Painting Garage Cabinets: Can it be done, and how?

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A great way to keep your garage organized is by purchasing some pre-made garage cabinets. Not only do these cabinets offer you an easy way to ensure that everything stays where it belongs, but they also provide a level of cleanliness to the garage that may have been lacking before.

Can you paint garage cabinets?

Garage cabinets are an essential part of your garage. They are where most people store their tools, but they are also a good eyesore if they are not painted or stained to match the room’s interior. There is nothing worse than walking into a garage that looks like it needs work – even if it’s just the cabinets.

Paint will be a better option for you if you want to change the color of your cabinets, but still, keep it reasonably inexpensive since all you need is paint and some time.

The first step is to remove all of your cabinet doors. After you have done this, prime them so that the paint will stick properly when finished. Next, tape off any areas you don’t want to be painted, such as the knobs or pulls on the cabinet doors.

After your cabinets are taped off and primed, start painting! You can apply multiple layers and paint the inside of your cabinets to make them look like really nice units. And finally, when it comes time to remove your tape off after everything has dried overnight, you should start with the video at either the top or bottom of your cabinet door so that you do not rip off any paint.

Speaking of which! Do you need new garage cabinets? You should definitely take a look at what this site has to offer.

How can you prepare garage cabinets for paint?

Preparing garage cabinets for paint can be so easy. You don’t need to hire someone or spend too much just for this project. You can use many materials to get the results you want, and since it is about your garage, it is good to utilize any DIY method that you know will give excellent results.

  1. You need bleach and water in a 50/50 ratio. Just mix the two in a bucket, then use it to wipe down all cabinets you want to paint. This will get rid of mildew and other stuff like this. Let them dry well before continuing with the following steps since wiping them will leave watermarks if not dry properly.
  2. When you have finished with the first step, it is time to clean and degrease. You can use dishwasher soap or laundry detergent that has grease-cutting components in it. Most of these have enzymes that work well on grease and oil stains and grime from the surfaces where they are applied.
  3. When you are done with the washing, it is time to sand them with medium grade sandpaper (100 or 120) to even out the surfaces and easily make the primer stick. You don’t need to clean this up since they will be painted over finally, so finish it off by sanding everything until they are all smooth.
  4. The last tip for garage cabinets is to use a good quality spray primer that will give you the results you want in no time at all. You need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and this way, you will see the best outcome possible. If there is hardware on them, it is necessary to remove them all before you start spraying, and they can be reattached later.

What kind of paint can you use on garage cabinets?

Whether it’s a dark or light color paint you choose for this project, make sure to use a flat finish. This type of paint looks good on any cabinet and is easy to clean.

A roller can be used on most kitchen cabinets, but for better results, use a paintbrush. I prefer the 3/4 inch brush and cut it down to about 1-1/2 inches in length. If you do not have a helper around to hold the cabinet doors open, ask your family members or neighbors for help.

A few days before painting the cabinets and the doors up with medium to fine sandpaper. This will give the cabinet cleaner a bare surface for maximum paint adhesion.

After sanding, wash off all dust particles with water to create a smooth finish. After everything is done, it’s time to prime the cabinets using an oil-based primer. Provide enough coats until the primer is completely covered.

Now you can paint the cabinets with your desired color, but wait a few hours in-between coats so it can dry up. You will need to provide multiple coats of the color paint until the cabinets are filled in completely. Afterwards, add a finishing coat on top and allow enough time for drying.

The next day, apply a sealant with a paintbrush and let it dry up depending on the instructions stated on the can.

Once everything has finally dried up, you can now put all your stuff back in its place and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of cabinets cannot be painted?

Most of this article discussed wooden cabinets, however there are plenty of other types of garage cabinets! That said, all garage cabinets can technically be painted. However metal cabinets are going to be a bit more involved, and likely will need to be sprayed instead of brushed.

Is it better to paint, spray or roll cabinets?

My personal recommendation is to brush paint, or spray garage cabinets if at all possible. These two methods will give you the most even paint in regards to texture. That said, rolling is going to be faster, as you don’t have to remove the cabinets from the area like you would for spraying, and it has a larger surface area.

At what point should you just replace garage cabinets?

Sometimes painting your old garage cabinets may just not be worth it! This point is achieved when there are just too many dents, scraps, or gouges. Or its possible with wood cabinets that they may have rotted away, and no amount of paint is going to fix that issue.

Conclusion

Garage cabinets really are an awesome thing for a garage! They are going to help with the functionality, the flow, and value of your home. That said, making sure they are the right color for your space is also very important, and that is where painting them comes into the picture.

Thankfully this is something that even a novice can do, with little to no issues!

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