Expert: Eileen Cronk - 1/20/2008

Question
I am refinishing my oak cabinets which are in great condition, I want to give them a darker espresso finish, they are great quality but the stain gives them a country look. I purchased  a Behr slate-colored deck paint which said it can be used on furniture and cabinets at the hardware store. I tested the paint that I purchased on one door without sanding it and I loved the result... DO I absolutely have to sand the doors and cabinets before painting? Does that cause any peeling or chipping of the paint? Could you please explain the downfalls of not sanding prior to paint? If it is a matter of making the surface more porous, can I do some light sanding and then apply the paint?
Also... Should I apply a gloss after the paint,or is the behr deck paint enough? Thank you so much!


Answer
Hi Gabriela
Nice to hear from you.
The downfall of not prepping any surface we wish to finish is that the paint will not adhere properly.
It sounds like you don't like sanding...join the crowd LOL.
So instead of sanding, you can prep these surfaces using a TSP solution. Use a medium steel wool pad as a scrubber.
A good scrub like this will deglaze the surface enough for the paint to stick.
If you like the look of the paint you applied, there should be no reason to apply a gloss finish afterward unless you want the shine.
Good Luck and great question
Regards
Eileen