Painting Veneer Kitchen Cabinets
Needless to say, the kitchen cabinet is one item that an average housewife is particular with. Who would want a dull-looking veneer cabinet in their favorite nook anyway?
Not all people though have the financial wherewithal to buy nifty cabinets. So for those who are looking at the same dingy cabinet for ages now, you can perk-them up through painting.
Whether you want to give this kitchen piece a bold look or just a simple light feel, here are some do-it-yourself tricks for painting veneer kitchen cabinets.
1. Prepare paint and other needed items. The three basic tools that you will need are brush, spray gun and roller. The paint, which is the star of the show, has to be carefully chosen as well.
They should be washable and of high-quality. The color depends entirely on your preference or the type or hue of the kitchen itself.
2. Dismantle the cabinet. Detach all hardware including hinges, knobs, doors, screws and pulls. Store the ones which are needed after the painting process is done. Remove the drawers as well to make the job easier.
3. Clean the surface of the hardware. Before painting veneer kitchen cabinets, clean the surfaces first with trisodium phosphate (TSP). Use fresh water to rinse them well and let them dry after.
If the veneer surface has been painted previously, you can soak the hardware for a day or two in a paint remover. But remember to do this in the garage or in the garden since the fumes can be hazardous to one’s health. Or, you could also scrub the hardware using a scouring pad for the paint to peel completely.
4. Start painting. After the surfaces have been cleaned, you can start painting. Remember to protect the floor and countertops from paint drops by positioning drop cloths.
Start painting using a brush the adjacent surfaces like the faceframes before focusing on the drawers and doors. Paint the insides of the door first and as they dry, the drawer fronts are next. The fronts of the doors come in last in the painting process. Use the rollers as well to give the paint a smooth finish.
5. Re-install hardware. Once the paint is dry, re-assemble the cabinet by assembling first the drawers and doors. Bring the hinges and screws back to their places and install the pulls.
Through your efforts in painting veneer kitchen cabinets, you could really spice up those kitchens. Plus, you can also put back in your pocket that money spent on expensive cabinets and home interior design.
