| So your kitchen cabinets are the most dreadful sight in | | | | be somewhat caustic. Some people prefer to do a |
| the entire neighborhood. Your even embarrassed to | | | | light sanding of all painted surfaces at this point. |
| have the neighbor kids over, let alone their parents. It's | | | | Depending on the condition of your cabinets this may |
| big bucks to have them replaced with new, and that | | | | or not be necessary. If they are a little beaten up, then |
| vile cleaning job you tried on them just didn't do the | | | | this may even out the surfaces a bit before painting. In |
| trick. While there's one other thing you can try before | | | | our case no sanding was required, and everything |
| breaking the bank to buy new ones. A new coat of | | | | looked just fine in the end. |
| good quality paint or varnish may just do the trick. | | | | The paint we used was a white melamine paint. It's |
| Even replacing the hardware with something more to | | | | designed specifically for this type of job. Just talk to |
| your liking can make an amazing improvement. That's | | | | your local paint supplier, and they can point you in the |
| what we did a few years ago, and it extended the life | | | | right direction. If your actually varnishing the cabinets, |
| of our cabinets another four or five years. While we | | | | then using a high quality, oil based polyurethane would |
| eventually did end up replacing all the cabinets, we | | | | be a good choice. Again, talk the people at your local |
| were able to put it off until our bank account was a | | | | paint store, tell them what your doing, and they can |
| little more up to the challenge. Now, here's a few things | | | | make some suggestions. Even bringing in one of the |
| to keep in mind if you decide to tackle a kitchen | | | | smaller cabinet doors may give the sales person a |
| cabinet paint job. | | | | better idea of what your up to. Once everything not |
| First thing, you will need to do is to remove all the | | | | being painted is covered or taped, it's time to start |
| cabinet doors and hardware. You'll obviously want to | | | | painting. Always use the best quality brush or roller you |
| do this, if your replacing all the hardware, but even if | | | | can afford. It's still cheaper than hiring a professional, |
| your not it's a good idea to get a more professional | | | | and the finished job will look just as good. |
| paint job. Depending on the size of your kitchen you | | | | Once everything is painted or varnished, and had time |
| may need to use another room in the house to put all | | | | to dry, it's time to put everything back together. Now all |
| the doors. Preferably some place you can work in, so | | | | that's left to do, is sit back and enjoy the view of your |
| everything (cabinets and doors) can be painted in one | | | | new kitchen cabinets. It'll give you something to do |
| go. Be sure to have plenty of drop cloths handy. Wipe | | | | while your waiting for your bank account to build up for |
| down any surface to be painted with TSP. Be sure to | | | | that big kitchenremodeling job a few years from now. |
| follow the manufacturers instructions as this stuff can | | | | |