When it’s cold out, it’s a good time to try to take care of any indoor projects you may have. A relatively small and not very time consuming task that can be done with very little cost is to paint your kitchen cabinets and replace its hardware. This will give your kitchen an updated, “brand-new” look. Here are the basic steps:
First of all, gather the necessary materials: painter’s tape, surface cleaner, tack cloths, tools to remove the hardware, putty or filler, putty knife, fine or medium sandpaper, primer, paint, rollers and brushes, and drop cloths. Next, you’re going to take everything out of your cabinets and cover your counters and floor with drop cloths, masking the areas where the walls and cabinets meet. Then carefully remove the cabinet doors and drawers, labelling if necessary. The next step is the most crucial: clean the cabinets with soapy, surface cleaner water, taking extra care to remove all of the grime and grease. Then fill and sand any nicks or scratches. Once the fill is hardened, sand down any bumps or nicks on all surfaces. After that, wipe everything down with tack cloth to get off all the dust and dirt.
Priming is the next step. Spraying will give your cabinets the best finish but a dense foam roller works nicely too. Use long strokes so they aren’t so visible when done. Let the primer dry, then for a final coat, use latex, it’s easy to use and dries quickly. Apply at least two coats with ample drying time in between. When you are finished and satisfied, reattach the cabinets and drawers and install your new hardware. Voila, your kitchen now has a fresh new look.
For more details see “The Paint Corner” in the February/March 2015 Gateway News or contact Brian Garleb at 618-972-9516 or bgarleb@gatewayfs.com .