Can Cabinets Be Painted Without Sanding?

 

Painting your cabinets is a cost-effective way to bring new life to a room. Unfortunately, the process of painting cabinets is laborious as well as time-consuming. More than anything else, people who have painted cabinets will tell you that sanding is the absolute worst part. Each cabinet has to be painstakingly sanded around its most delicate contours, and it makes a colossal mess. The good news is that you may not need to sand your cabinets before painting them as long as your cabinets meet a few key criteria. 

Can Cabinets Be Painted Without Sanding?

If you are hoping to keep the electric sander on the shelf for this DIY project, then you’re going to have to make sure your cabinets meet the following criteria. Your cabinet surfaces should either be raw, unvarnished wood or recently painted. This process is ideal for cabinets that are relatively new but aren’t quite giving you the look you hoped for. Unfortunately, if your cabinets are glossy or have sustained chipping/flaking, then you are going to need to sand your cabinets before primer and paint. 

Why Sanding Is Important

Sanding wood prior to painting is crucial for two reasons. 

1. Sanding removes imperfections that will be easily visible through your paint. Small divots and pimples may be hard to see in the grain of natural wood, but paint makes them a lot easier to spot. 
2. Sanding slightly roughens the outer layer of the wood. The resulting grooves give the paint an easy adhesion point. You can think of sanded wood and paint kind of fitting together like microscopic velcro. The loop side cannot stick to a perfectly smooth surface. It relies on the hook side to create the bond we associate with velcro. 

Painting Your Cabinets Correctly 

To make sure you do it right the first time, we have provided a simple guide to painting your cabinets. 

Prep Your Station

In order to save yourself a major headache later, it’s best to prep your station first. Set up a painting station in your garage or a relatively available room with large windows. Put down a tarp or other protective covering in your main painting room. 

Once your space is ready, dismantle your cabinets by removing the doors, drawers, etc. Each surface will then need a thorough cleaning. A degreaser is typically helpful for making sure everything is removed. Then you can rinse them, and leave them to dry. 

Prime or Use a De-Glosser

When your surfaces are clean and dry, it’s time for primer. If your cabinets meet the criteria mentioned above you can skip primer. Instead, you can apply a de-glosser, typically available in a standard cabinet painting kit. 

Sand or Use Mineral Spirits

Sanding your cabinets after priming will help to clear imperfections and create an adhesive surface. However, if you’re skipping this part you still need something to create proper grip. Fortunately, applying mineral spirits with a rough sponge will often do the trick. 

Time to Paint

Once everything is dry and wiped down, you’re ready to paint. The number of coats will depend on your paint and technique, but two coats will usually get the job done. Whether or not you wish to apply a glossy surface layer afterwards is up to you. 

Considering Alternatives

It is true that simply re-painting your cabinets could save you a lot of money. However, the word “simply” is highly deceptive. Re-painting cabinets is time-consuming, messy, and requires a lot of different steps to get right. If you’re looking for traditional European kitchen cabinets to elevate your style, then there are better, less nail-biting ways to get there. 

Leicht New York kitchen cabinets bring the technology, design, and class of European cabinetry into your American kitchen. Of course, they are an investment, but one that will instantly change your home for the better. They cannot be beat when it comes to function or fashion, so why spend a week covered in sawdust and paint when you can have someone else install a vastly superior product.