I want to paint/stain bathroom cabinets. What paint/stain to use?
Question:They are the standard oak (ugly oak) finish. The cabinets are sturdy so I thought of painting them. Is there a special paint for wood?
I'd like them changed from apartment colored oak to dark (espresso) wood.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Answers:
For those bathroom cabinets, first you' should sand them so the new finish will adhere properly. For painting them, I'd use an oil based paint as it stands up much better to the humidity in a bathroom than latex paint does. I'd use a gloss or semi-gloss because those are more durable and stand up to scrubbing very well.
If you decide to stain rather than paint, use any good quality stain, followed by a polyurethane finish to seal them and make them durable. Again, I'd use a semi-gloss or gloss polyurethane for "wet" rooms like the bathroom and kitchen.
Your paint store employee can guide you to the best products to use if you tell them what you want to do and where. Before a big project, like when I painted my kitchen cupboards, I always go there and find out the recommended products and bring color samples home to see what they'd look like in my home's lighting before I make my final decision.
polyurethane with stain easy on
Are the cabinets clear coated? If they are stain will not penitrate with sanding to bare wood. You can use a solid stain or paint but make sure they products you use are oil or alkyd based. Latex or acrylic will not bond to the existing paint or clear coat if oil based. To test the base use nail polish remover and rub on. If the color comes off it's latex if it stays on it's oil. The people we bought our house from used latex over an oil based clear coat and it comes off even when washing. Never use a flat or eggshell paint as these are not durable nor are they washable. Use a primer sealer before painting. If you have more traffic than usual in the bath use an oil base paint. Latex is water based and will suck up or soak in the moisture from showers or baths.
I painted my kitchen cabinets last winter. They were stained in a medium oak. First I painted them with a primer, then painted again with a semi-gloss. It was quite a bit of work, but I do like the effect.
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