Many people want to change the look of their cabinets but are overwhelmed by the idea of a total kitchen makeover. We read the kitchen questions constantly in ourΒ PaintΒ it Beautiful Facebook group. Will I make a mistake? Do I need to sand my kitchen cabinets? What do I use to clean my kitchen cabinets? How many coats will it take? Will there be brush strokes on the cabinets? And our favourite, do I need to use FusionβsΒ Tough CoatΒ to seal painted kitchen cabinets? We answer all of these FAQs and go over the basic information you need to know to paint kitchen cabinets withΒ Fusion Mineral Paint.
We are covering all the basics you need to know to get started with how to paint kitchen cabinets. Painting your kitchen cabinets does not need to be and should not be a scary process. You can do this! If anything, it should be a fun home makeover project to help you achieve the kitchen look that you really want. And withΒ Fusion Mineral Paint, it wonβt be hard at all.
Step 1 β PREP YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS
We sound like a broken record (we know!) when we say this but prep isΒ the most important step of any paint project. Do not skimp on this step as your paint will only perform as well as the surface that itβs going on allows. What does prep involve? Figuring out your surface needs before a drop of paint even appears on your brush.
For example, are your cabinets made of raw wood that have never been covered with anything? As long as the last sanding on them was in the direction of the wood grain and the dust removed, youβre good to get started after a quick clean of the kitchen cabinets. If theyβve previously been covered in paint, wax or any glossy lacquer, then you will have to clean them more thoroughly.
Kitchen cabinets that are lacquer, painted and/or glossy surfaces can be cleaned with FusionβsΒ TSP. TSP is basically your best friend for removing oil, grease and stains. You may then lightly sand them after you clean them using 220 grit sandpaper.
If your surface has been previously waxed (do a fingernail wax test to see if it has) then you must useΒ Mineral SpiritsΒ to remove wax as the paint will NOT adhere to a wax surface.
If your kitchen cabinets are melamine or thermafoil, a light sanding +Β Ultra Grip, will help the paint adhere better.Β Ultra GripΒ was made for hard to paint surfaces like metal or even glass. But you do not need to useΒ Ultra GripΒ for anything else. We notice that many FMP lovers in PIB talk about usingΒ Ultra GripΒ on kitchen cabinets but itβs mostly unnecessary.
If you arenβt sure about what prep you should do with your own project, refer to our very easy to followΒ Prep Guide.
Step 2 β TO PRIME OR NOT TO PRIME YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS
Fusion Mineral Paint is a 100% acrylic, water-based paint with a built-in top coat. With most colours and situations you will not need to use a primerΒ before you paint. The one exception to that is if you are concerned about bleed-through, which isΒ a shadow or colouring, something that you see peeking through your paint as it starts to cure.Β It is almost like a stain, bleeding through the paint (think darker wood knots). Certain types of wood are more prone to bleed through. If you are concerned about bleed through, head to our blog post all aboutΒ what to do to prevent bleed through.Β
Applying a stain-blocking primer is crucial to preventing bleed-through when painting.Β You may want to use B-I-N Zinsser Shellac-Based Primer. The shellac will hold in the resins and not allow for bleeding to occur. We have a really usefulΒ blog post all about this topicΒ that you can read if you need more help.
Step 3 β CHOOSING THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR PAINTING KITCHEN CABINETS
People always want a brush stroke-free finish and in order to get that look, you need to choose the right paint brushes. Oftentimes, inexpensive brushes are made with poor-quality materials that wonβt hold your paint well and when applying paint, loose bristles can come off the brushes and wreak havoc on your surface. Want to become an expert on how NOT to get brush strokes?Β Head to this blog post!
We strongly recommend usingΒ Staalmeester paint brushes. Theyβre the absolute best on the market! Take a look at our guide onΒ how to choose the right brush. In terms of rollers, we often preferΒ microfiber rollers. They tend to hold paint better and leave fewer unwanted bubbles or texture on the surface that you are painting.
Step 4 β HOW TO PAINT KITCHEN CABINETS β THE PROCESS
We often think the more paint on the brush and the thicker the coats of paint, the better. When in fact the opposite is true.Β It is best to apply 2 thin coats for better coverage and a 3rd may be necessary depending on if youβre going from a darker colour to a lighter one.Β The thicker your paint coats are the longer your drying time. How you hold your brush is also helpful. If youβre going to be painting a lot of cabinets, your hand can get tired and the way you apply your paint can be impacted.Β
Jennylyn demonstrates how to dip your brush in and remove excess paint so you do not apply too much paint.
We actually have a wonderful video where we show you how to apply paint for a brush stroke-free finish! We highly recommend you watch, as oftentimes it helps to visually see the proper way to paint.
Step 5 β DRYING AND CURING PAINTED KITCHEN CABINETS
As we mentioned, Fusion Mineral Paint is 100% acrylic paint with a built-in topcoat made from 100% resin. This means you do not need to seal it with an additional product to ensure that it is waterproof. It is already built-in for you. It isΒ dry to the touch after 2 hours and can accept a re-coat of paint after 4 hours. We recommend thatΒ cure time with all acrylic paints is 21 days. However, painted surfaces can be gently used after 24-48 hours of drying time.
What about ourΒ Tough Coat? Thatβs only used at your discretion. To decide if itβs right for you and your kitchen cabinets, read our post all aboutΒ when to use a top coat over Fusion Mineral Paint. We have seenΒ Paint it Beautiful membersΒ who have painted their kitchens and not used it and have had no issues. Whereas others just felt more at ease applying so.
Jennylyn recorded this informative and great Facebook Live where she discussed how to paint Ikea kitchen cabinets. This short live is packed with lots of great information and tips for making sure your kitchen cabinet makeover is a success!
https://www.facebook.com/homestead.house.3/videos/1235048476631368/
And that is it! Take your time as you work. Remember, thin coats are better than thick coats. Do patch tests on cabinet areas that wonβt be seen. Then you can be comfortable with applying the colour of your choice. And most of all, have fun! Itβs an amazing feeling to see our Fusion communityβs Before and After photos. Nothing beats that reaction of βI canβt believe thatβs the same kitchen!β
Thatβs the power of paint! So go Paint it Beautiful!
