One cost-effective home improvement you can do at your home is with your bathroom cabinets. And revitalizing the bathroom cabinet doesn’t have to be expensive, painting or staining it can go a long way. So, before sending it out for a replacement or hiring professional, you might want to consider the do it yourself method to repair and repaint the cabinets without the fuss. This article will also discuss the means where you can paint without sanding or priming.
What You Need
Should you finally decide to do painting bathroom cabinets by yourself, here are the important tools and materials you’ll need.
- Cordless drill or screwdriver – for removing the cabinets and components from the frames
- Primer and Paint– get stains or paints specifically for cabinets
- Wood filler- for holes and dents filling purposes
- Paint Brush- get the 3″ angled trim brush
- Paint Sprayer or Roller – depending on your reference
- Paint tray and pail – to use only what is necessary at a time
- Hand pads or Scotch- Brite – get the ones that are for general purposes
- Drop cloths or microfiber cloths – for cleaning surfaces
- Gloves and Mask – for protection
Things to Consider Before You Begin
- Plan ahead. Bathrooms come in different floor area spaces, so if room to work is an issue, you may want to set up everything outside. For you to stain cabinets without sanding, preparation is essential, to ensure that you’ll finish the project as early as possible.
Planning also includes paint color choices, evaluation of the components and accessories, as well as determining where to work. - Research on the materials. Take time to know what wooden materials and accessories your bathroom cabinet is made of. Different woods have recommended coatings and dry periods that you may want to know ahead what materials to buy.
Be aware of the paint materials as well before purchasing anything. The reason that you’ll have a DIY project is because of savings; thus, you don’t want to spend more than what is necessary.
Bathroom Cabinets Painting Procedure
Now let’s take a look how to paint bathroom cabinet. Did I mention you don’t even need to standing all day long to do so.
- Uninstall the cabinet doors and drawers.
Take the cabinet doors off the frames as well as the hinges. Prepare the cabinets and doors by wiping then clean with slightly dampen cloths. If you can’t get rid of the dirt, you can add a little vinegar to the water.
- Clean and prepare the wooden surface.
Using a hand pad, or Scotch- Brite, you can gently scrub the surface to form a slightly rough texture on the existing varnish or paint. This is a surface preparation method, so it has enough roughness the primer can hold on to.
- Prepare the work area.
Apply some tape on walls, floors, and other surfaces to protect them from paint spills or splash while you’re working. You can also place drop cloths on the floor or table for paint drippings. Prepare dry and dampen rags for immediate cleaning purposes.
- Apply the primer coating.
The next step you should do is wood priming. Depending on the type of wood shade, you one coat of primer may be enough, but darker woods or oak, you may want to add another coating.
The coating method is important for wood adhering, and it can also give you savings by reducing the need for paint. Primers cost almost half of the price of paint.
Once the primer is done, let it rest a while before applying the paint. Afterwards, paint lightly, and make sure that layers are evenly spread out using a paintbrush. Paint with enough wood grain, and start with the corner of the panel then outward. Such a technique will ensure that paint won’t puddle in the angles and edges. - Apply the final cabinet coating.
Continue painting all parts of the wood. This is necessary for a better finish with the cabinet’s final coating. In summary, the wood had has two layers of primer plus another one of paint. The next step is the application of the final coating using the cabinet paint. You can do two coats, but make sure that the paint is already dry before applying another one.
You have the option to either buy new hinges and cabinet pulls or have them spray-painted with the colours that can match your cabinet as well. - Reinstall the cabinet.
The final step is to let the paint rest and dry for 24-48 hours. It is also recommended that you let the paint toughen for longer hours if you have time. Longer curing periods can make the paint last on an extended period than expected.
After the curing, gather all the hinges, screws, and cabinet pulls, and make sure that everything is complete. If you find any missing components, this will be the best time to look for matching replacements. Then section by section carefully reinstalls the cabinets to the frames.
Should You Really Need to Paint Bathroom Cabinets by Yourself?
Doing the task of painting bathroom cabinets yourself can give you unique advantages that hiring a skilled worker can’t provide. One key consideration for many is the budget involved, plus the savings DIY can give you may be enough reason.
Here are some of the advantages and few disadvantages of painting bathroom vanity by yourself.
Pros
- You’ll get to learn a new skill
- The challenge will sharpen your brain
- DIY projects give you self-fulfilment
- You’ll get to burn some calories while doing the project
- You can get to experiment with the design
Cons
- DIY yourself projects can be time-consuming
- Only skilled contractors can give you work warranty
Final words
Home improvement does not have to be expensive. With some of your time and effort, you can easily accomplish this project by following the tips and steps in this article. With the recent cost of new cabinets or replacement and repair pricing by contractors, the above method is practical.
Planning ahead, doing the proper assessment is necessary, and after that, everything shall be procedural. Take note that this project will take two or three of your weekends. But if you’re eager and ok with the sacrifice, then this project is worth your precious time.