Are Painted Cabinets Durable?

If your wood cabinets are dated and worn out, you may be considering a paint job. I personally love painted cabinetry and recommend painting your cabinets to give your kitchen or bathroom an affordable and fresh update. And, if you are into conservation, what better way to save valuable resources than painting wood cabinets to give them new life.

The number one influence on the durability of cabinets is whether or not the cabinets are painted properly in the first place. The right prep, primer and application can make a world of difference in how well your paint job holds up. Cabinetry is one area where you do not want to skimp on prep or product. Brushed cabinets look terrible, so make sure you pick a company that is highly skilled in cabinet painting and spray applications.

Paints have gone through some changes over the past few years and one change – the regulations on VOC’s (the bad stuff in paint that gases off and pollutes the environment) has resulted in products that aren’t as durable as the they have been in the past. In particular, oil based products tend to yellow and chip easier than before. Lacquers are not as good either. So, the industry has worked hard to come up with an alternative. The alternative is a modified alkyd. The modified alkyds spray out nice and dry to a hard durable surface. We have had great results with these products, but like all painted surfaces, they require special care.

After care is essential. My first recommendation is to take extra special care during the drying phase. Paint will feel dry to the touch almost immediately (within an hour in most cases), but this is deceiving. The paints have a drying agent that reacts with the air surface and creates a skin. This is necessary because dust settles quickly and if the paint doesn’t dry on the surface, you will end up with a gritty paint job. While the surface feels dry, the paint is still curing below the skin and it is extra soft. Do everything you can to avoid touching the paint and/or washing the surface. Wipe up spills immediately, but stay away from chemicals of any kind and use a soft, lint free cloth. Do not set anything on a freshly painted surface for at least 2 weeks.

After the paint has fully cured, then you will want start focusing on your life and not on your paint job. I recommend using handles and pulls to open the doors and drawers. Your fingers can eventually wear off the paint and that doesn’t look good. Get into the habit of opening the doors and drawers with the pulls and handles.

Spills and splatters happen and as long as you clean these up in a timely manner, you should not experience any problems. I recommend that you stay away from harsh chemicals. My favorite solution for cleaning my cabinets is a drop of dawn in warm water. I’ve seen spray chemicals turn paint into a gummy mess.

If you take a few precautions, you can expect your painted cabinets to last for years. As always, we are here to answer any questions about cabinets painting or any other painting you may have in the works.

Happy painting!