Can You Paint Kitchen Cabinets Without Stripping Them?

Can you paint kitchen cabinets without stripping them? Ideally, the best way to paint a previously painted surface is to completely strip off the existing paint before adding the new paint. But depending on your goals and needs for the paint job, stripping or sanding down to a bare surface might not be feasible – or even desired.

Franklin Painting of Farmington, CT, often gets questions from homeowners about whether or not kitchen cabinets can be painted without stripping. Here’s our answer.

Can You Paint Kitchen Cabinets Without Stripping Them? Removing The Old Paint From Kitchen Cabinets

Removing old paint from walls, doors and large surfaces usually isn’t a major chore. But kitchen cabinets have a slew of angles, support pieces and recessed areas that make the job of stripping or sanding to bare wood a tedious project.

Stripping paint and varnish can be a smelly, messy and time-consuming job. A total sanding down can be a dusty, difficult and time-consuming job. Either way, time is going to be a factor.

Still, for a superior result with a long-lasting finish, stripping and sanding are the best ways to go.

Painting Over Old Cabinet Paint

However, if you’re not aiming for absolute perfection and an ultra-long-lasting finish, there’s nothing wrong with putting fresh paint over old paint or varnish, as long as you do it right.

The job will still be somewhat time-consuming simply because kitchen cabinet painting is time-consuming no matter how you go about it.

Steps For Painting Without Removing The Original Paint

Start by taking off the cabinet doors and hardware.

The next step is basic sanding. Use 120-grit sandpaper and try to smooth out the surfaces as much as possible. You don’t need to remove all the paint, but you do need to make the finish smooth to the touch. Remember to wear eye and breathing protection during this process.

After sanding, clean the surface areas with a mild household cleanser. Fresh paint won’t adhere to oily, dusty surfaces, which are common with kitchen cabinetry.

When everything is smooth, clean and dry, you can start painting. Begin with a primer that’s appropriate for coating previously painted or varnished surfaces. Remember that the primer must adhere well, so purchase a top-quality brand.

Quality paint is also a must. Don’t buy “bargain basement” paint; rather, select a recognized brand and read the label to make sure it will do what you want it to do.

While you’ll use brushes for a lot of the painting, a small roller might be appropriate for the doors and larger surfaces. Buy the best brushes and rollers you can find because they’ll play a big role in the quality of the result.

Let Professional Painters Transform Your Kitchen Cabinets

No matter how you slice it, painting kitchen cabinets is a lot of work. It requires time, patience, and expertise to achieve a flawless finish that will last. This is why many homeowners in the Farmington, CT, region turn the job over to the experts at Franklin Painting. We understand that your kitchen is the heart of your home, and we are committed to providing a high-quality paint job that will bring new life to your cabinets and transform your entire space.

We’ll take your old, boring, faded cabinets and make them literally like new again with a professional paint job that will look spectacular and hold up well. Sanding, stripping, prepping and painting – that pretty much describes the work we do all day long.

If you want the best paint job for your kitchen cabinetry or interior painting, give us a call and arrange a meeting. You can also reach out through our contact form.