If you are looking to revitalize your kitchen or bathroom, painting the cabinets is a great option. Yet, you may be wondering whether all the sanding and prep work is worth doing yourself. That’s why we have put together a list of what is needed for the various states of cabinetry finish to help you figure out whether you can paint your cabinets without sanding.
Raw Unvarnished Surface
If your cabinets are raw wood and completely unfinished, there is no need to sand them before painting. The natural surface will be even and unblemished enough to take the coat of paint and sink into the wood’s pores. Letting the color saturate into the surface is how it stays fresh and new, even after years of use.
Recently Painted Surface
A surface that has paint recently does not necessarily need sand, but it might be a good idea. A cabinet with color in the last year can repaint without stripping away the previous coat first. If you are sure that it has been just a short time since the last paint job, the surface should be even and unblemished enough to hold the new coat properly.
But, depending on how well the first coat of paint was applied, you may want to sand it anyway. If if the color did not use evenly, you could end up with areas that can chip away and become worn down with time. If you aren’t sure if the coat is new enough to paint your cabinets without sanding, it is a good idea to do it to be sure you get the best results.
Damaged or Peeling Paint
If the current paint job on your cabinets is chipped, peeling, or otherwise damaged, it is necessary to sand it first. Uneven areas of the surface may not give the new coat of paint enough buy on the raw material to hold a durable paint job. No matter how many coats you put on it, there will be areas where the new paint does not fully set, affecting the longevity of the finish.
One of the other significant reasons to sand damaged or peeling paint before adding another coat is that the final product will not be even. Any dips or divots in the surface before beginning to paint will still be there after the job finishes.
Varnished or Shiny Surface
If your cabinets have a varnished or shiny surface, you also must sand them down before painting them. Polyurethane varnishes seal the surface from things like oils and other moisture that may get onto them. While this helps keep your cabinets safe from water damage in the kitchen, it will hold a new coat of paint from sticking to the surface.
Knowing whether you can paint cabinets without sanding can be helpful. Still, a job of this size requires time, a good deal of knowledge, and many different sandpaper grits and tools to be done effectively. There’s also a good chance that you could invest all this time, money, and elbow grease, only to be left with a paint job that isn’t up to your standards or looks worse than it did before.
If you want to save yourself the headache, get in touch with us!