Refacing or paint on my laminated kitchen cabinets

So we are thinking of updating our kitchen cabinets to liven up our kitchen. I am now torn between painting or refacing. Cabinets are often the most expensive items in any kitchen makeover.

I heard that many homeowners today are saving money by “refacing” rather than completely replacing their kitchen cabinets. Cabinet refacing is also a much less involved process than removing old cabinets and installing new ones.

There are three primary ways to reface cabinets:

• Refinish or pain existing cabinet and drawer fronts
• Install new wood or laminate veneer over existing cabinet and drawer fronts
• Install completely new cabinet doors and drawer fronts

Obviously the interiors of the cabinets can also be sanded, painted or stained for a completely new look.

The quality of our cabinets is quite good even though it must have been built around the 1990s. That is why I am leaning towards repainting the doors and frames instead of replacing the entire units. Also, getting new custom cabinets costs a lot more than we probably want to spend.

Paint

Painting cabinets involves changing the look of the cabinet by painting with oil or latex paint. Painting cabinets makes the kitchen have a refreshed version of the old look with new paint.

Pros:

• Affordable
•  Good quality paint - Kitchen cabinets take a lot of wear and tear from heavy use and fluctuating temperatures, so buying good quality paint is money well spent.
• The easiest option to transform a tired looking kitchen

Cons:

• Hard work to prep surfaces by cleaning them thoroughly and sanding them with a fine-grit sandpapers so that the paint sticks.
• Painted cabinets tend to accumulate grease and dust, so they are difficult to maintain
• Painted cabinets are at risk of paint getting peeled off; especially if the surface had not been correctly and sufficiently prepared
• Time consuming
• Not permanent but rather a temporary fix

Refacing

Cabinet refacing involves replacing the door and drawer fronts, knobs and handles of old cabinets with new ones. Refacing cabinets adds a completely new look to the kitchen since all the doors and drawers fronts are replaced.

Pros:

• Refaced cabinets can be easily cleaned and maintained
• Refacing cabinets extends the life of cabinets making them more durable.

Cons:

• Expensive
• Takes a long time

Information from:

www.doityourself.com

www.ehow.com/how_4810172_paint-laminated-kitchencabinets.html

How to: Paint over laminated kitchen cabinets

Tools:

• TSP/ Ammonia cleaner or a solution of 50/50 water and ammonia
• 60 / 100 grit sandpaper
• Liquid deglosser
• Lint free cloth
• Use high quality primer – high gloss / oil based – Zinsser brand
• Use high quality, durable top coat (latex or oil based) make sure to select a paint appropriate for the project. Keep in mind that flat paints are difficult to keep clean and high gloss paint will show every mistake you make when painting. If you decide to apply a high gloss finish paint, consider renting a paint sprayer and make sure you are in a well-ventilated area when you apply the paint. Latex is more durable
• Sealer – satin/high gloss polyurethane sealer (they can be painted or sprayed on and come in both semi-gloss and high gloss) – It is important to protect the paint on the laminate kitchen cabinets to ensure that it will last longer
• Brush with high-quality brush or foam roller
• Compressor-powered sprayer to apply the paint? This will minimise those annoying brush strokes in the finish
• Door magnets
• Paint thinner / Mineral spirits

Steps:

• Choose a color scheme for the kitchen cabinets that will complement the rest of the kitchen (also choose a suitable paint type)
• For an extra smooth finish on the doors, remove them from the cabinet frames
• Remove all the drawer pulls and hardware. Clean them and put them into labelled bags so you will know which part of the cabinet it belongs to
• Number the doors and cabinets to make rehanging the doors easier
• Wipe down the drawers, doors and cabinet bases of the laminate kitchen cabinets with TSP or ammonia based cleaner such as window cleaner or a solution of 50/50 water and ammonia
• Once the cabinets are cleaned and allowed to dry, Use a liquid deglosser which is much easier and faster to use. All you have to do is rub it on with a lint-free cloth and let it dry for the recommended time period
• Sand them to give the paint something to adhere to. Use a fine grit sandpaper to rough up the laminate cabinets. If you have an electric sander, use this to speed up the process considerably.
• Use cloth to wipe away dust
• Apply several coats for best results. Wipe off dusts between coats
• Put down papers or plastic to protect floor and lay the doors and drawers on it
• Use painter’s tape to cover spots of the laminate kitchen cabinets you don’t want to get primer or paint on
• When painting cabinet doors and the base of the cabinets, use straight even strokes. If some of your strokes look heavier than others, go over them and blend them together
• If you do find drips, don’t worry. They are easy to eliminate. First get all of the paint off your paintbrush. Then blend the drip into the rest of the pain.
• Paint a coat of primer on all of the cabinet bases, doors and drawer fronts. Give it time to dry per the manufacturer’s instructions on the can. You will want to start painting your kitchen cabinets as soon as the primer is ready. Waiting too long after priming will make the paint finish less durable.
• Paint the first coat of paint over the primer. Make sure you cover all of the drawer fronts, doors and bases of the laminate kitchen cabinets with an even layer or paint. If possible also paint the inside of the cabinets
• Let it dry for 24 hours.
• Once it is dry, apply a second coat of paint over the first. Allow the paint to dry for another 24 hours
• Use a sealer to seal the drawer fronts, bases and doors. Make sure to allow the sealing coat at least 24 hours to dry before proceeding, OR
• Now begin to reattach the cabinet hardware. Consider the opportunity to install new hardware including drawer pulls and door handles. Also attach small door magnets to each door to ensure that they will remain close
• Apply a tiny amount of cooking oil anywhere the cabinet door touch the cabinets. This oil will ensure that the paint does not stick, but still allows them to cure.

Information from:

www.doityourself.com

www.ehow.com/how_4810172_paint-laminated-kitchencabinets.html

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