Choosing the right paint for your bathroom cabinets is an important step in ensuring your cabinets will last a long time. To ensure you are making the right choice, it’s important to follow a few simple steps.
Remove the doors and hinges
Getting the doors and hinges off bathroom cabinets is not a difficult task. However, it will take a few hours of preparation to get the job done right. You will also need safety equipment to avoid injury. A respirator and a dust mask are a good idea.
First, clean the cabinets. This is best done with a degreaser solution. This removes grease and dirt. You can buy a stronger cleaner at a hardware store. Make sure you wear protective goggles and rubber gloves.
After you’ve cleaned the cabinets, you’ll need to remove the hardware. This can be done with a screwdriver. Then, you’ll need to put the hardware in a bag. You can use masking tape to label it by type.
You may also want to remove the drawers from the drawer boxes. You can do this by starting with the upper drawers. You can also affix a drop cloth to the floor with tape.
Sand the wood surfaces
Whether you’re refinishing a bathroom vanity or painting your bathroom cabinets, sanding the wood surfaces is an important step. This ensures the paint will stick to the cabinet, and also helps you repair minor chipping.
Before you begin, it’s a good idea to wear a dust mask and protective clothing. You may also want to turn on your bathroom exhaust fan. You’ll also want to use a drop cloth to cover your work area. This will keep any sanding dust from blowing around.
Before you begin sanding, you’ll need to remove all paint and varnish from the surfaces. A paint scraper can be used to do this, or you can sand down the coatings using a block of sandpaper.
When sanding, you’ll want to follow the wood grain and sand the surfaces in circular motions. You can use a vacuum attachment to remove dust. You’ll also want to use sandpaper with a variety of grits. Fine-grit sandpaper is recommended for light sanding, while medium-grit sandpaper is recommended if you want to sand down uneven paint.
Test paint and prime
Choosing the right paint to prime your bathroom cabinets is a crucial part of the process. Not only does it make your job easier, it also ensures a long-lasting finish. You can use an oil-based or shellac primer. Oil-based is best for bathroom cabinets because it is more resistant to moisture and dampness.
If you want to give your cabinets a smooth finish, use self-leveling paint. It will dry quickly and will not leave comb marks and nicks behind. It also has less volatile organic compounds, making it a good choice for a bathroom.
You will also need to clean the cabinets before you start painting. This requires a degreaser solution, a sponge, and protective gloves.
After you clean the surfaces, you should rinse them with water. You should also wear a respirator. This will help to keep you from breathing in the fumes from the paint.
Clean the cabinets with tetrasodium phosphate
Using a cabinet cleaner like TSP is a great way to get rid of grime and grease before you paint the cabinets. However, there are some drawbacks to using TSP, and you might want to use an alternative.
First, the TSP is not environmentally friendly. It can contaminate the sewer system and kill water animals. In addition, the chemicals can irritate your eyes and skin, and can even cause a burning sensation. You can find phosphate-free alternatives that are safer for your home.
Second, Trisodium Phosphate can cause algae to grow, killing fish and other aquatic species. It can also ruin ceramics and grout. It is important to use gloves and protective eyewear when cleaning with TSP, and you must always use it in a well-ventilated area.
Apply a primer
Using a primer can give you the sheen you want while also protecting your bathroom saving cabinets from moisture. It also prevents wood tannins from bleeding through. You can find a variety of primers to choose from at your local home center.
The best primer to use for bathroom cabinets is a fast drying water based acrylic. It is also a good idea to use a primer that contains mildewcide. This is to prevent mildew from forming under the paint layer. It is also important to choose a quality primer, as the wrong one could end up giving you paint that lifts, cracks, or flakes.
It is also a good idea to choose a quality enamel, such as Pro Classic acrylic enamel or Emerald urethane enamel. It should be self-levelingand also have the ability to clean up easily with a bit of water.
Make sure to have the right place when looking for the best materials for your next kitchen renovation as you check out Hera Bathware.