Restore your cabinets to their factory finish with a new layer of paint.
Cabinets fresh from the factory have a look that's clean and smooth with an unblemished surface that's full of depth and color. Retaining this look over time is impossible, as normal wear and tear causes scratches and dings that dull the surface. Eventually, your fresh factory finish can begin to appear old and worn down. You can restore the factory finish on your cabinets with a new layer of paint and a protective finish, however. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove the cabinet doors by removing the screws securing the cabinet hinges from both the cabinet's interior and the inside edge of the door with a screwdriver. Remove the cabinet handles, and retain both the hinges and handles for reattachment after you complete the paint application.
2. Clean all cabinet surfaces with a pH-neutral cleanser and warm water. Use a sponge to wash away light dirt deposits, switching to a scrub brush when the dirt proves difficult to remove. Rinse away the cleanser residue with clean water, then pat the surfaces dry with a clean piece of cloth. Wait an hour to ensure the cabinet surfaces are completely dry before continuing.
3. Place a drop cloth beneath the cabinet to catch any spills from the painting process. Strip away existing paint or finish from the cabinet by brushing on a layer of chemical paint stripper with a paintbrush. Use a moderate covering of the stripper over the cabinet to ensure penetration if there are multiple layers of paint present. Wait for the stripper to dissolve the paint or finish. Waiting times vary by brand, so follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Remove the stripper with a rubber putty knife, scraping it away along with any paint or finish present in rows. Wipe away stripper residue with a clean rag and then repeat the washing process before painting.
4. Prepare the cabinet surface for the primer coat by sanding away any imperfections or damage while texturing the cabinet. Use 220-grit sandpaper attached to a sanding block to sand the surface of the cabinet smooth using small circular motions. As you sand, you'll leave a series of small scratches on the cabinet surface that will enable the primer to adhere. Wipe off the sanding dust with a piece of cloth.
5. Place a strip of masking tape along the edges of surfaces adjacent to the cabinet to prevent errant paint strokes from causing damage.
6. Cover the cabinet surfaces you're painting with a layer of stain-blocking primer. Cut in the primer from the edges of the cabinet with a paintbrush, applying the primer in strips of about 3 inches in width, from edge to center. Fill the remaining cabinet surface space by rolling on the primer with a low-nap paint roller. Overlap all rows with the roller by 2 inches to ensure complete primer coverage. Wait overnight for the primer to dry. Sand the dry primer with a sanding block containing 150-grit sandpaper to remove any imperfections, including brush strokes. Wipe the primer clear after sanding with a tack cloth.
7. Paint the cabinet with an oil-based topcoat using the same application process that you used with the primer. Oil-based paint hardens better than water-based paint, creating a factory-like finish that will last years longer. Apply the paint in two coats, using a natural-bristle brush and waiting two hours drying time between the coats. Wait 48 hours for the final coat to dry.
8. Sand the topcoat smooth, removing any brushstrokes or mistakes in the paint application. Wipe it clear of sanding residue with a tack cloth.
9. Apply two layers of polyurethane finish as a protective wear layer. Choose a gloss level to complement your d cor and apply it with a foam applicator, working in overlapping rows for complete coverage. Wait two hours between layers for the coating to begin to dry. Wait an additional 48 hours after application before reassembling the cabinet by replacing the handles then reattaching the doors to the cabinet bodies using the hinges.
Tags: cabinet surface, cabinet surfaces, factory finish, paint finish, residue with, with clean, with layer
