How to Keep Painted Cabinets from Chipping?
Whenever one imagines a dream kitchen he/she thinks of some new and advanced appliances, a magnificent countertop, and some beautiful cabinets.
Some experts give cabinets the most significant spot in designing a kitchen.
As it’s a big investment and they are that protruding feature of your kitchen that is hard to miss.
But what happens when this star feature of your kitchen starts getting chipped?
All of the charms get paled and then your cabinet knobs have chipped paint and the condition is even worse around the cabinet doors.
However, as every problem has a solution this one too.
To keep your cabinets from chipping you should make sure that they are super clean, prime them, give them a top coat and use a top-quality product to paint them.
We have discussed all the points are in detail in the following;
- The first one is Cleaning the Cabinets, cleaning them of any dust or grease that may be stuck on them, as any residue will hinder the paint from sticking to the surface of the cabinet.
- Also, make sure that your cabinets are in good condition before you start painting them because if they are in a bad condition there is no way to stop them from chipping.
- The next thing to take care of while painting the cabinets to prevent them from chipping is the Priming.
- Priming your cabinets fills any holes in the surface of the cabinet and evens out any uneven surface.
- It also gives the paint a base to hold on to which in turn keeps it from chipping.
- Give the painted cabinets a top coating; this top coat will serve as a barrier to any outside dirt or moisture getting to the actual paint.
- The next one is to use top-notch paint for your cabinets.
- It’s a big factor after all and it can easily be neglected.
- A low-quality product is more prone to chipping as it lacks dust and water-resistant quality and starts peeling.
How to Keep Painted Cabinets from Chipping
A chipped cabinet appears when the bond between the surface of the cabinet and wood starts weakening.
Sometimes it might occur earlier than expected and the reasons could be the flawed application of the paint or the method with which it was prepared.
The paint will start peeling off with time, even if used high-quality paint.
Here are certain measures you can take to add some years to your cabinet paint.
1. Door Bummer Pads
The first thing you need to do is to alleviate the factors that lead to loosening the grip of the paint.
One factor that weakens the paint is the continuous colliding of the door and the cabinet frame while opening and closing it.
To solve this problem use door bummer pads, they are easily available at any hardware store.
Attach them to the corners of the drawer and doors of the cabinets.
Another tip is to use felt pads and not rubber ones because rubber pads could stick to the paint and lead to chipping.
2. Sanding the Chipped Areas
Get sandpaper and sand the chipped areas of the cabinet with it, make sure that you have evenly sanded the chipped areas.
Dust off the surface and clean any debris after the surface is smoothed out.
The purpose of sanding is to provide a clean and robust base for bonding.
3. Use a liquid sander for cleaning
After sanding the chipped paint, the next step is to clean the surface using any liquid sander for cleaning the surface off of any oil, dust, and grime.
For ensuring that the surface is clean use a solution made of four parts water and one part tri-sodium phosphate.
Allow the surface to dry completely after applying the solution.
4. Priming the cabinet
Use a tinted bonding primer or an oil-based primer to prime the cabinet surface.
This step will add to the longevity of the painted cabinet.
Use at least two coats of the primer.
Give the primer an hour to dry.
When it’s dried out completely then give it a paint coating.
Primer provides an even base for paint to make a strong bonding.
5. Paint Application
Get a high-quality latex or oil-based paint to paint the cabinets.
Apply at least two coats of paint on the cabinet and give it a final coat with a gloss of equally high quality.
The gloss hardens the paint and serves as a protective barrier between the paint and the outside atmosphere.
While applying the coats start with light coats first and cover the whole area.
Give the paint ample time to dry out.
Then for the second coat re-sand the surface, clean it up, and apply your second coat of paint.
Two good coats of paint are good for wooden surfaces but you can go for three coats for the kitchen cabinets.
Related Reading: How To Keep Painted Cabinets From Chipping – Click Here To Find Out.
How Long do Painted Cabinets Last?
To answer the question, it simply depends.
It depends on many factors, which means the more quality products and expert methods you use in painting your cabinets the longer it will last.
If you are planning to do it yourself or give the project to someone with little knowledge of painting then you can’t expect the paint to last long.
The longevity of your paint depends on the following factors;
Expertise:
if you hand this project to an amateur, then you can’t expect much as painting is not something that can be done with trial and error.
Tools to be used:
for any specific paint style, there are specified tools that should be used to get the best results. One needs to make use of those tools for a perfect finish.
Preparing the surface:
before the paint is applied the surface needs to be prepared so that it can form a strong bond with the paint.
If the surface is unprepared and the paint is applied without priming, cleaning, or sanding and repairing then it won’t stand long.
Quality of Products:
better quality paint has the better adhesive quality and it will stick better to the surface of the cabinet.
A premium product is worth the investment in cabinet painting.
How Long do Professionally Painted Cabinets Last?
Professionally painted cabinets last way longer than DIY painted cabinets.
You can expect professionally painted cabinets to last 8 to 15 years without a fresh coat.
Here are some factors that make the professionally painted cabinet last longer;
Preparation of the surface
The preparation before painting is crucial and it serves as the base of the painting outcome.
An expert can carry out the preparation phase which makes the paint stay longer.
Skills and Tools
An expert will have the proper tools and skills that he will use in painting your cabinets.
The high-end tools, i.e.;
- Brushes
- Spraying and repairing tools,
- Sanding equipment
- Safety gear
The right knowledge will be useful in professionally painting the cabinets.
Process
A professional has done the process again and again and can carry out the process quite easily and achieve a perfect outcome.
This ensures great results and makes the paint stay longer.
Warranty
When using a professional firm for painting your cabinets, they give a warranty on how long the paint will last.
This shows that they have confidence in their work and that the paint will last long.
Why do Painted Cabinets Feel Rough
There are a few reasons that make the surface of the painted cabinet feel rough;
- It could be the air particles in the atmosphere settling over the surface of the cabinet giving it a coarse or rough finish.
- Secondly, it might be possible that the surface wasn’t prepared before painting, and paint was applied on an uneven or unprepared surface.
- Another reason could be that the painting was done by an amateur person who didn’t know the right way to apply paint and now the surface feels rough.
Pros and Cons of Painting Kitchen Cabinets
When on a budget and thinking of remodeling or giving a new look to your kitchen, painting the cabinets can prove to be quite a reasonable solution.
However, there are pros and cons to this solution as well;
Pros
New Look
Painting your cabinets will make them look new and give them a fresh feel. It will also give your kitchen a modern feel.
Protection from Heat and Moisture
Paint is also a good protector and can serve as a barrier between the wood of the cabinet and the moisture and heat in the outside environment.
In Budget
Painting your cabinet is way more affordable than replacing them and saves you a lot of money that can be spent elsewhere.
Plenty of Options
While replacing you may have to stick to one style or color, painting your cabinets gives you plenty of options to choose from.
Cons
Doesn’t work with damaged cabinets
While painting is a reasonable solution in many ways.
But it has some limitations as well and it doesn’t work well when the cabinet is damaged in that case installing new cabinets is the only solution.
Professional Work
Painting is certainly a cheaper option than buying new cabinets
But it does require some investment and you need to hire a professional to get the work done.
Doesn’t hides dirt
On painted cabinets, any dirt can be easily spotted and therefore they require high maintenance.
What is the Best Paint for Paint Kitchen Cabinets?
There are certain options to choose from but oil-based paints work quite well for kitchen cabinets, as they can be easily scrubbed and cleaned.
However, latex paint is the best choice for kitchen cabinets, as their levels of VOCs are lower and are easy to dry.
How to Fix Chipped Kitchen Cabinets
Repairing the chipped cabinets can rejuvenate the look of your kitchen.
The only difficult thing is finding the paint color that matches that of your cabinet.
- First of all clean up the chipped areas, with a solution of soap and wipe it up.
- Then dry the cleaned area and sand the damaged area to smooth it out.
- Then prime the area, and paint it with matching paint.
What Should I Use to Seal my Painted Cabinets?
Sealing the cabinets helps in protecting the paint and gives the cabinets a flawless finish as well.
There are a lot of options available for sealing but the one that tops the chart is the water-based sealer.
Water-based polyurethane is regarded as the best top coat for kitchen cabinets.
Can I put a Clear Coat over Painted Cabinets?
Yes, you can put a clear coat over painted cabinets.
It is recommended to put a clear coat over the painted cabinets.
As it gives a glossy finish to the cabinets whilst saving them from the outside environment.
Can you Repair Chipped Laminate Cabinets?
Yes, you can repair laminate cabinets.
are a few ways of doing it.
The most cost-effective way is to reface the damaged areas.
It will cost half the price of replacing the cabinets and if done the right way it will make the cabinets just as good as new.
Buy the refacing material from any cabinetry store and order the refacing material in the exact size and color.
What’s the Average Cost to Paint Kitchen Cabinets?
The average cost varies depending on the area you are in, but according to a rough estimate, it can be around $100 for painting a drawer face and $175 for a cabinet.
For a medium-sized kitchen, the total cost of painting can be around $5000.
It usually ranges between $3000 to $10,000 {Source}.
Do You Paint Both Sides of Kitchen Cabinet Doors?
Yes, you need to paint both sides of the kitchen cabinet doors.
This is also the reason that it takes a lot of time to paint the cabinets.
It is recommended to start from the backside of the door and allow at least 24 hours time for each coat to dry before applying a second coat.
Related Reading: How To Remove Kitchen Cabinets – Learn Here.
The Bottom Line
The kitchen is one of the busiest places in your house.
For this reason, the maintenance of this room of the house is given more importance than any other room.
Chipped cabinets would make your kitchen look dated and unkempt.
In this article, we have discussed all the ways to keep your cabinets from chipping and help you keep your kitchen lively.
