Cabinetry

Step One: Mask & Protect

Whether you intend to spray or brush, it is always best to cover anything you don’t intend to paint with tape, plastic, paper, and/or drop cloths.

Step Two: Disassemble

Remove all doors and drawers, door hinges, drawer slides, door knobs, and handles making sure everything is labeled so you will remember how to put it back. Although the hinges will all look the same, many times each hinge is individually adjusted for a proper fit.

Step Three: Clean

If the cabinets are not bare wood or brand new, they may need to be cleaned.

With a microfiber cloth and warm, soapy water, remove all dirt and grease from the surfaces to be painted.  For heavy grease or oil stains a stronger cleaner may be required. A second rinse of water will ensure that no cleaner or dirty residue is left behind. Wipe dry with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.

Step Four: Sand & Dust

With 150-180 grit sand paper, lightly scuff-sand the entire surface to promote adhesion. Using a dust brush and a clean and dry microfiber cloth, dust everything to be painted. A second pass with a new cloth will help remove small dust particles that could affect adhesion or leave the finish gritty.

Step Five: Prime

If you are repainting cabinets with the exact type of paint they were previously painted with, you can skip this step. Otherwise, use an appropriate Kelly-Moore primer to prime the entire surface. When darker colors are desired, the primer can be tinted with up to two ounces of black colorant to help the top coat cover in fewer coats.

Step Six: Sand & Dust (again…)

Repeat step four, but this time use 220 grit sandpaper to create an extremely smooth finish.

Step Seven: Paint & Recoat

Now that the cabinets have been properly prepared, you can begin painting. The doors should be painted horizontally on a flat surface, one side at a time, waiting until each coat is completely dry before painting the opposite side. This allows the paint to self-level as it dries to create an extremely smooth finish and help prevent unsightly runs. See the TDS for the paint product you are using for recommended recoat times and remember that lower temperatures and higher humidity will increase recoat times.

Step Eight: Reassemble & Enjoy

When the cabinets are fully dried and have had time to cure, gently reassemble and replace the doors, drawers, and other hardware. Now is the time to step back and enjoy! Make sure you take lots of pictures to post on social media using hashtags like #kellymoore and #awesomecabinets!