The Complete Guide to Enamel Paint for Kitchen Cabinets

Tired of staring at worn, outdated kitchen cabinets but not ready for a full remodel? Painting your cabinets with enamel is an affordable way to give your kitchen a fresh, new look that will last. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about prepping, painting, and caring for enamel paint cabinets.

Enamel paint provides a durable, glossy finish that resists grease, moisture, frequent cleaning, and everyday wear and tear. Unlike latex paint, enamel creates a hard, scratch-resistant surface that holds up for years. With proper preparation and application, enamel transforms cabinets and provides amazing durability.

Overview of Painting Kitchen Cabinets with Enamel

Enamel paint is ideal for cabinets for many reasons. The ultra-hard finish prevents chips, stains, and scratches while allowing you to easily wipe away spills and splatters. Enamel paint won't yellow over time like some oil-based paints. The high-gloss sheen also creates a beautiful, polished look.

Painting worn cabinets with enamel can extend their life 10-15 years or more. At a fraction of the cost of new cabinetry, you can save thousands. With some time and elbow grease, you can even tackle prep and painting as a DIY project. The process involves cleaning, sanding, priming, painting, and sealing the enamel finish.

Selecting the Right Enamel Paint

Not all enamel paints are created equal, so choose carefully for the best results on cabinets. Oil-based enamels provide the most durable finish. Water-based enamels have lower VOCs but less water and stain resistance. For kitchen use, oil-based is the best choice.

High gloss enamel has the most resilience and makes cleaning easiest when grease and liquids splatter on cabinets. Brands like Benjamin Moore Satin Impervo and Sherwin-Williams ProClassic offer tried and true oil-based enamels.

For the average kitchen with 30 linear feet of cabinets, you'll need 1-2 gallons of enamel paint for 2-3 coats. Buy all paint at once for consistent color. Primer, brushes, rollers, and other supplies will add about $200 to the project cost.

Preparing Your Cabinets for Enamel Paint

Proper prep is crucial for the enamel to adhere smoothly and prevent cracking, chipping, or peeling. Here are the key steps:

Cleaning the Cabinets

Grease, dirt, and grime prevent enamel from bonding properly. Use a degreasing agent like TSP and a scrub brush or sponge to remove built-up oil and residue. Pay extra attention to areas around handles and near cooking surfaces.

For especially grimy cabinets, try a heavier-duty grease remover like Krud Kutter. Rinse thoroughly and let dry fully.

Sanding the Cabinets

Lightly "scuff sand" cabinets with 220-grit or 320-grit sandpaper. This helps the enamel bond strongly. If cabinets have a glossy laminate finish, sand more aggressively to degloss.

Use an orbital sander with the proper sandpaper grit in the direction of the wood grain. Wear a dust mask when sanding to avoid inhaling particles.

Filling Holes and Repairing Damages

Fill any holes from old hardware, cracks, or imperfections with wood filler compound before painting. Allow filler to dry fully before sanding smooth. Repair badly damaged areas with Bondo wood filler products.

Proper repairs create a seamless look and prevent enamel from sinking into gaps. Sand repairs flush when dry for the smoothest finish.

Priming the Surface

Quality oil-based primer provides extra adhesion power and seals cabinet surfaces for smooth painting results. Use a primer like KILZ Original or Zinsser Bulls Eye 123.

Prime all cabinet sides - recessed areas and insides too. Apply using a brush or roller in thin, even coats according to manufacturer directions.

Painting Cabinets with Enamel

The right tools and techniques make painting with enamel much easier. Follow a systematic approach to get professional looking results.

Painting Equipment

Use high-quality angled paintbrushes for cutting in and trim work. Mini rollers with 1/4" or 1/8" nap work well for flat cabinet panels and doors. Woven polyester roller covers apply the smoothest finish.

Lay painter's tape around cabinets edges to protect walls and countertops. Ladder, paint tray, paint can openers, and drop cloths also come in handy.

Painting Techniques

"Cutting in" along edges with a trim brush gives clean, straight lines. Then use a mini roller to quickly apply enamel to larger flat areas using a zigzag "W" or crisscross pattern.

Work in 2-3 foot sections. Keep a wet edge as you go by brushing into freshly painted areas. Work top to bottom and left to right systematically.

Avoid drips by releasing pressure as you finish strokes. Enamel dries fast, so move quickly but with care.

Applying Additional Coats

Allow at least 6 hours drying time between coats. Lightly sand glossy areas before the final coat for better adhesion. Two coats provide good coverage, but 3 coats maxes out protection.

Gently sand and wipe clean between coats. Add thin, even coats using the "cutting in" and rolling techniques. Allow the full enamel cure time before cleaning or replacing cabinet hardware.

Achieving a Professional Finish

Finishing touches help your newly painted enamel cabinets look store-bought. Here's how to polish things up:

Lightly sand the final coat with extra-fine (400+ grit) sandpaper once fully dry. Clean up dust with a tack cloth. Apply two thin coats of high-quality polyurethane or varnish as a protective topcoat.

Remove painters tape immediately after the final coat. Touch up corners or edges where needed. Fill nail holes, reinstall hardware, and replace cabinets doors and drawers once paint has fully cured.

While durable, enamel finishes do require some care. Follow these tips to keep your cabinets looking fresh:

Clean cabinets with mild soap and water. Avoid abrasive cleaners or scrub pads. Immediately wipe up spills, splatters, or grease to prevent stains.

Inspect cabinets yearly. Touch up chips and scratches with enamel paint. Small touch ups help prevent moisture damage or peeling.

Wash cabinets thoroughly before repainting. Plan to repaint every 5-7 years if wear and tear develops. With proper prep and care, enamel paint will keep your cabinets looking like new for years.

Prepping and painting kitchen cabinets takes time and elbow grease, but the dazzling results are absolutely worth it. Following this enamel painting guide will help you gain the kitchen of your dreams while sticking to your budget. Get ready to impress guests with your upgraded, designer-looking kitchen!