Expert: Greg Scholl - 1/24/2012

Question
Hi Greg,
I read a response from you in 2008 regarding painting Woodmode cabinets.  We are remodeling a home for a client that wants us to paint their Brookhaven, stained, maple (I think) kitchen cabinets.  Can you really do this?  I was always under the impression that these baked on finishes could not be painted.  We would not paint the interior white melamine but all the exterior: doors and boxes would be painted.  They are in perfect condition but the client does not want a light wood finish.
Thanks.

Answer
Hi Denise, you can paint them, but it's not the greatest idea. The modern, catalyzed finishes used on kitchen cabinets will give you a usable life of 20+ years, while paint will not even come close, and painting over these finishes needs to be done very carefully, prepping the finish properly, making sure they are completely clean, and using proper technique and materials, to get a professional looking (and wearing) job......a lot of people do it, ...I don't recommend it, ever. Today's Kitchen cabinet finishes are state of the art finishes, super durable, lasting, and beautiful. A lot of chemistry and tech has gone into these specialized coatings, and covering them with an inferior coating is just not a good idea...in my opinion.These finishes are subject to strict standards for toughness, durability, and chemical testing, to meet KCMA standards. (Kitchen cabinet manufacturing association)
Having said that, a Pro finisher could change the finish to an opaque color, but not with paint.They would likely use a catalyzed lacquer or Acrylic urethane finish,(cabinet factory "painted" finishes are not paint, they are these other coatings which are based on the high tech chemistry mentioned previously), which could be applied over a properly prepped finish. The only caveat, is that to do this, is VERY labor intensive, and doesn't pay to do. It could cost more than replacing the cabinets all together, which is why it's just not really done, as a rule, and you would likely have a hard time even finding someone willing to undertake such a project. Some companies are addressing the issue like Rustoleum, which packages a finishing system together, specifically designed to do just this. It's called "kitchen transformations", and it is a system of specially designed primers, topcoats, and clears, designed to work together to produce a lasting, durable finish over an existing, factory applied finish. Their website has a good video using the process, and the product kits are available at Home centers and such.Here's a link to that website:
http://cabinets.rustoleumtransformations.com/

View the videos on the page for more information. Will the average person be able to get a professional job with these products?...possible, but kitchen cabinet finishing is really not the realm of the typical DIY'er, or even a good painter. This is skilled finishing, and takes knowledge, and skill to do at a high level. I have seen many cabinet "jobs" done by many various people of different skill levels, and NONE of them have approached the beauty, quality,clarity, and durability of one of the factory applied finishes. Hope that helps a little- post back if need be.Regards- Greg