With all of the DIY videos available on YouTube and other places, it can seem like any home improvement project imaginable can be completed by ambitious homeowners willing to put in a little “sweat equity”. While it’s true that going the DIY route can save a homeowner a lot of money, some things are just better left to professionals. One example of this would be electrical work, as it can be very dangerous to attempt this type of work if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Painting, it would seem, would be a “no brainer” as far as DIY projects are concerned. The materials needed are relatively inexpensive and it doesn’t seem to require a lot of specialized training to get the job done. Painting a simple room is one thing, but when it comes to kitchen cabinet painting, a very popular home improvement project right now, you should definitely consider hiring a professional painting company.
First of all, painting kitchen cabinets the right way takes much longer than most homeowners anticipate. In order for the paint job to last, all of the doors and drawer fronts should be removed. Everything should be cleaned, sanded, and then cleaned again. A coat of primer should be applied, and then a coat or two of high-quality paint, followed by a clear coat. And remember, all of these steps need to be done to both the fronts and backs of every door! If you have a decent-sized kitchen, kitchen cabinet painting is not a weekend project!
Getting a smooth finish on kitchen cabinets is more difficult than it looks. Since the average homeowner doesn’t have a paint sprayer or know how to use the ones you can rent from a home improvement store, they will either use a roller or brush to paint their cabinets. With either of these options, it is pretty much impossible to get a professional-looking finish.
Jon Ray, owner of PaintGreen in San Diego, had this to say about DIY kitchen cabinet painting,
“One of the most common problems shared by those who’ve done their own kitchen cabinet painting is that the finished product looks nothing like the image they had in their head. In some cases, this is because they used a brush or paint roller that left marks, preventing them from getting a super smooth finish. Even if they went the extra mile and rented a paint sprayer similar to what a professional San Diego painter would use, their lack of experience with this piece of equipment showed, leaving them unhappy with their new paint job.”
Ray continued, “Another concern shared by DIY kitchen cabinet painters is the paint doesn’t hold up well. This is often due to either not properly prepping the cabinets first or choosing the wrong type of paint. Either mistake can severely impact your kitchen cabinets’ ability to withstand regular use without damage.”
Painting your kitchen cabinets can add an instant upgrade to your home, but only if it’s done right. If you aren’t completely confident in your painting abilities, or don’t have the time to invest in doing the project well, you would be wise to invest in a professional painting service.
