If your cabinets are outdated and old but you are not ready to replace them, you can try to update them by painting. It can work wonders on everything and your RTA kitchen cabinets aren’t an exception.
If you want to paint your RTA cabinets, you can do it all by yourself. For that, you will have to follow the steps given below.
1. Tools You Need
There are certain tools you need to start painting your RTA kitchen cabinets. Let’s check them out.
- Sanding block
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Paint applicator
- Tack cloth
- Steel wool
- Primer sealer
- Rosin paper
- Painter’s tape
- Semigloss paint
- Plastic tarps
- Trisodium phosphate
- Denatured alcohol
2. Take the Cost into Account
When you remodel the kitchen, expenses might easily add up. Completely replacing RTA kitchen cabinets wholesale can easily cost you thousands of dollars for a 10-12ft kitchen and you can end up lowering the cabinet’s quality than the ones you are replacing. Rather, a few fresh coats of paint will change the existing cabinets for only a little price, while giving the cabinets the look you desire. To paint, you will only have to spend a few hundred dollars based on the size of the cabinets.
3. Size Up the Task
Metal, wood, and wood-laminate cabinets can generally be repainted without any hassle. The best RTA kitchen cabinets in a plastic laminate might not take a topcoat of paint and the ones that can be refinished requires special techniques and paints and the outcomes can vary. In case kitchen cabinets come with plastic laminate surface, talk to a professional paint dealer. For instance, you can remove the door and take it to a paint store for inspection. Moreover, you should test the paint sample that you plan on using in an inconspicuous area to make sure that is going to bond to the material.
The applicator options that you have at hand are rolling, brushing, and spraying. If you are using a brush, you can use a synthetic or natural bristle brush. Each element comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Choose the one that is suited to your style of working and the amount of woodwork.
4. Choose the Type of Paint
When you are choosing the paint for the best quality RTA kitchen cabinets, you first need to decide if you want to use oil or latex paint. They tend to dry very quickly and can be cleaned up with water. Thus, they are a user-friendly option. But these paints can take 2-3 weeks to fully cure. It might not be the best for those with pets or children. In case you are choosing latex paint, make sure that you choose a paint with 100% acrylic formulation for better adhesion and durability.
In case you are searching for a durable option, choose an oil-based paint. These paints can offer a smoother finish to the surface and hide all imperfections of the cabinets. Another good thing about this type of paint is stain resistant.
5. Choose a Finish
You need to decide if brush or spray painting is right for your budget or skillset. Spray painting ensures a smoother outcome but it is more difficult. But you might have to rent a spray machine and you have to tape or tarp all areas in the kitchen that can get sprayed accidentally.
You can also use high-quality brushes. You are going to need two brushes, 3-4 inches square for flat and large panels, 2-3-inch-wide angled brush to use for hard-to-reach corners.
It is also important to consider the faux or regular is crucial to consider. In case you are going for a rustic or farmhouse look, choose a faux finish with a crackling glaze.