Painted kitchen cabinets can be very durable and look as good as new a decade after painting. But only if they are painted right.
The durability of painted kitchen cabinets depends on the type of paint used, the application method and the number of coats applied. More coats equals more thickness which translates to a more durable surface. But this means nothing if the paint itself isn’t up to the job, and if it isn’t applied correctly.
Technique
Kitchen cabinets can be painted by hand with a brush, roller or sponge, or they can be spray painted with a gun like they do at the factory.
We recommend spray painting for a factory finish. This technique ensures even paint coverage, and the paints also tend to be harder. For home use, you can purchase an inexpensive electric spray paint gun and remove the cabinet facings for painting outdoors.
Not only will spray painting give you a factory-like finish, it takes far less effort than painting with a brush, sponge or roller. You’ll save a lot of time.
Type of paint
For spray painting kitchen cabinets, good solvent-based paint should be used. We use paints that are exclusive to us in the trade, but for home use, Kolorbond is a good choice of paint for wood and acrylic cabinet facings.
Kolorbond paints are very durable. In fact, solvent-based paints are durable in general, making them a great choice for kitchen cabinets.
Number of coats
Three coats of paint should be applied as a minimum. If you have taken our advice and chosen a solvent-based paint, you do not need to use a dedicated primer on either wood or acrylic. The paint will act as the primer on the first coat.
The spray paint should be applied in thin, even coats. You should spray horizontally in two directions on one coat, and then vertically on the other. The third coat should be a blending coat. Apply more paint as needed afterwards.
Overall, painted kitchen cabinets will look as good as new for a very long time so long as they are painted correctly. Don’t cut corners and avoid brushes if you can, because brush-painted cupboards never look quite right.
