Peeling Cabinet Woes? Conquer Them In 3 Simple Steps
Tired of staring at the peeling laminate and flaking paint on your kitchen cabinets? The constant little chips and bubbles seem to taunt you, no matter how much you try to ignore them.
Don’t despair - restoring your cabinets to their former glory is easier than you think. With some basic prep work, the right materials, and a little elbow grease, you can banish peeling cabinets for good.
Step 1: Prep Surfaces for Success
Proper prep is crucial for any painting project, but especially when dealing with damaged and peeling cabinet surfaces. You need to get down to solid, stable material before attempting to apply any new finish.
Lightly sand any areas where the original laminate or paint is cracked, bubbled or peeling. Remove all loose material with 150-220 grit sandpaper until you reach the underlying wood, MDF or laminate substrate.
Sand Away Damage
Sanding opens up the porous surface and allows for maximum adhesion of primer and paint. Take care not to dig into the substrate itself - the goal is to smooth and lightly etch the areas around the damaged spots.
Thoroughly vacuum up all sanding dust using a brush attachment. Remaining dust particles will wreak havoc on your new paint job.
Remove Grease & Grime
Degrease cabinet door fronts, frames and any other areas to be painted using a solution of TSP or ammonia and warm water. Sugar soap also works well. Let the doors dry completely before moving onto the next step.
Cleaning helps binder in the new paint adhere. Greasy residue left behind will cause peeling and curing issues down the road.
Prime Properly
Priming is a mandatory step before painting cabinets. For laminates, use a specialty primer formulated for slick surfaces. Oil-based primers work better than latex for binding to glossy laminate.
On wood and MDF, a high-quality bonding primer is ideal. It fills grain, seals surfaces and provides a uniform base that topcoat paint can adhere to.
Be sure to apply primer thoroughly on the edges and undersides of cabinet doors - these areas are most prone to peeling.
Step 2: Pick the Right Paint
Choosing the right paint or finish is critical for combatting peeling. The new paint film must bond tightly and be flexible enough to allow for wood movement.
Oil-Based Enamel
For cabinets that see heavy use, an oil-based enamel offers superb durability and scratch-resistance. Alkyd enamel cures to an ultra-hard film that can withstand knocking and banging.
However, oil-based paints require mineral spirits for cleanup and have a strong odor during application.
Latex Acrylic
Water-based latex acrylic paints offer soap and water cleanup and very low VOCs. They dry quickly with little odor, making them ideal for indoor cabinet painting.
On the downside, acrylic paints tend to be softer and more prone to yellowing over time compared to enamels.
Urethane Alkyd
For a finished look that resembles factory sprayed cabinets, a urethane-fortified alkyd paint is the way to go. The urethane grants incredible hardness, while the alkyd gives just enough flex.
Urethane alkyds offer stellar resistance to moisture, chemicals and scrubbing. Just take care to degrease thoroughly before applying.
Step 3: Apply New Finish
With quality materials and proper prep, you're ready to apply fresh paint or laminate to your worn and peeling cabinets. Maintain proper application techniques to prevent the new finish from failing down the road.
Mind the Edges
Use a high-quality angled sash brush to carefully paint all cabinet door edges and recessed sections first before rolling on paint to the main flat areas.
This helps ensure full coverage and prevents drips. It also provides a crisp paint line where the cabinet doors meet the wall or floor.
Roll On Paint
On door fronts and other flat areas, use a smooth foam mini roller to apply the topcoat. Work methodically in small sections, maintaining a wet edge as you go to prevent lap marks.
Thin coats prevent ugly drips and sags. Allow proper drying time between coats according to manufacturer directions.
Just as with primer, respect the recommended topcoat drying times. Applying another coat too soon or not allowing full cure can compromise intercoat adhesion and lead to peeling and flaking down the road.
A longer cure equals a harder, more