The paint is applied unevenly. So, if you want a factory-grade finish, choose to spray your kitchen cabinets instead of rolling them. In addition to providing a higher-quality final finish, spray painting is faster than using a roller.
Paint rolling allows you more leeway when the surface isn't perfectly clean. Rolled paint goes on thick on the initial coat and bonds better to the surface. The tiny paint droplets produced by spraying do not connect with each other as well as rolled-on paint.
For an extra smooth and professional-looking finish, many paint experts recommend spray painting kitchen cabinets. This method can be easier than working with a paintbrush and roller, but it takes some time and practice to really get the hang of it.
Walls, Wood, and Metal - Small 1/4″ nap roller covers or foam rollers will produce the smoothest finish. Light to Medium Textured Surfaces - Microfiber rollers are best.
A small 4” foam roller is best for painting cabinets.
You can also easily use a small roller to smooth out most places you even used a brush to apply cabinet paint. The foam nap also gives you a smoother finish on your cabinets.
When it comes to cabinet painting, using a sprayer is the fastest approach and it will also provide that factory-like finish you're aiming for. In fact, you can paint each side of your cabinet doors or drawers in just a few seconds and then move onto the next, cutting down on the timeframe for completion dramatically.
If you go the spray paint route, expect to pay around $40 per linear foot to do the upper cabinets and $80 per linear foot to do the lower cabinets. Spray painting cabinets enables the use of high-quality lacquer paint for greater durability.
When a home is being built you will see professional painters using a paint sprayer. Most of the time this is because there is very little to mask off because there's no furniture and typically no flooring in the space. But in addition to spraying professional painters will also back roll.
As a minimum, the first coat (ASU) on ceilings should always be back-rolled after spray application, unless ceilings are to be sanded. The back-rolling of subsequent coats is highly desirable as it enhances the uniform soft texture and light scattering capability.
Paint sprayers have an obvious advantage: They can spread paint, stains, and clear finishes faster than any brush or roller. But just as important is their ability to apply an even coating to uneven surfaces like window shutters and stair balusters—fertile ground for brush drips.
Professional Kitchen Cabinet Painting Cost
The average cost to paint cabinets is $3 to $10 per square foot or $30 to $60 per linear foot for all materials and professional labor. Painting contractors typically charge $50 to $100 per door, $120 to $170 per cabinet, and $20 to $30 per drawer.
Price out replacing your kitchen cabinets and painting will look better and better. The cost to paint a kitchen is typically 1/3 to ½ the cost of replacing. The paints applied to cabinets are also very durable and will last just as long as new cabinets in most cases.
For painting your kitchen cabinets, the best paint is one that's consistently easy to apply. ProClassic Alkyd Interior Enamel is a traditional oil-based paint that when fully cured (21 to 30 days), provides a harder, more durable finish than latex or acrylic paints.
While there are many types of paint to choose from, the best paint for kitchen cabinets is typically semi-gloss, gloss or satin. Matte is not practical in kitchens and baths where you will need durable paint you can easily clean.
If your cabinets are stained, apply at least two coats of quality primer. For me, there's nothing better than BIN, Zinsser's shellac-based pigmented primer. It dries fast and flat, without brush marks (unlike most oil-based primers). You can buy it at home and hardware stores, as well as online (view on Amazon).
What is this? Dampen your paint brush with a little water. Immediately after rolling on your paint, lightly run the paint brush over the painted surface using long, even strokes. Once it dries, you should have a silky smooth texture.
Detailed Patterns, Warped or Damaged Cabinets
If your cabinets have detailed patterns or they are warped, chipped, cracked or have other damage to them, then painting your kitchen cabinets is not the way to go – it most definitely won't solve your cabinet problem.
With proper care of professionally painted kitchen cabinets, you can expect your newly painted cabinets to last 8-10 years. However, there are a few things that can drastically shorten this timeframe, leaving you needing them repainted 3-4 years later.
You should sand cabinets before beginning your how to paint kitchen cabinet project to give the new paint a good surface to grip. But you don't need to sand to bare wood. If your cabinets have a factory finish, sand lightly with 120-grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge.
Typically, a sprayer is around four times faster than a roller.