
One of the fastest ways to brighten up the most used room in the home is by painting the kitchen area. For years people who buy and flip homes have remodeled cupboards on the fly by applying a new coat of paint to them. When done correctly, this can be a great way upgrade the look of things.
You may want to consider replacing your existing flat doors with raised panel ones. I would recommend that you find a cabinet manufacturer in your area to order them from. It would be a good idea to consider having them install the new ones because there are a few tricky things involved in the process.
Tools & Materials Needed
-Putty Knife
-Drop Cloths
-Airless Industrial Paint Sprayer (obtained from a rent-all business)
-Paint Designed to Adhere to Formica Surfaces (primer & topcoat)
-220 Grit Sand Paper
-Wood Filler
-Masking Tape
-Paint Brushes and Roller
-Phillips Screwdriver
-Plenty of Rags
-Paint Respirator Mask
Be sure to set aside plenty of time to complete the project without being rushed. The more time you spend in the preparation process-the better your Formica kitchen cabinets will look when you have finished painting the cupboards.
Steps for Repainting Formica Kitchen Cabinets and Doors
- Put the drop cloths in place. Remove all of the hardware (handles or Knobs) from the cupboard doors.
- Take the doors off of the cabinets. If you have European hinges, you may NOT even need the Phillips screwdriver for this step. Check to see if there is a release tab on the backside of the hinge. If so, pull up on the tab and the hinge should release from the mounting plate.
- Remove the hinges from the doors.
- Clean all surfaces with a mild solution of soap and water that are going to be painted. Thoroughly dry off all of the areas that you have washed.
- Fill all holes that you intend to eliminate and chipped areas with the wood filler. Allow the filler to completely dry before sanding.
- Lightly sand all of the surfaces of the cupboard door and cabinets with the 220 sandpaper that will be painted. Wipe all of the dust off of the cabinets and doors.
- Set up an area where you can spray the primer on the backside of the cupboard doors, preferable outside. Give them one mild coat of primer.
- While the back of the doors are drying, apply primer to the Formica cabinets using the roller and brush. When you are finished, the doors should be ready for a second coat of primer.
- Repeat the process of painting the kitchen cupboards and doors with the primer until all areas have had two coats applied. Once the primer is completely dry, you may lightly sand all areas where ever necessary.
- Paint two finish coats on the cupboards and the doors.
- Hang the doors on the cabinets and insert the drawers back into their proper locations.
- Install the old or new handles/knobs on the cabinet doors.
It is advisable to not clean the kitchen cupboards for at least four days to allow plenty of time for the paint to completely cure.
Our company has used a product called Cabinet Rescue for painting plastic laminate cabinets on many occasions. As previously mentioned, just check with your local hardware store professionals to find a product that is designed for refinishing Formica cupboard surfaces.
For more professional tips on painting kitchen cupboards check out the Fix My Cabinet website athttp://fixmycabinet.com.
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