Getting a recent coat of paint in your kitchen cupboards is like getting your hair executed. It’s glossy shiny, and you may’t wait to indicate it off. Nevertheless, in the event you don’t get it proper the primary time, you’ll have to stay with the disgrace for weeks!
Okay, perhaps that’s a bit dramatic.
However the actuality is DIY portray your kitchen cupboards could be disastrous in the event you haven’t executed it earlier than. So, to get it proper the primary time (and earn bragging rights for all times), listed below are ten of the most typical errors to keep away from.
- Not having a practical finances
When most individuals assume DIY, they assume low-cost. Sadly, the challenge will solely be pretty much as good as your finances.
If you’re portray your cupboards so as to add worth to your private home, you would possibly want to spend so much extra. However, if this can be a pet challenge, you need to keep away from the temptation of being too low-cost.
Get an excellent vary for the paint, primer, polyurethane, and instruments, then set a practical finances.
- Portray with the doorways on
You possibly can all the time inform when somebody painted cupboards with out taking them off the hinges. You possibly can see naked wooden or outdated paints between the joints, and admittedly, the end isn’t nice!
Portray kitchen cupboards will not be a challenge to be rushed. Sure, it takes a little bit of time, but it surely makes it simpler to color with out flaws, and your cupboards will dry faster and with out blemishes.
- Not labeling the doorways and drawers
We get it, you already know your cupboards just like the again of your hand, however nonetheless, it may possibly get difficult in the event you don’t label them. The identical goes for the {hardware}.
Label every door and drawer earlier than you take away them. Place their respective {hardware} in a bag with the identical quantity or letter. Prepare the doorways so as and use one other label to mark their spot.
- Forgetting to organize the floor
There are three predominant components of portray kitchen cupboards: getting ready, priming, and portray. In case you don’t nail the primary half, the remainder of it received’t matter since you’ll be again in a number of months with an expert.
The very first thing you have to do is clear the cupboards with TSP. Subsequent, you have to sand the floor. That is significantly essential if you’re engaged on outdated cupboards or in the event you’re going to color over polyurethane or another topcoat.
Sanding will guarantee correct adhesion and a clean floor. You additionally have to seal any holes with wooden putty, then sand once more.
- Not utilizing primer
As attractive because it appears, paint wasn’t really made for wooden. Consequently, it doesn’t adhere or stick with the wooden correctly, which is why you have to apply one of the best primer for cupboards earlier than you paint.
The one time you shouldn’t use primer is if you’re utilizing all-in-one paint or a paint + primer. In any other case, your paint could yellow from the wooden tannin, peel, or chip.
- Utilizing the incorrect instruments
One of many secrets and techniques to an expert end is discovering the best instruments. For instance, to a novice, all paintbrushes are the identical. Nevertheless, you have to select a paintbrush based mostly on the kind of paint you’re making use of.
Oil-based finishes are greatest utilized with pure brushes, whereas artificial brushes are greatest for water-based paints.
Nevertheless, one of the best applicator for cupboards is an airless paint sprayer. It would take some getting used to and prices a bit extra (you may rent one from a ironmongery store), but it surely offers a smoother, extra even end.
- Ignoring security precautions
Paints, particularly oil-based choices, include plenty of chemical compounds, a few of that are dangerous, particularly to youngsters and small animals. Two issues you have to be aware of are Unstable Natural Compounds (VOCs) and phthalates, as they’ve been related to an extended checklist of well being issues.
Portray could cause complications, dizziness, pores and skin irritation, and respiratory difficulties. The great factor is the unintended effects cease as quickly because the paint totally cures.
It is very important use protecting tools and hold youngsters and pets away out of your workspace throughout and after software.
- Utilizing the incorrect paint
There are such a lot of other ways to get this incorrect. First is the colour. If you’re portray your kitchen cupboards since you need to promote your private home, now will not be the time to experiment or categorical your inventive aspect.
White kitchen cupboards or a tuxedo look are most well-liked when itemizing a property. Nevertheless, if the transform is to your pleasure, then you may go together with daring, fashionable colours.
Subsequent, you have to select the best base paint. Oil-based paints are simpler to use and last more, however they’ve excessive VOCs and take ages to dry. Latex paint is beneficial for kitchen cupboards as a result of it would dry quicker, and a few haven’t any VOCs.
You additionally want to consider the gloss you need. Once more, this may rely upon who the redecorating is for.
- Not giving the paint time to remedy
Nothing will derail your arduous work faster than being in a rush. Water-based paints want about three weeks to remedy, though you may start light-use after three days. Oil-based paints want a month to remedy or at the very least seven days earlier than gentle use.
Do not forget that earlier than the paint cures, it may be dangerous to your well being. From an aesthetic perspective, the paint will smear or rub off if it hasn’t cured.
- Forgetting the topcoat
Final however undoubtedly not least, you have to plan forward. I’m certain you’re going to like the portray course of, however not sufficient that you simply’d need to do it each six months.
A high coat will defend your new paint for a very long time. Some, like polyurethane, can hold your kitchen cupboards wanting new for over a decade. Sure, you learn that proper.
For greatest outcomes, use a transparent coat that’s water, scratch, and scuff-resistant. That approach, your fantastically painted kitchen cupboards will all the time look that approach… properly, at the very least till the following time you need to transform.
Conclusion
You possibly can keep away from plenty of these frequent errors if you know the way to color kitchen cupboards like a professional. It takes a little bit of effort and time to color kitchen cupboards, however the outcomes are price it.
