The Best Paint For Kitchen Cabinets & How To Apply It

Painting Kitchen Cabinets & Cupboards

The first stage of any decorating project is understanding the surface you are trying to paint. Kitchen units such as cupboards and cabinets are made of a range of materials, from solid wood to MDF. While these surfaces are widely known as materials you can paint, kitchen cabinets are rarely painted by homeowners, either because they do not know it is possible or that they think it may be more difficult than it actually is. The reality is, for a small amount of money, if you take your time you can completely transform your kitchen.

Before you decide that painting kitchen cabinets is for you, there are a number of things to consider:

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Advantages

• Saves money – fitting new kitchen units can be hugely costly not only in materials but in labour costs. Painting kitchen units can be done yourself for a fraction of the price.
• Flexibility – you can achieve any look you desire with paint. There are a huge range of finishes and an endless list of colours that can create a unique look that is perfect for you.

Disadvantages

• Skipping steps – as with any painting project, you must take your time to ensure you get long-lasting results. Do not try and cut corners as it will simply result in you having to either re-decorate yourself or have to pay a professional to do it.
• The risk of further problems – painting any surface does not guarantee that you will achieve long-lasting results. There is always a risk of paint chipping or scratches when painting kitchen cupboards, although this can be reduced by following the right advice.

Overall, painting kitchen cabinets can be one of the most cost-effective ways to transform your home if done correctly. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered as we’re going to discuss not only the best paints but exactly how to go about applying them.

The Best Paint For Kitchen Cabinets

If you have decided that painting kitchen cabinets is the best option for you, the next step is to find exactly what paint will be best. Finding the best paint to use for your project can be difficult as there is a seemingly endless list of paints on the market. The reality is, all paints vary in terms of quality, coverage & durability that can all make a real difference when painting anything, but especially with an important project like painting kitchen cabinets.

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The first step to consider is the various finishes that paint comes in. After all, the best paint for you may depend on the finish you want to achieve. Paint comes in a range of finishes that vary in level of sheen. This sheen refers to the ability for the paint to reflect light, the higher the sheen, the more light in reflects. As well as this, sheen also provides paint with durability against scuffs, marks and scratching. This means that more sheen a paint has, the more durable it is.

• Matt – the finish that has the least sheen, most often used on interior walls & ceilings with vinyl matt emulsions, although it is available in a range of paints due to its modern look.
• Eggshell – slightly higher sheen than matt paint with more durability. In oil-based form it is popular on woodwork, although it comes in water-based form that can be used on walls & woodwork.
• Silk – a mid-sheen finish that is traditionally used on interior walls & ceilings
• Soft Sheen – a mid-sheen finish with a more subtle ‘shine’ than silk, ideal for interior walls & ceilings.
• Satin – a mid-sheen finish that is most often used solely on woodwork & metal such as skirting boards & doors.
• Gloss – the highest sheen level, which is why it is most commonly used on woodwork & metal as it is highly durable and offers a traditional finish.

Not all of these finishes are suitable for use on kitchen cabinets. Soft-sheen and silk are used primarily on interior walls and would therefore not be the best options. Now we have covered the various paint finishes, you are equipped with the information you need to decide what the best paint for you is.

Here are our experts picks for the best paints for kitchen cupboards & cabinets:

1. Zinsser Allcoat

A paint that is familiar to many due to its huge popularity in the UK today. Zinsser Allcoat is a multi-surface paint meaning it can be applied to almost any surface, including wood, metal, UPVC & masonry. While it is a product that has been designed for exterior use, this does not mean it can’t be used on interior surfaces. It is simply designed to withstand the weathering that an exterior paint must endure, which provides it with the added durability that is required when painting kitchen cabinets. To be exact, it has a 15 year lifespan on exterior surfaces, without peeling or flaking, which means it is highly durable.

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The other huge benefit of Zinsser Allcoat, and why it is loved by professional decorators and DIY’ers is that it is self-priming. There is no need to apply a priming layer before painting, which can save time & money!

Aside from its performance, the other reason we would recommend Zinsser Allcoat is that it provides unrivalled flexibility. It is available in matt, satin & gloss finishes and is available in almost any colour, which means you can achieve any look you want, on any surface you want. The paint mixing service here at Painters World allows you to pick any colour you want. This includes RAL, British Standard & NCS colours, as well as equivalent shades of almost all paint manufacturers, including designer shades. If you have the name of the shade, you can get it in Zinsser Allcoat. All you have to do is select a shade or type the name of the shade in the text box.

If you are looking to achieve a matt finish, Zinsser Allcoat is by far the best paint to use. Very little other matt paints offer the durability required to be applied to kitchen cabinets. A flat matt finish is extremely contemporary, homely, chic and do not need to be cleaned as often as higher sheen finishes when used on kitchen cupboards as sheen can create finger prints,

Benefits

• Superb durability
• Available in matt, gloss & satin
• Fast recoat time in just 1 hour as it is a water-based paint
• Self-priming
• Excellent colour retention
• Can be used on other projects to match your decor without having to purchase multiple paints

Drawbacks

• Takes 5-7 days to mechanically cure, which can make it slightly prone to damage when newly painted

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens