Pro Painters, your trusted Houston painting contractor, has been restoring and repainting a lot of kitchen and bathroom cabinets following storm recovery efforts across the area—so we have cabinets on the brain! Whether you want to refresh your kitchen with a modern color palette or tackle a DIY cabinet update yourself, here is our step-by-step guide to doing the job right.
1. Remove Cabinet Doors & Hardware
First, carefully unhinge and remove all cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and hardware (handles, knobs, and latches). Keep all screws and hardware organized in labeled bags. Having clear, unobstructed access to the cabinet boxes and door surfaces is essential before you begin.
2. Clean, Test, and Prime
Next, thoroughly scrub the cabinets with a heavy-duty degreaser or TSP (trisodium phosphate) substitute to remove years of built-up cooking grease and skin oils. Once clean and dry, apply a test patch of Sherwin-Williams Extreme Bond Primer in an inconspicuous area. This high-adhesion primer provides outstanding hide and bonding capability over glossy finishes. Test the patch for adhesion after drying to determine if light scuff-sanding is necessary. Once verified, prime the entire cabinet surface. Proper cleaning and priming ensure your finish won’t chip or peel over time. Be sure to fill any unwanted gouges or old hardware holes with a quality wood filler or putty before moving forward.
3. Sand and Smooth
After letting the primer dry for 24 hours, lightly sand the primed surfaces with very fine-grit sandpaper (220-grit). This smooths out the primer coat and eliminates subtle imperfections. Wipe down all cabinet boxes and doors with a damp microfiber cloth or tack cloth to completely remove dust before painting.
4. Paint the Cabinets
Using a 1-inch or 1.5-inch angled trim brush, apply your topcoat to the recessed panel edges and detailed trim moldings first. Work carefully to avoid leaving heavy brush marks on adjacent flat areas. Immediately follow up by applying paint to the remaining flat surfaces with a high-density foam or microfiber mini roller. Gently roll over any overlapping brush marks or drips to achieve a smooth, factory-like finish.
5. Allow Proper Drying & Reinstall
Allow your first coat to dry for 24 to 48 hours before applying a second coat using the same technique. Once the final coat has cured for another 24 to 48 hours, reinstall your hinges, mount your doors and drawers, and attach your hardware.
We know that cabinet refinishing requires meticulous prep work and patience. If you’d rather leave the hard work to the professionals, Pro Painters is here to help! Whether you need someone to take over an unfinished project or start a full kitchen transformation from scratch, our team delivers stunning, durable results. Explore our full range of Houston painting services, including Houston interior painting and cabinet painting, or contact us today for a free quote!
