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If you have plenty of cabinet space and the cabinets are structurally sound simply changing the cabinet doors is far more affordable than replacing your entire kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanity.
As time changes, styles change also. It's amazing what a little time and some new cabinet doors and dovetail drawer boxes will do to enhance the look of your kitchen or bathroom. You can add a personal touch to your kitchen, bathroom or even your closet with our wide variety of cabinet door styles available in many types of hardwood that can be combined with applied moulding for a unique and custom cabinet door. If your space is lacking organization and functional cabinet space check out the Cabinet Organizers & Accessories.
Whether you are planning to create a space for you and your family to enjoy and be proud to own or planning to resale your home always spend your time in designing three very important spaces. When you get ready to resale your home there are three major places a new home buyer will be looking for, an amazing kitchen, bathroom and also a well organized closets. Having organization and adequate storage space in the closet is a must have.
You can’t go wrong renovating an outdated kitchen. Kitchen remodeling is the home improvement job that adds the most value to your home. You’ll recover 80%-90% of your kitchen remodeling costs in the value added to your home.
A bathroom update is another great way to update your home, also increasing the value of your home tremendously. The importance of this room in our homes and in our busy lives should not be overlooked. This space is the beginning and ending of each and every day. Making this room a relaxing, enjoyable experience is well worth the time and money.
Having drawers in a closet is not only for convenience it helps increase the living space in the bedroom.
Before you begin re-painting your cabinets, you have another option. Painted cabinets can be changed to real wood cabinets just by using Flexwood ®. Flexwood ® allows the flexibility of changing a painted cabinet to a beautiful natural stained wood cabinet. Flexwood ® is an economical way of updating your kitchen or bathroom cabinets without the total expense of replacing the cabinet boxes.
Flexwood ® is the original flexible wood veneer sheet. YES, it's real wood! Select wood veneers are permanently bonded under heat and pressure to a resin saturated backer sheet. This backer allows flexibility and acts as a barrier to prevent adhesives and finishes from penetrating.
When painting there are a few details that you need to consider to ensure that you are satisfied with the result. Are your cabinets painted now or are they finished with a stain and varnish (or lacquer)? If they are painted, do you want to paint them the same color? Take some time to visualize what you want your refreshed kitchen to look like before you decide. This could be an opportunity for you to not only get the cabinets cleaned up, but to completely change their look.
1. Cleaning the Cabinets :
Preparation is the most important step in the process of painting your cabinets, and it is very important to make sure that all of the surfaces you are going to paint are completely free of all grease, grime; food residue and whatever else may be stuck to them. You can use Denatured Alcohol and a rag and then allow them to dry thoroughly.
2. Sand the Cabinets :
Once they are dry, use a filler to fill any damaged areas; glazing putty will work best. This is a pre-mix Bondo® that comes in a tube, this material dries quickly and is orange in color so it easy to spot when sanding. Use a piece of fine grit sandpaper - 150 or finer - and make a few passes over all the flat surfaces of the cabinets. The slightly sanded surface will allow the primer to bite and hold onto the cabinet surface. It can be a tedious process, but taking the time to lightly sand your cabinets before you prime and paint them will greatly increase longevity of the paint job. Don't underestimate the importance of this step!
3. Apply Primer :
After sanding, it's time to prime. Primer forms a better bond with the surface than paint alone would. This means that the paint is less likely to chip and peel if it gets bumped with dishes or pots and pans. If your cabinets are already painted and you are re-painting them the same color, it is OK to skip this step and go ahead and apply the paint. If, however, your cabinets are stained and you are trying to cover up the natural wood grain with paint, you must prime them first. The paint will not stick to the varnished surface and the color of the stain will most likely bleed right through your paint.
There are several types of primer that you can use, and which one you choose is largely based on what kind of paint you want to use over the top. If you are using an oil-based paint, an interior oil based primer is recommended. These products tend to have a very strong odor and they are best used when you can properly ventilate the room.
If you are planning to use a latex paint for your top coat, then a shellac based primer is recommended. This product tends to dry fairly quickly, so make sure that you are ready to go before you begin applying it. The shellac based primers, just like the oil based, carry a very strong odor and caution should be used.
4. Paint the Cabinets & Doors :
There are several ways to apply the paint. A pneumatic sprayer is the best way to get a smooth and glossy finish. If you don't have access to one, however, don't panic - you can still get a great finish by using a high quality paint brush 2 1/2" to 3" would be ideal.
The key to achieving a professional finish with a brush is to use very thin coats. It may be tempting, after all the work you've already done, to try to coat the paint on as thick as possible just so you can be finished. This is not a good idea. The best and most durable paint jobs are built up by consecutive thin layers of paint, not just one thick one.
5. Add Additional Coats :
Lightly apply your first coat and let it dry completely. If you really want to achieve a professional finish, take a piece of 150 to 180 grit sandpaper and very lightly sand the surfaces again. You are not trying to remove the paint, but instead are insuring that the next coat has the smoothest possible surface to adhere to. Once that is complete, add your second coat.
In most cases two coats of paint will be sufficient. Occasionally, though, you may find that you get better results from three. This is often true with woods that carry a heavier grain, like oak. Once the doors are painted and fully dry, simply install the Blum European hidden hinges in the predrilled holes hang them up, sit back, and enjoy the bright, clean and renewed space that you've worked so hard to achieve.
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