Cabinets finishing is the main thing to consider to upgrade your kitchen look. You can work on cabinets finishing yourself if you know how to finish kitchen cabinets. Indeed, it would be the best way to add some liveliness and colors making it perfect kitchen remodeling trick.
Whether you are looking for how to finish the top of kitchen cabinets or how to finish the underside of kitchen cabinets, this guide has everything for you! So, there’s no need to hire professional painters once you have learned how to finish kitchen cabinets yourself
This way, you can also save some of your overall kitchen renovation cost. So, consider the following points, steps and tips if you want to finish your kitchen cabinets yourself;
Table of Contents
How to Get Smooth Finish on Kitchen Cabinets?
If you are looking for successful and professional-looking way to finish kitchen cabinets, you can hire a home remodeling contractor or make it a DIY project.
If going with the latter option, consider the following steps for finishing.
1) Use Open Space
It would be best to work on your removable kitchen cabinets in an open space such as a garage or your backyard. So, you can get the job done proficiently and smoothly.
2) Clean The Cabinets
Even if your cabinets are in good condition, it would be best to clean the surface of the cabinets. This way, you can get smooth and dust-free paint coverage on your kitchen cabinets. You also need to cover the countertops to save your space from dust and other stuff.
3) Remove Cabinet Doors
If you have installed kitchen cabinet layout to maximize space, you can still remove the doors and hardware of cabinets if you want to learn how to finish kitchen cabinets professionally. After removing the kitchen cabinets, doors and hardware, place them on a clean and protected surface.
4) Scrape Old Paint
Even if the old paint layer is not damaged, you still need to scrape it off before adding a new layer of paint to cabinets for finishing. Without removing old paint, you cannot get smooth finishing.
5) Ventilation and Safety Gear
Ensure to ventilate the area where you are going to work on your kitchen cabinets finishing project. Proper air and ventilation will help the paint to get dried early. Even if you are working in an open space on your cabinets finishing, you still need to wear a face mask, gloves and a rough dress while working on cabinets finishing.
If you still see blemishes on your cabinets after the application of the first coat, you can use wood conditioner even before applying the paint primer.
3 Steps to Finish Top of Kitchen Cabinets Efficiently
If you want to know how to finish the top of kitchen cabinets appropriately, doors and hardware are the main things to consider. Even while installing cabinets, you still need to focus on the smooth finishing of the top of your kitchen cabinets.
The reason is that doors are the main thing to showcase the overall look of your cabinets. So, unfinished cabinet tops will also spoil your overall kitchen layout. Therefore, you have to focus on the top finishing of your kitchen cabinets by considering the following points;
1) Remove Cabinets Doors
While learning about how to finish kitchen cabinets professionally, you will surely see that professionals also focus on the top finishing of cabinets more than everything. While preparing the top of kitchen cabinets for painting, you have to remove the cabinets doors and hardware firstly.
If you are working on a cabinet finishing project for the first time, it would be best to create a plan or prototype. So, you can reattach the kitchen cabinets hardware and doors in the same pattern after finishing your cabinets. If you have sliding cabinet doors installed in the kitchen, remove the screws using a screwdriver and then slide the doors out.
2) Clean Cabinets Doors
You need to clean cabinet doors after taking them off. Then apply primer on it. It is necessary to remove any dust layer from your cabinets top. For hardware cleaning, you can also use a mild cleaner.
You may also need to clean your kitchen cabinets from inside. Once you have done cleaning the top and inside of your kitchen cabinets, you are all set to apply finishing coats step-by-step.
3) Use Painter’s Tape to Cover Drawers
When focusing on cabinet refacing remember that your focus is also on unremarkable hardware from kitchen cabinets. In this case, you can cover it with painter’s tape to save it from paint spills and stains. Apart from covering unremovable cabinet hardware, ensure to cover other exposed areas in your kitchen before finishing the cabinets.
7 Easy Steps to Finish Kitchen Cabinets
Whether you are looking for how to finish unfinished cabinets or how to finish kitchen cabinets, you can complete these processes by following the same steps and guidelines. If it is your first time to finish your kitchen cabinets yourself to remodel your kitchen, go for it by considering the following steps;
1) Remove Doors and Drawers
Even if you are not a new DIYer and working for the first time on kitchen cabinets, you still need to remove drawers and doors of cabinets for efficient working. Even professionals prefer to remove drawers and doors before finishing or painting the cabinets.
Once you have removed doors and drawers, you also need to remove all kinds of fixtures such as hinges, latches and knobs. For this, you can use a screwdriver or an electric drill to lose the nuts and screws effortlessly.
2) Clean Cabinets
Use a paper towel or soft cloth to clean the detached cabinets and their doors. Ensure to clean the entire surface of your cabinets from top, inside and downside. So, you can apply the finishing on it smoothly.
Secondly, you also need to clean cabinet surface where you are going to work on finishing especially removed doors, drawers and other fixtures.
3) Sand the Cabinets
While learning about how to finish kitchen cabinets, you can also learn about sanding your cabinets yourself. Don’t worry; sanding cabinets is not a daunting task especially if you have the right tools and equipment.
Sanding your kitchen cabinets is essential before painting kitchen cabinets. So, you can apply the new finishing or paint coat without blemishes.
4) Apply First Coating
Even if you are going to finish unfinished cabinets or refinishing the cabinets, you still need to apply a primer. It is essential to apply the paint coat on the cabinets smoothly later. After the primer has dried, you are all set to apply the first coat of finishing to your cabinets.
For this, you can use a paintbrush, sprayer and also foam roller. If your kitchen size is medium, it would be best to coat the cabinets with a paintbrush rather than sprayer or a foam roller. The reason is that you may need intermediate or advanced level finishing skills to spray paint wood cabinets with a sprayer or a foam roller.
5) Let the First Coat Dry
If you don’t know how much time you need to wait after applying the first coat of paint on your cabinets, it would be best to consider the manufacturer guidelines and instructions. You can also turn on your kitchen fans and ventilation system to let the cabinets dry appropriately.
6) Sand the Cabinets Again
Most DIYers don’t prefer to sand the cabinets after applying the first coat. Keep in mind that lightly sanding your cabinets is essential after the first coat. This way, you can get rid of excessive paint or stain from your cabinets for a smooth finishing look.
7) Apply Second Coat
After lightly sanding the kitchen cabinets, you are all set to apply the second finishing coat just like you have applied the first coat. If you are looking for smooth finishing results, you can also apply sealant to your cabinets after finishing.
This way, you can also increase the finishing lifespan of your cabinets.
6 Steps to Finish the Underside of Kitchen Cabinets
Underside cabinet areas are more exposed and visible when you are in a kitchen. So, you can learn how to finish underside of kitchen cabinets in following steps.
Step 1: Before painting or finishing the underside of your kitchen cabinets, remove any object from your countertops and covet the counters with a plastic wrap.
Step 2: Use a clean cloth to dust-off the underside of your kitchen cabinets before finishing.
Step 3: If your cabinet’s edges are exposed or already finished, it would be best to use a painter’s tape to cover the edges of cabinets.
Step 4: After covering the area, you are all set to prime the underside of your kitchen cabinets. Simply, use a thin paintbrush to apply the primer on the underside of the cabinets.
Step 5: Once the primer has dried completely, you are all set to apply the first coat of paint underside kitchen cabinets. After the first coat has dried, apply the second coat of paint. You can also apply more than two coats if needed.
Step 6: After the paint has dried, simply remove the painter’s tape and clean the underside of kitchen cabinets to remove excess paint or any leftovers.
Undeniable Refacing On Your Own
From raised panels to more traditional looking white cabinets, you can finish the kitchen cabinets in variety of styles. It can be matte, semi-gloss or even vinyl. Being a homeowner it is an interesting DIY project to work on your kitchen cutting the remodling or refacing cost. Following these steps will allow you to achieve your target easily.
