Halls Quality Painting

If you’ve been thinking of ways to improve the day-to-day beauty or the sale-ability of your home, cabinet refinishing has probably crossed your mind a thousand times. After all, when it comes to adding value to a home, everyone knows that the high-function areas like kitchens and bathrooms provide the most return on your investment. These areas have a special place in your life because they are necessary for your health, more than any other area. Keeping up hygiene and cooking healthy meals are major life functions that only become pleasant when we enjoy the bathrooms and kitchens that we rely upon.

When it comes to cabinet painting, the entire process can be intimidating. In the first place, cabinets are usually very heavy and mounted as permanent fixtures in a kitchen. They are almost always glued into place and secured with hidden fasteners. If you don’t know what you are doing, you can hurt yourself or damage the cabinets very easily in the process. It takes a professional work crew with years of experience to remove cabinets for ease of repairs. If you don’t hire professionals to remove the cabinets, you have to deal with paint fumes in your eating area and other discomforts of life.

Nevertheless, it is possible to paint your cabinets without removing them. Although it is not the favored method of pros, you may be able to save money if you have some wisdom from the pros to beat the learning curve. Please feel free to apply the tips below to your situation.

Tip #1: It is Preferable to Paint Wooden Cabinets

The essential function of paint adherence relies upon painting a surface that will accept it. If you try to paint laminates, they will eventually start to repel the paint even if you prepped them in the same manner. The secret to adhesion is sanding wood down and removing any gloss or varnish before you sand. A liquid sander can be applied with a clean cloth to remove any gloss or finish that may be difficult to sand off by traditional means without scouring. The types of wood that you use does not make a significant difference. You can paint wood that is compressed, finished, unfinished, varnished, and even manufactured fiber, flake, or particle board.

Tip #2: Prepping Is Paramount

If you want long-lasting results and a smooth clean finish, you need to prep your cabinets properly for painting or cabinet staining. This means thoroughly cleaning out any grease and removing any hardware. You can upgrade it with fresh components after the cabinets are painted. The quality of the hardware is often the highlight that makes a cabinet look new during the refinishing process. Adding dull and aging hardware is only appropriate if you are trying to accomplish an antique look throughout the room.

Before you paint, you have to strip off any caked on or uneven paint. You can use a paint stripper or even a heat gun if it is really caked on there. Fix any holes in the cabinet by using a wood filler. Take out any orange peel by using a 120 grit sandpaper. You can use an orbital sander to make short work of the level areas using 220 grit sandpaper. However, when it comes to the curves, sides, and corners, you can’t compromise the benefits of hand labor.

Tip #3: Use a Standalone Primer

A number of easy-street paint formulas have arrived on the market that mislead consumers into thinking that primer can be easily combined with any paint. Although it is possible to use a primer All-in-One, the results will be, well, let’s say, less than prime. If you want prime results and a durable adhesion, it is preferable to purchase a separate primer. The oil-based primers are the champs but not available for purchase in every state due to the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). A high-quality water-based latex paint may work just as well. However, it is advisable to add an extender when you have the paint mixed that will delay the drying time.

When you are transitioning from darker to lighter colors, you should strip the current paint entirely or find an opaque primer that promises a solid base for lighter colors. Preferably, this primer should be white or tinted to match the color of the color coats that you are applying. A tint of about 75 percent is effective to promote a uniform transition without the primer influencing the color of the final shade desired. Having it tinted rather than 100 percent the same color will help you visualize bare spots better to ensure thorough and even coats.

Tip #4: Invest in High-Quality Paints

Cabinet painting is an investment of time and money. If you want to maximize the value of all your labors and make things go a lot smoother, it is worth the price to invest in high-quality paints. Paints designed by Sherwin-William, Benjamin Moore, Farrow & Ball, and others can make a huge difference in the vividness of colors and final finish.

In fact, you will find that these companies have a larger spectrum of colors to make cabinet painting more interesting. The professional cabinet painters use premium paints for a reason, the finishes last longer and retain their vivid colors when others dull and fade. You will enjoy painting when you use premium paints and have more pride in the finished results.

But, you must always remember to keep your painting area organized and well-ventilated. A messy paint area can lead to accidents and make the entire process inefficient and more laborious than it should be. Using a fan in a window to blow out the stale air or a fan in a distant doorway to blow in fresh air can all help as long as dirt is not being circulated into the air. It is harder to flush out stale air than it is to bring in fresh air to displace it is the secret that you should remember. However, if the gusts of the fan are too direct, it can send in particles that contaminate your paint surfaces.

Tip #5: Opt for a Durable Finish

Professional cabinet painters never paint cabinets with a matte finish. These cabinets are too difficult to wipe clean and maintain. If you touch them with greasy hands, expect those fingerprints to stick there forever. Cabinet painting should always be done with durable gloss, semigloss, and satin finishes. These sheik paints will make it easy for your cabinets to stand up to the heavy wear and tear of being flung open and closed in your chaotic kitchen environment.

There is a Better way to Paint Your Cabinets

If you have the patience and dedication, you can benefit from these pro painting tips. For many people, the investment into ladders, paintbrushes, paint storage, ventilation fans, drop cloths, and sanding equipment makes it impractical to paint a single project themselves. If you are in need of cabinet painting services in a pinch or want to trade the fruits of your labors for the fruits of another’s, call Halls Painting in Fernandina Beach FL. They offer cabinet painting services that are sure to impress because they are dedicated to long-term customer satisfaction.

Professional cabinet painting services are especially suited for a kitchen environment because paint fumes can be entirely avoided with the removal and re-installation. In any case, the painting can be carried out by a crew in a single day to limit inconveniences and provide you with the time you need to focus on your work and other obligations.