects that might bleed through the topcoats. In most situations, however, stain-blockers shouldn't be necessary, and an oil-based or 100 percent acrylic latex primer will work just fine.
Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 All Surface Primer
This is a great overall water-based primer that seals uniformly and will stick to surfaces without sanding.
A fast drying, low odor and very low VOC primer, KILZ 3® Premium provides exceptional adhesion and durability – ideal for high traffic and high touch surfaces including kitchen cabinets and drawers.
Although it might not be the best-smelling product to use, it makes up for its durability, ability to block stains and tannin bleed, and it's the ease of sanding. Oil-based primer is the best bonding primer for laminate kitchen and oak cabinets. The Best Oil-Based Primer for Kitchen cabinets is Zinsser Coverstain.
Depending on what kind of primer you're using and the state of the cabinets, you will need 1-2 coats of primer. For many cabinets, one coat is plenty, but if you're uncertain, a second coat won't hurt as long as it's not applied too thick. When it comes to the actual paint, you will need at least two coats.
If you're changing the type of paint or painting over natural wood cabinets, then it's important to prime the cabinets first. If you are repainting with the same type of paint that is on them now, then priming is optional.
DecoArt Satin Enamel Cabinet Paint
In the past, if you wanted to paint cabinets or furniture, you had to strip, sand and generally kill yourself getting a good surface ready to paint on. Now, with DecoArt's Satin Enamel paints, you don't need to do any of that.
Once your primer is completely dry, use a fine, 220-grit sandpaper to lightly sand all surfaces. Make sure to focus especially on areas that may have pools or drips of paint, such as inside and flat corners. The smoother this surface becomes, the smoother your paint will go on.
When it comes to cabinet painting, using a sprayer is the fastest approach and it will also provide that factory-like finish you're aiming for. In fact, you can paint each side of your cabinet doors or drawers in just a few seconds and then move onto the next, cutting down on the timeframe for completion dramatically.
Both Slavik and Fiorilli agree—using a paint sprayer is the best way to achieve the most professional cabinet finish as well as save time. That doesn't mean that a brush or roller should never be used though.
Applying primer: 1-2 hours. Painting the first coat of paint: 2-4 hours. Painting the second coat of paint: 2-4 hours. Drying and curing time: 24 hours.
In short, you will typically need 2 coats of primer for most painting projects. Apply primer liberally and allow to dry fully before applying your final coat of interior paint. To get more painting advice for your next painting projects, click the link below.
PrepRite ProBlock Oil-Based Primer
One primer that I have used for years is ProBlock from Sherwin Williams, but buy the oil-based version, not latex. The primer does smell horrible, but it will give you the durability and stain-blocking performance necessary for a cabinet paint job.
Chalk paints have become an increasingly popular choice for kitchen and bathroom cabinets thanks to their superior coverage, low VOCs, and durability. Many people view chalk paint as one of the best paints for cabinets, as it requires little to no prep work before you can get started.
Proper cleaning, deglossing, and using good-quality cabinet paint are key to painting cabinets without sanding. What happens if you don't sand cabinets before painting? If you don't sand cabinets before painting, at worst the paint will chip or peel. At best, the paint will remain solid and durable for years.
Can You Paint Over Cabinets Without Sanding? Skipping the sanding step is OK if you're making a change from one newly painted surface to another, or painting raw, unvarnished wood cabinets.
Do you need to sand cabinets before painting? Skipping this time-consuming step is a surefire way to lead to a messy finished product. Sanding helps fresh paint adhere to surfaces and will help prevent chipping down the line. It's also better to sand twice (first to remove old paint, then to smooth out the wood).
If you have oil based paint on your cabinetry, you must use a primer on top of oil based paint before finishing with a top coat. Skipping this step will cause your water based paint to bead up and peel off down the road. I like both Kilz bonding primer and Zinsser Oil Based primer for use on cabinetry.
Always sand down before applying any layer of paint. Sanding can remove any stray brush marks and smooth the surface so that your next layer of paint coats smoothly.
Wood, wood laminate, veneer, fiberboard, and even metal cabinets can be repainted without difficulty. However, plastic laminate and thermofoil cabinets might require special paints and techniques that will be more conducive to paint adhesion.
You certainly don't want to skimp on the number of coatings you apply to your cabinets, but you also don't want to go overboard. Slapping on too many coats of primer or paint during cabinet refinishing can hinder adherence, interfere with proper drying, and result in strange lines and patterns on the finished surface.
A: In order to get a factory finish look on cabinets when you paint them yourself, you will actually use both a brush and a roller. However, the majority of the painting will be done with a roller. Specifically, a foam roller with give you the smoothest finish when painting cabinets.
Let the primer dry at least 24 hours and sand again using a "very fine" grit sandpaper. Gently smooth out the primer coat, then wipe the primed cabinets with a damp cloth to remove any debris before applying your first coat of paint.