Increased material and labor costs during pandemic have made it very difficult to remodel the kitchen. This leaves very little room to change your kitchen’s looks and bring something new. Painting the kitchen essentials, including cabinets, is one of the most accessible, reliable, and cost-effective ways to enhance your kitchen features. The right choice for paint color, quality, and grade can exceptionally well in limited time and space. But at the same time, one wrong decision can undo all of your efforts. So here is an expert guide for the best type of paint for kitchen cabinets 2021.
The best paint finish for a kitchen cabinet
Colors are subjective choices, and we will leave that decision primarily to you. We are here to tell you what you already don’t know. Paint on any surface depends upon two primary things. The surface that is going to paint and the nature of the paint. Let’s break each one down in detail.
1. Surface to be coated
Paint applies on some surfaces. The texture, material, and composition of the subject can change the paint’s whole outlook. In regards to cabinets, first, have a look at your cabinets. Understand the material composition for your cabinets. You should consider whether your wood comprises 100% wood or MDF? Every material reacts differently with a different type of paint.
Wood is so far the best material to paint and talking of wood, and the scuffed ones get painted well due to the texture they attain. Most of the cabinets have a shiny and glossy texture to them. And they need to be scuffed. The grease over the years on top of the polished surface makes it hard for paint to stick. To make the paint go well, use sandpaper to sand the surface. The original wood cabinets with no external polish or texture need minimal sanding.
Some cabinets constitute MDF which is a derivate of hard or softwood. Cabinets made out of these materials are more porous and hydrophobic. So, the pores need to cover first. Use a dry-wall compound seal to block all the pores. Latex paints don’t help when used on MDF. Instead, use oil-based paint. We will discuss more on both of these types of paint later. Primer applied to coat the surface and be water-free to work perfectly. Otherwise, it will swell the surface of the cabinets. After using a primer, repeat the sanding process for the paint to apply.
The third most common type of cabinet surface comprises a wood veener. It is a sheet or a ply made out of wood, used to cover a compressed material. It’s most likely an artificial wood cabinet, but due to the veener outside, it needs to be sand-like regular cabinets. The distortion in the cabinets’ quality in veener is usual, including cracks and rough surfaces. Heal them with the help of wood glue.
2. Nature of the paint
Finding the paint’s nature is crucial because cabinets are not universal to every paint used. You have to be specific to get desired results. Some paints can enhance your cabinets’ quality, while some can degrade them. The compositions and chemicals used in the paint effect cabinets and affect us, humans, because we are in direct contact with the kitchen and cabinets specifically. The food placed inside and the general environment may concern you. Paint comes in three main types. Oil-based paint, Latex-based paint, and water-based paint. Both of these share some unique features. Let’s have a look.
- Oil-based Paints are tough and won’t let their shimmer go anytime soon. These are the most common and preferable choices for most people out there because of their durability. Oil-based paints are thick and rigid, meaning that the grease and wipes come and go pretty quickly on this one. There is one major drawback of using oil-based paint. The time it takes to dry out for the second coat is considerable. Having your kitchen misplaced for few days makes the routine very disturbing. It might take you 15 hours to dry an oil-based paint.
Some oil-based paints are known for VOC emission, which is notorious for its nose, throat, eye irritations, and related medical conditions. A kitchen is a place for utensils and eatables, so be aware of your paint composition.
- Latex-based paints are the safest to use in kitchen territories due to their low VOC emissions. These paints have drying time for a very few hours, making them very recommendable—latex paint, previously known for its low durability a while ago. The paint could easily damage by wiping or removing stains aggressively some time ago. But latest advanced formulas have lower down the impact of physical efforts. But you have to be careful when using latex paint. Always use a high-quality one.
Latex paints require extra effort when painting. You have to scrub the surface first, apply a high-quality primer, and sand again. After that, the coating process begins. So, it is a little quirkier than the others on the same list.
- Water-based paints have a major water component as the solvent. The best paint for your cabinets is the one that keeps your cabinets maintained over a long n period. And water paint is no exception. You have to be careful with the material of the cabinets we have just discussed earlier. Cabinets made out of MDF can destroy just by the water paint. The moisture of these paints generally evaporated on a normal surface. But on MDF, the cabinets’ chemical composition absorbs moisture and swell. Water-based paints are less susceptible to external conditions. They can expand and contract to avoid cracking. This makes them perfect for extreme heat and cold
Final Verdict
There is no universal best paint. The best paint is the one that works best for you. Classify your priorities and then find out the best product for you. Or better if you can hire some professional to do the task for you. Impressionskitchens are a group of affordable yet intelligent people that will make your cabinet work for you. Impressions kitchen holds several international and national awards for the best renovators. So, let the Best cabinet makers in Oakville help you with your cabinets and overhaul your kitchen with the best techniques and practices in the market. Visit kitchen before and after now on Impressions Kitchen to see for yourself.
