Paint Kitchen Cabinets
Having to paint kitchen cabinets can be a long task, but once it is over with you will be more than happy with your new kitchen look. You can't just paint your cabinets while they are still on their hinges, they must be taken down and sanded, then you can get to the work of painting them. Depending on your level of experience with do-it-yourself work this could take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours.
Probably the easiest part when you paint kitchen cabinets is taking them off the hinges. This can be done very easily with an electric screw gun or a Phillips or flathead screwdriver. Once you have taken them down, take them to a safe spot in the house where you have laid down tarp or a good layer of newspaper. This is where the real work starts.
Actually sanding the cabinets is most likely going to be the most difficult part of the process. You must sand the cabinets themselves as well as the cabinet doors so that you can paint both parts. You can use a fine-grained piece of sanding paper, sanding block, or electric sanding tool. Depending on the type of paint previously used or the amount of layers already on the cabinets, the sanding process could take quite some time. Keep at it until the paint layers are gone and you are back down to the wood. If a fine-grain sanding tool does not work, try a medium or rough grain and finish it off with the fine to get an even finish.
Before getting to paint kitchen cabinets, ensure that you put down a layer of primer. Primer ensures that the paint will stick and that any damage or stains done to the wood will stay covered up. Applying paint before you have put down primer can greatly decrease the span of the paint, which may make it so you will have to do it all over again in a few months. Additionally, choose a paint that is oil-based. Oil-based paint is more expensive, but it is far more durable than latex-based kinds and will not leave the cabinets feeling sticky even after the paint has dried.
Ensure that you allow the cabinets themselves to dry before hanging the cabinet doors back up. An easy and time-saving way to do this is to paint the cabinets first and then do the doors. That way they will most likely be dry before you have finished with the cabinet doors -- but always check before hanging them back up. Choosing to paint kitchen cabinets instead of refacing them may be a tough decision, but you will save hundreds of dollars by simply painting your old cabinets instead of buying whole new ones.