When it comes to home renovation projects, most homeowners focus on their kitchen and living room. The reason behind this is that these areas are what guests usually see. This is true, but the bathroom is equally important even if it is not one of the areas that guests see first when they enter your house.
When you sell your home, your bathroom is going to have a significant effect on your property’s value. According to reports, homes with stunning bathrooms typically sell at a higher price as compared to similar houses with drab bathrooms.
Even if you are not putting your property on the market, renovating your bathroom every few years is an excellent idea. After all, this can serve as a sanctuary after an exhausting day – soaking in a warm bath to take away the day’s stress.
Furthermore, you do not have to overhaul your bathroom to give it a new look. Simply applying a new coat of paint on the cabinets can make the room look fresh.
But how do you paint bathroom cabinets? Below is a step-by-step guide on how to do this task.
Prep Work Before Painting Bathroom Cabinets
The first step is to take out all the items in your bathroom cabinets.
Next, remove all cabinet handles and put them in a container. Make sure you store them properly, especially if there are screws involved, so you won’t have a hard time putting them back later on.
If you plan to install new handles, ensure that their size is the same as the old ones for you to be able to use the same holes. Meanwhile, if the new handles have a different size, you would need to fill in the old holes.
To make the succeeding steps easier, detach the cabinet doors and remove the hinges as well. Again, see to it the hinges and screws are stored properly.
Clean the external surface of the cabinet frame, the front of the drawers and the doors. Wash them with Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) to rid them of grease and dirt. The surface needs to be clean for better paint adhesion.
The next part is the so-called patching and sanding stage. Check the surface for holes, dents and other issues. Repair the damages, i.e. filling holes with wood putty. Let the filler completely dry and then sand it.
Use sandpaper, preferably 220 grit, to sand the external surface of the cabinet, the front of the drawers and doors. Sanding strips the surface of old paint and other chemicals that can prevent the new paint from sticking well.
When everything is sanded, wipe the surface with a tack cloth to ensure that there is no dirt or dust left. If you don’t have a tack cloth, you may substitute it with a damp rag.
The last part of the prep stage is to put painter’s tape on areas that you want to protect from paint drips – e.g. the wall and floor.
Priming and Painting Bathroom Cabinets
Before you apply the first coat of paint, you need to prime the surface. The primer’s purpose is to provide stronger adhesion between the surface and the paint.
The primer is also used by professional painters to make cosmetic problems on the cabinets less visible. If you are using glossy paint, applying primer is highly recommended as this kind of paint is not good at hiding imperfections.
You can apply the primer using a roller, brush or sprayer. Some professionals prefer using sprayers for these kinds of painting projects to finish the task faster. You may use a sprayer as well, but make sure you practice first as painting using this applicator is not as easy as most people think.
Once the primer is completely dry, apply the first coat of paint. If you are using a brush, remember this technique – paint with long, smooth even motions. This makes brushstrokes less visible.
Make sure you paint on all the areas – the front and back of the doors as well as their edges. Some just opt to paint the drawer fronts, but you can paint the entire thing if you want to. Just see to it that the surfaces are prepped before painting it.
Let the paint dry as directed by the manufacturer before applying the second coat. Once you are done with the second or third coat, let the cabinet dry for at least 24 hours to allow the finish to harden.
When the full cure time elapses, you can reassemble the cabinet doors and reattach the handles. Put back the bathroom drawers as well. Ensure that the doors and drawers open and close smoothly.
Thinking of giving your bathroom a makeover? Let us paint your bathroom cabinets! Here at Painting Dublin, we guarantee professional-looking paint job and quick turnaround time. Call us today on 086 608 1817 / 085 139 0233 or visit our website to request for a quote.
