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What you should know about cabinet painting
We love painted (we call them pigmented) cabinets – but there are some common issues you probably haven’t heard about that need to be understood before changing from wood grain to a paint color.
Painting (coating) cabinets creates some unique issues
Painted cabinetry has become wildly popular because of its versatility; they can look modern or traditional, transitional or contemporary.
And WOW- what a change they make to the overall feel of the room!
But with painting, it’s important to understand a few vital things……. mainly that wood moves.
Because it’s an organic material it reacts to it’s environment. This means humidity and temperature can cause minor changes to the cabinetry.
On painted wood doors, where you’ll see the joints on the frame, the paint will often show hairline cracks as the wood expands and contracts with the seasons.
The same cracks appear in regular wood/stained cabinetry, but you won’t notice them as much, because the wood grain camouflages the issue (similar to how grey/brown countertops make dirt disappear, whereas on a black countertop you see everything).
If you have wide rails (the wood that makes up the frame) it will be more prone to noticeable separation. Even amongst the same set of cabinets; some doors may show cracks while others do not.
One way to lesson this issue is to go darker; darker colors hide these cracks better than light colors (due to the contrast).
Hairline cracks at cabinet joint
This is an example of a seam in the cabinet construction….this “crack” was there before the coating, but becomes more visible, once painted. It is indeed NOT a crack but simply the joint made visible.
The type of cabinetry you choose will have a great influence on how much “cracking” you see.
For instance, Maple is a great wood but you will usually have the hairline cracks on the frame.
If the center of the door is hardwood, the areas where the wood is joined can also show these cracks, appearing as little vertical 1-2 inch lines in various places on the panel.
The other way to address this is to use MDF instead of hardwood stiles and rails.
MDF on the other hand is great when it comes to this issue. Because it doesn’t have wood grain, there won’t be any cracking anywhere that is solid MDF.
This makes it a great choice for painted cabinetry and pigmented coatings.
Really, there is only one minor disadvantage to MDF is that if any reboring, or re-drilling is needed down the road sometimes new hinges won’t take as well.
But unless you plan to be very rough with your cabinets, this is rarely a problem as excluding water damage, rust, etc, hinges will last 10-20 years before needed replacement.
Wondering what cabinet type to chose?
There are 3 main different types of cabinets: Framed, Frameless and Inset.
Pictures provide the best explanation:
here is an “inset” vanity cabinet faceframe we are currently working on. You can see the door and drawer front lie inside of the faceframe.
Below is an image of “faceframe” cabinets; these are the most common in residential households throughout northern virginia.
And this is a “frameless” cabinet; You’ll see from the front, you do not see any of the “face” of the cabinetry
Wondering what our finish looks like?
Cabinet painting (or cabinet refinishing, which is what we call it), is not about simply slapping some paint on your cabinets.
This is because kitchen cabinetry is constantly exposed to acids, oils, etc and must be fully refinished and sanded down to last and look beautiful.
It also must be air-sprayed if you want to see that “factory like” finish, versus an DIY or handyman appearance.
You’ll find that some contractors avoid air-spraying because it requires much more preparation, expense and careful application when done in a clients home to avoid issues.
However, we prefer to give the best possible fine furniture appearance and that “brand new” look, even though it costs us extra and takes more effort.
But enough of that, we’ll let the pictures below speak for themselves!
The 1st picture is what paint, applied with a brush and roller looks like when applied on cabinetry.
You’ll see brush marks, drips and evidence of a thick coating….
It has a warm farmhouse charm, but it’s important to note that if you’re looking for a new modern look then it’s very important to use the right products & methods to avoid this rough finish.
This is why we are refinishers, not just painters.
And that’s how we get the finish like you see in the 2nd picture.
It’s smooth to the touch, has even coverage, and looks like it was made that way; instead of looking refurbished.
Popular kitchen colors
Need some kitchen design inspiration?
Here are some cabinet trends we are loving right now!
Bathroom Vanity update
- Before and after in Raven Wing Grey we did for a client last month.
- Amazing difference in style and feel with just a simple color and hardware change!
At the shop
Dreamy glossy finish
No brush streaks here!
Just a glossy, smooth, “factory-like” finish.
This is after 2 sandings, primer and multiple levels of lacquer.
Ready to get yours done?
Side by side comparison of before & after the refinishing process.
No reason to replace your cabinets when we you can have them professionally refinished, looking brand new at 1/3 the cost.
Color & light
There is a lot that goes into picking a color that will produce the best results for your kitchen or bath.
The colorants used to make that color will give off undertones that can either contrast or compliment the space which is why it is very important to know this information before the project starts.
Since many people don’t have the time to go to the paint store, get a sample and apply it to some cardboard with a brush, we suggest going to www.samplize.com and getting a 12″x12″ peel and stick sample.
While it does take about 2 days to get in the mail, it is entirely worth it so you don’t end up with a kitchen you’re not happy with.
These 3 pics are the SAME door in the SAME color (SW1442 Raven Wing).
You can see the blue undertones in the first pic in the 100% natural light, the raw umber undertones in the second pic with overheard inside lighting, and the grey in the 3rd pic with a combo of both.
No color will look exactly the same in various lighting so it’s important to see it in person to really get a feel for that effect.
A peak at our prep process!
We always take care our client’s homes, as if it was our own…. making sure to carefully protect everything.
