Free Standing Shelving

How should I handle painting my kitchen cabinets?

My kitchen cabinets are painted in a white semi gloss paint. I want to change them to a white high gloss paint. Should I sand before using primer or should I just prime over the semi gloss paint? Thanks for any advice.

Public Comments

1. definetly sand first, it will remove any dings in the wood, also by taking off the varnish it will help make sure the new paint adhear better.
2. Sanding is a must, but first you must wash all grease and fingerprints off. If the existing finish is oil, stick to oil. Prime only the bare wood spots
3. just sand lightly to rough them up. pime and paint with oil base enamel, latex won't hold up. more info here
4. No need to sand them, just clean any dirty areas and then you can paint right over the semi-gloss with the high gloss paint. It shouldn't take take long to finish the job because you're using the same color. You're kitchen will look nice and fresh too, high gloss is the 'in thing' for kitchens right now. Make sure you use a brush, not a roller so you have that nice 'hand done' effect. I've been wanting to freshen up my white kitchen too.
5. If a change from semi gloss to high gloss is the only change,then you can first clean the cabinets and quickly sand over them with a fine grit sanding block to remove any left over debris and also scuff the surface for the high gloss to better adhere ( no primer is needed ). If the cabinets are in bad condition for example, they are dinged or worn down to the raw wood, you will need to fill the dings, and prime first. When you apply the finish coat, you can achieve an almost sprayed on appearance if you mix a small amount of Penetrol with the high gloss oil base paint. It is important to lay the doors down flat so the paint can atomize and flow together as it drys without runs. Be careful with paint additives because they will make the paint more likely to run but can create a professional looking finish when used correctly. Then, allow it to fully dry in that position. Professional paint contractor for 15 years
6. Sand first.