Painting kitchen cabinets can transform the look of your kitchen quickly and easily. However, to get the best results, you may be wondering if you need to remove the cabinet doors and drawers before painting. There are pros and cons to painting cabinets in place versus removing everything first. Here is a detailed look at whether or not you need to remove kitchen cabinets to paint them.
Factors To Consider When Deciding To Remove Cabinets For Painting
When deciding whether or not to remove cabinets before painting, there are several factors to take into account:
Accessibility
Removing the doors,drawers and hardware gives you much better access to all surfaces of the cabinet frame and interior. This makes prep work, priming and painting easier compared to working around opened doors and drawers.
Paint Drips
Taking cabinets off provides more room for error when painting. There is less risk of paint dripping onto the countertops, backsplash or floors if the cabinet boxes aren’t in place while painting.
Cleaning
Detached cabinets can be thoroughly cleaned and sanded on all sides before painting. Grease and dirt buildup can be removed from cabinet interiors as well.
Hinges
With the cabinet doors detached,you can fully paint door edges and avoid getting paint on the hinges. Taping over hinges is tricky and often leaves behind spray paint overspray.
Hardware
Hardware like knobs and pulls can be removed before painting so they don’t get covered in paint. This prevents having to scrub paint off hardware later.
Efficiency
It may be faster to finish painting cabinet parts spread out and accessible on sawhorses rather than cabinets in place. However, removing and reinstalling cabinets also takes time.
Reinstallation Issues
Once painted, getting cabinets aligned and secured back in place can be tricky. Filler strips or extra shimming may be needed if gaps show up after rehanging painted cabinets.
Damage Risk
Removing cabinets requires prying them off walls,which could lead to wall damage or compromised structure. Hire professionals if you are concerned about safe removal.
Pros Of Removing Cabinets Before Painting
1. Better Access To All Cabinet Surfaces
Taking cabinet doors,drawers and hardware off makes every surface easy to reach. You can thoroughly prep,prime,sand and paint the interior and exterior of cabinet boxes,doors,drawers and shelves more efficiently.
Paint won’t end up on hinges or hardware if removed beforehand. It is much easier to sand off old paint and cleaning grime out of corners when cabinets are detached.
2. Minimizes Mess and Drips
Removing cabinets to paint keeps messy overspray contained. Paint is less likely to get on countertops,flooring,backsplash and appliances when the cabinet boxes are out of the kitchen.
You don’t have to carefully tape and mask off each area. Without cabinet boxes in place, you can be less meticulous while spraying. This results in faster painting.
3. Avoids Painting Around Doors and Drawers
It takes extra time and effort to cut in around doors, drawers and moldings with a brush when painting cabinets in place. Removing everything allows you to quickly spray all sides without obstructions.
No need to tape off hinges or hardware either. You can coat all surfaces evenly and thickly, resulting in a smooth factory-like painted finish.
4. Prevents Cabinet Damage
Taking cabinet doors and boxes off prevents prying them open too forcefully when painting. This avoids cracking wood or breaking joints. Removing them also eliminates drips staining cabinet interiors.
For older cabinets with layers of paint, stripping doors down to bare wood is easier when removed. Less prying on stuck doors reduces damage risk.
5. Allows Refinishing Cabinet Interiors
With the cabinet boxes accessible, you can sand and repaint the interior frame, shelving and sides along with the exterior. This creates a cohesive,finished look.
Cleaning out old drawer slides, hinges and surfaces is also much easier. Simply wiping down with tack cloths isn’t enough to remove grease and grime.
Cons Of Removing Cabinets For Painting
Although detaching cabinets has its perks for painting, it also comes with some downsides to consider:
1. Increases Project Time
Removing all cabinet doors,drawers,shelves and boxes takes a significant amount of time upfront. The reinstallation process after painting can be tedious as well.
Factoring in removal, prepping, painting, drying and rehanging time may add a few extra days to your timeline. Keep this in mind when scheduling your kitchen cabinet painting project.
2. Risk of Cabinet Damage
While prying cabinets off the wall, it’s possible to accidentally rip chunks out of cabinet sides. Trying to dislodge stuck cabinets may bend or break components. Hire a contractor if you are concerned about safely removing cabinets without damage.
The reinstallation process also poses risks. Cabinet boxes may no longer fit back into place properly once removed. You might need to redo trimwork or add shims.
3. Difficulty Reinstalling
Getting freshly painted cabinets aligned and secured back onto the wall takes finesse. Gaps may appear or cabinets can end up crooked, requiring you to uninstall and try again.
Painting cabinets in place avoids such alignment headaches. However, you lose the advantage of accessing all sides to paint.
4. Requires Lots of Space
To paint removed cabinets, you need a large area to lay out doors,drawers and boxes. This isn’t an issue if you have an empty garage or basement but can be problematic in small homes without extra workspace.
Painting cabinets in place requires no additional space. However,the kitchen will be unusable during the process.
5. Can’t See Final Look
With cabinets removed for painting, it is hard to visualize how the completed kitchen will look until everything is reinstalled. The end result may not be as expected.
Painting cabinets in place allows you to immediately see the updated look. But you compromise on paint quality by not removing doors and boxes.
Should You Remove Cabinets Before Painting?
The best practice for painting kitchen cabinets is removing all doors, drawers, shelves and hardware before priming and painting.
Although the removal process takes time upfront, the painting results will be much more professional looking and thorough. The advantages of accessing all cabinet surfaces and minimizing messes outweigh the extra effort.
However,if you are short on time or concerned about safely removing cabinets without damage, then painting them in place is a viable option. Make sure to thoroughly tape and mask off all surrounding surfaces to keep paint contained.
Working around opened doors and drawers will be slower and you may not achieve an opaque,smooth factory finish. But you will save time by not detaching everything prior to painting.
In most cases, putting in the work to remove cabinets results in better long term payoff. But evaluate your own goals,skills,timeframe and kitchen layout when deciding the best method for your space.
Steps For Safely Removing Kitchen Cabinets Before Painting
If you decide to detach your cabinets prior to painting, follow these steps:
Gather Supplies
- Pry bar
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
- Level
- Shims
- Painter’s tape
Remove Doors, Drawers and Shelves
- Empty out all cabinet contents before starting.
- Number doors and drawers to know which cabinet they belong to.
- Carefully unscrew or pry off hinges with screwdriver or pry bar.
- Unscrew knobs,pulls and other hardware. Set aside all removable parts.
Detach Cabinet Boxes
- Start with upper corner cabinets first as they are usually easier to access.
- Pry away trim molding at top and bottom of cabinets with pry bar.
- Look for screws securing cabinet backs or sides. Remove with screwdriver.
- Insert pry bar into gap behind cabinet to gently loosen from wall.
- Lightly tap with hammer if needed to dislodge stubborn cabinets.
- Have a helper support freed cabinet as you fully pry it off.
Prepare Space For Painting
- Carefully move detached cabinets to a protected work area,like the garage.
- Use painter’s tape to label each cabinet piece so you know where it came from.
- Lay out drop cloths in kitchen and tape off appliances,light fixtures,flooring and walls around open cabinet space.
Sand and Clean Cabinet Pieces
- Use sandpaper or deglosser to rough up shiny cabinet surfaces in preparation for painting.
- Clean interior surfaces,edges and corners with soap and water. Let dry fully.
- Fill any gouges,cracks or defects with wood filler and let dry before sanding smooth.
Now cabinets are ready for priming and painting! Once finished,carefully reinstall by leveling and screwing everything back into place.
How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets Without Removing Them
If time is limited or you don’t feel up to detaching everything, painting cabinets in place is a viable option. Here are tips for achieving the best results:
Prepare the Space
- Clear kitchen countertops and move appliances out of the way. The kitchen will be unusable during the process.
- Protect floors,walls,counter edges,sink and backsplash by taping off with plastic sheeting and painters tape.
Remove Doors and Drawers
- At minimum,unscrew doors and drawers to make painting easier. Set hinges aside so you can reattach in the same place later.
- Number pieces to keep track of which cabinet they belong to. Remove all knobs and pulls as well.
Clean Surfaces
- Wash cabinet exteriors,interiors and door/drawer fronts with degreasing soap and water.
- Lightly sand to rough up glossy areas in preparation for painting.
Paint Cabinet Boxes
- Start by priming and painting cabinet sides and face frames with a brush. Cut in carefully along edges and corners.
- Use small foam rollers and angled brushes to paint hard to reach interior corners.
- Apply multiple thin,even coats for best coverage. Sand lightly between coats.
Paint Doors and Drawers
- Set doors and drawers on sawhorses for easier access to all sides.
- Spray paint using sweeping motions about 8 inches from the surface.
- Let dry completely before reattaching hardware and hinges.
While keeping cabinets in place requires extra masking and cutting in, it can still yield decent painted results. Taking your time is key, along with cleaning thoroughly before starting.
FAQs About Removing Cabinets to Paint
Do you have to take doors off to paint cabinets?
Removing doors is highly recommended to allow full access to cabinet sides and interiors while painting. At minimum,take doors off. Leaving them hanging makes painting much harder.
Can cabinets be painted without sanding?
Lightly sanding before painting helps paint adhere better. Sand shiny surfaces to dull the finish and allow primer to stick. Remove any loose paint flecks as well.
Can I paint cabinets without removing hardware?
To prevent paint buildup on hardware,remove knobs,pulls,hinges and handles before painting cabinets. Covering them with painters tape risks leaving paint behind.
How long does it take to paint kitchen cabinets?
If fully detaching and painting cabinets,it often takes 2-5 days total depending on drying times. Painting cabinets in place can be done in 2-3 days. Times vary based on kitchen size.
What order should you paint kitchen cabinets?
Paint top cabinets first,then lower ones. Paint horizontally,starting with the cabinet backs/sides before fronts for optimal coverage. Paint doors/drawers separately.
Conclusion
While it takes more upfront effort, detaching kitchen cabinets prior to painting typically yields the best, most professional looking results. The process allows you to fully access all cabinet surfaces for cleaning, sanding and painting. Drips and overspray are also minimized without cabinet boxes in place.
However, if time is limited or you are concerned about safely removing cabinets, painting them in place is a viable option too. Just be prepared for a slower process having to cut in around doors and drawers. Be sure to tape off all surrounding surfaces to contain paint.
Carefully evaluate your skills, timeline and goals to determine if removing cabinets beforehand is the right choice for your kitchen painting project. Taking the doors and drawers off at minimum is recommended for easier painting access. With proper prep work and patience, you can give your kitchen cabinets a brand new look with a fresh coat of paint, whether removing them fully or keeping them in place while painting.