We offer you a simple, effective method for painting varnished wood kitchen or bathroom cabinets. A few tips to help you achieve a finish worthy of the pros.
Before anything else, do not forget to take photos of your kitchen cabinets. Once the work is done, you will be proud to compare them with your new kitchen!
01
Remove cabinet doors and drawers
We strongly recommend removing the doors and drawers before you start. You can then paint them flat, which makes application much easier and helps you get a more even finish.
Take the opportunity to remove the handles and hinges as well. You will avoid having to mask them or cut in around the hardwareâwhich will save you a lot of time.
Tip: quickly sketch your kitchen layout and number each door and its location. You will find it much easier to know where to put each door back once the work is done.
02
Clean your cabinets before painting
Clean the surface with a good cleaner-degreaser to remove contaminants, greasy stains, and wax residue. That way, you make sure there will be no reactions when you apply the paint.
For this, we recommend the Passeport Elite biodegradable degreaser.
- Start by diluting the product (100 mL per 5 L of water)
- Pour the solution into a bucket or a spray bottle. Spray onto your cabinets or scrub with a sponge.
- Wipe off excess cleaner with a cotton cloth.
- Let the cabinets and drawers dry before moving on to the next step.
03
Sand your cabinet doors before painting
It is important to sand before applying cabinet door paint. Keep in mind that you do not need to completely remove the old finish: the goal is to degloss the surface, make it smoother, and allow the new coat of paint to adhere properly.
- Use 180- to 220-grit sandpaper. You can use an orbital sander, a sanding block, or a sanding sponge.
IMPORTANT: It is best to wear a mask during this step to avoid breathing in sanding dust.
04
Remove dust after sanding the cabinets
Make sure to completely remove the sanding dust. Otherwise, it will affect adhesion of your new cabinet paint and could create imperfections in the finish.
You can remove most of the dust using a cloth, a duster, or a vacuum. You can also use the air jet from a pressure washer to dislodge dust.
Do you want to make sure there’s nothing left on your cabinets? Do a quick clean with Passeport Elite Cleaner, following the steps we mentioned above.
05
Apply an ultra-adhesive primer to your cabinet doors
If you want the paint to last for years, applying a primer is a step not to be overlooked. Kitchen cabinets are very smooth surfaces that are handled daily. Without a primer offering excellent adhesion, the paint risks wearing out or flaking prematurely.
Which primer to choose?
For a long time, oil- or alcohol-based primers were the go-to for this type of project. They still offer excellent adhesion, but they also come with a few drawbacks: a strong odor, the use of solvents for cleaning, and a generally less pleasant application.
Today, water-based ultra-adhesive primers are an excellent alternative. Products like STIX or Grip-Coat provide adhesion comparable to oil-based primers while being much simpler to use. They emit little odor, clean up with water, and are particularly well-suited for projects like painting kitchen or bathroom cabinets.
“Un apprĂȘt ultra adhĂ©rent conçu pour les surfaces difficiles comme la cĂ©ramique, le PVC, le verre, la fibre de verre ou les mĂ©taux non ferreux. STIX crĂ©e un feuil trĂšs dur qui offre une excellente base dâaccrochage pour presque toutes les peintures de finition.”
IdĂ©al lorsque lâadhĂ©rence maximale est recherchĂ©e
“Le Grip Coat est un apprĂȘt polyvalent qui adhĂšre aux surfaces habituellement difficiles Ă peindre comme le PVC, le plastique, le verre, le carrelage, le mĂ©tal galvanisĂ© ou les surfaces vernies. Sa formule flexible convient autant aux projets intĂ©rieurs quâextĂ©rieurs.”
Polyvalence et adhérence sur plusieurs surfaces
Apply the primer
- Start by cutting in using a polyester brush.
- Then cover all cabinets with a roller. For an ultra-smooth finish, use a STAALMESTER microfiber roller
06
Let the primer dry
Some products will only require 3 to 4 hours of drying (STIX), while others will need 24 hours (Grip Coat) before receiving a finish coat. When in doubt, it’s better to wait a little longer than not long enough.
It is essential that the primer is completely dry before applying the finish paint. If not, the different coats (the thin layers of paint) risk mixing together. This can compromise adhesion, and the paint could eventually chip or peel.
07
Lightly sand the primer coat
Don’t neglect sanding between each coat of paint with 180 to 220 grit sandpaper. This step helps to smooth the surface and achieve a much more uniform result.
Sanding helps to eliminate small runs, surface imperfections, and texture left by application tools. In addition to improving the final appearance, this step provides a smoother, more professional finish, as if the paint had been applied with a spray gun.
08
Apply cabinet paint
We sometimes hear people recommend using floor paints covered with varnish to paint kitchen cabinet doors and frames. For our part, we prefer to keep products in their place: floor paint is designed for floors.
For furniture and cabinets, there are paints specially formulated for this type of project. They offer the necessary characteristics to achieve a beautiful, durable finish that will stand up well to daily use:
- An adherent and robust resin that ensures excellent grip and good durability over the years.
- Superior leveling capability for a smoother, more uniform finish.
- Excellent resistance to abrasion and repeated cleaning.
Its advantages: âą Available in a wide variety of colors and finishes âą Ultra-smooth finish thanks to its excellent leveling âą High resistance to abrasion and repeated cleaning âą Drying time: approximately 16 hours between coats“Une peinture alkyde Ă base dâeau utilisant une technologie hybride. Advance est spĂ©cialement conçue pour les meubles et les armoires grĂące Ă sa rĂ©sine robuste, son excellent nivellement et sa grande rĂ©sistance Ă lâusure quotidienne.”
Technologie hybride pour un fini durable
Its advantages: âą Faster drying than Advance paint âą Uniform and professional satin finish âą Resistance to abrasion and frequent cleaning âą Drying time: approximately 8 hours between coats âą More limited choice of finishes and colors“Une peinture satinĂ©e spĂ©cialement formulĂ©e pour les meubles et les armoires. Cabinet Coat offre une excellente adhĂ©rence, un fini lisse et une bonne rĂ©sistance aux manipulations quotidiennes.”
Fini satin durable pour armoires et meubles
The advantages of Advance
Benjamin Moore Advance paint uses hybrid technology, meaning it’s a water-based paint that has the advantages of traditional alkyd paint. It is available in pearl, semi-gloss, and high-gloss finishes.
For kitchen cabinets, using a hybrid product is particularly interesting. Since its drying is slower, the paint has more time to level, which results in a smoother finish with fewer roller or brush marks.
Even if it’s dry to the touch in less than an hour, it is recommended to wait until the next day (16 hours) between coats for optimal results.
Tools used with Advance paint are primarily cleaned with water. However, if an oily residue remains after cleaning, a final wash with a paint and varnish thinner (Varsol) may be necessary.
Different techniques for painting your cabinets
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The spray gun
Finishing professionals often use a sprayer to paint cabinets. This method provides an extremely smooth finish, similar to that of new cabinets when they come out of the factory.
If you’re looking for a flawless result, without roller marks or texture variations, spray application is certainly the method that will give the most uniform finish.
The spray gun also saves a lot of time. Since the paint is applied directly to the surfaces, there’s no need to do all the cutting in on doors and frames with a brush, a step that is often the longest in a cabinet painting project.
However, using a spray gun requires a bit more practice than a roller or brush. If you’ve never used a sprayer before, it’s highly recommended to do some tests on another surface before starting your cabinets.
You also need to plan for good workspace preparation. The fine paint mist created by spraying can easily reach surrounding surfaces. It is therefore important to properly protect the room or work in an area designed for spraying.
Finally, if you don’t already own a paint sprayer, purchasing this equipment represents a more significant investment than what’s needed for brushes and rollers.
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Microfiber roller
“These little rollers are wonderful. They are soft. Their texture is truly special. They get everywhere. I compared them to the small ones I have at home. No comparison is possible. These small rollers do an impeccable job. I simply love them. ”
Johanne Campeau, cliente confirmée
Applying paint with a roller is probably the most accessible method for painting cabinets. It allows for a more uniform finish than with a brush, while avoiding brush stroke marks.
If you want the smoothest finish possible, we recommend using a Staalmester microfiber roller. Its dense, high-quality fibers make it the ideal roller for an ultra-smooth finish, like a melamine effect.
Since it accumulates less paint than a standard roller, it deposits a thinner and more uniform coat on the cabinets. This means less risk of runs, smudges, and excessive paint thickness.
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By brush
Price: $12.35 to $21.03
- Ideal for applying acrylic paint and water-based varnishes
- Firm and silky fibers
- No bristle shedding
Estimated delivery: 2-3 business days
In-store pickup available
When aiming for a smooth or uniform finish, a brush is not the recommended application tool. Indeed, a brush is more likely to leave brush strokes, unevenness, and smudges.
However, if you want to create an antique effect or a faux finish, you can use a brush to paint your cabinets.
09
Allow to dry thoroughly between coats of paint
While it may seem obvious, it’s worth repeating: patience is part of the process.
If you apply coats too quickly, the protective system of your cabinets may be less durable. By applying a second or third coat when the previous one is not sufficiently dry, you risk trapping water inside the paint coat.
This results in a softer and more tender paint coat, which will be less resistant to handling, cleaning, and daily wear and tear.
In short, it’s better to respect the recommended drying times between coats. A few extra hours can make a big difference in the durability of the final result.
| Advance Benjamin Moore |
Cabinet Coat INSL-X |
|
|---|---|---|
| Touch Dry | 4 to 6 hours | Approximately 1 hour |
| Time between coats | 16 hours | 6 hours |
| Curing | 5 to 7 days before heavy use. Optimal hardness can take up to 30 days. | 5 to 7 days. |
| Key takeaway | Ideally, apply one coat per day. | Faster between coats, but the paint still needs to cure before heavy use. |
10
Lightly sand the cabinets between each coat
As we mentioned in point 7, if you do a delicate sanding between coats with 220 or 320 grit sandpaper, it will allow you to smooth and soften the appearance of your cabinets, removing brush strokes and imperfections.
You will therefore achieve a result that meets your expectations and the efforts you’ve invested in the project!
11
Wait for your cabinet paint to cure before reinstalling them
Here, an important distinction must be made between the drying time and the curing time of a paint.
Even if new paints dry much faster than old oil-based paints, their complete curing can take 10 to 21 days. During this period, the paint continues to gain strength and hardness.
It is therefore not necessary to wait several weeks before putting the cabinets back in place, but it is recommended to wait a few days before intensive use. Otherwise, cabinet doors and drawer fronts risk being damaged during handling, reinstallation of hardware, or reinstallation of components.
Refer to the table in point 9 to know everything about the different drying times of Advance and Cabinet Coat
12
Enjoy your freshly painted new kitchen!
Now it’s time to enjoy all the effort and time you’ve invested in repainting your cabinets!
Start your project now!
You will find all the products you need directly on our website.
- Start by measuring the dimensions of your cabinets to know how much paint you need.
- One gallon of STIX covers approximately 350 sq ft
- Advance covers an average of 500 sq ft per gallon.
- Cabinet Coat covers 400 sq ft/gal.
- Choose the color you like for your cabinets
- Place your order online and choose between in-store pickup and home delivery.
Want more painting tips and tricks? Check out our blog dedicated to this topic!
Products found in this article.
STIX Ultra-Adhesive Primer
Cabinet and Furniture Paint Advance
Cabinet Coat Furniture Paint
Q&A
Q. Why isn't my paint adhering properly to my cabinets?
Several reasons can explain poor adhesion: a poorly cleaned surface, the presence of grease or cleaning product residues, insufficient sanding, or the absence of an ultra-adhesive primer. Kitchen cabinets are particularly exposed to contaminants and are often made of very smooth materials (like melamine), so you must pay special attention to preparation before applying paint.
Q. Why does my cabinet paint remain sticky after several days?
This can depend on several factors: a coat that is too thick, insufficient drying time between coats, too low a temperature, or high humidity. It also happens that a finish coat was applied before the previous coat was sufficiently dry, which slows down the complete curing of the coating.
Q. Why are there roller or brush marks?
Marks often appear when the wrong type of roller/brush is used, when the paint starts to dry during application, or when you go over the same spot too often. To achieve a more uniform finish, it is important to use an appropriate roller (flocked or microfiber), apply the paint in thin coats, and allow the paint to dry completely so that it levels well.
Q. Why does my paint chip or peel around handles and door corners?
Since these areas are exposed to a lot of friction and handling, adhesion problems. There are three main causes for this type of damage:
- These areas were not properly prepared (cleaning, sanding)
- The paint did not have enough time to dry and cure before the handles and moldings were reinstalled
- Your paint is not resistant enough for this type of surface
Q. Why do I still see the old color or wood grain after several coats?
Some materials are more difficult to cover, particularly dark woods, stained surfaces, or certain glossy finishes. In these situations, a stain-blocking primer will greatly help you prevent old colors or wood tannins from bleeding through the finish paint.
Q. What can I do if I have runs or paint buildup on my cabinets?
Don’t panic! It’s usually quite easy to fix. Runs generally appear when a paint coat is too heavy or when too much product is applied in the same spot. Once the paint is sufficiently dry, simply lightly sand the imperfections with fine abrasive paper, then apply a new thin coat to even out the finish.
