A clean surface is critical when you paint over lacquer.
You can paint over white lacquered kitchen cabinets just as long as you do the correct prep work. "Clean," "scuff" and "dry" are the words to remember when you paint over lacquer. A clean surface is critical because paint will not adhere to dirt, dust or grease. Scuffing the lacquered finish will lead to a stronger bond. Seal the cabinets with a stain-blocking, oil-based primer and follow up with a top-quality oil-based enamel paint for best results.
Cover the floor around the cabinets using dropcloths or rosin paper. Secure paper to the floor using painter's tape.
Prepare your work area for the doors and drawers.
Remove the doors and the drawers from the cabinets. Use a drill to remove the screws from the hinges. Number the doors to their corresponding places on the cabinet frame for proper replacement later, as each door is cut to fit. Carry the doors and drawers to the work area. Remove the knobs and hinges using the drill or a screwdriver. Secure the hinges to the back of the door with painter's tape as you remove them to ensure an exact fit when you replace them.
Put on eye protection and a pair of rubber gloves. Prepare a bucket of hot water and trisodium phosphate, or TSP. Mix the TSP solution according to the manufacturer's instructions and prepare an additional bucket of clean water for rinsing.
Clean the cabinets, doors and drawers using a clean cloth soaked in the TSP solution. Rinse the cabinets with clean water and allow them to dry completely.
Sand the cabinets with a medium-grit sanding pad, to scuff and dull the lacquer finish. Remove the sanding dust with a vacuum.
Sand the cabinets a second time, using a fine-grit sanding pad, to ensure a smooth substrate for paint. Remove the sanding dust with a vacuum.
Fill all holes and nicks in the cabinets with vinyl spackling, using a putty knife. Allow the spackling to dry completely and sand the patched areas using a fine-grit sanding pad. Wipe the sanding dust with a clean, damp cloth.
Mask the walls, the floor and the ceiling adjacent to the cabinets with painter's tape. Mask the drawer slides if you are painting the entire body of the drawers. Mask everything that you don't want painted.
Pour primer into a paint pan. Use a 2-inch angled paintbrush to cut in (or outline) the perimeter of the cabinets adjacent to walls, the floor or the ceiling. Allow the primer to dry for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer. Use a 6-inch synthetic mini roller to cover the larger areas with primer.
Apply a coat of primer to the doors and drawers. Allow the primer to dry for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer.
Clean the paint pan and the paintbrush. Use paint thinner to clean oil-based primer or soapy water to clean latex.
Sand the cabinets, doors and drawers lightly with a fine-grit sanding pad. Remove the sanding dust with a clean, damp cloth.
Wipe the cabinets, doors and drawers with a cloth soaked in paint thinner. This ensures all dust and residue have been removed.
Stir the paint with a paint stick to distribute the color pigments evenly. Pour paint into the paint pan and insert a new 6-inch roller cover onto the roller. Cut in the perimeter of a small, manageable area of the cabinets with paint. Immediately roll the area with the mini roller, making sure to roll over the brushed cut line. Move to the next adjacent area and repeat the process. Continue working in small sections, to maintain a wet edge, until the cabinets have been completely painted.
Apply a coat of paint to the doors and drawers. Allow the paint to dry for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer and apply a second coat of paint. Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours before replacing the hardware.
Things You Will Need
- Dropcloths
- Rosin paper
- Painter's tape
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Eye protection
- Rubber gloves
- Trisodium phosphate (TSP)
- Buckets
- Cloths
- Medium-grit sanding pad
- Vacuum
- Fine-grit sanding pad
- Vinyl spackling
- Putty knife
- Stain-blocking oil-based primer
- Paint pan
- 2-inch angled paintbrush
- 6-inch synthetic mini-roller covers
- Roller handle
- Paint thinner
- Oil-based enamel paint
- Paint stick
Tips
- Wrap the paintbrush in plastic while you are rolling to prevent it drying out.
- Sanding pads can be washed and reused.
- It is a common practice to paint the drawer fronts only, as the body is not visible when the drawer is closed.
- Oil-based primers and paints are preferred for durability, but water-based products can be used.
Warnings
- Primer and paint emit fumes; ventilate the area.
- Solvent-based products do not comply with regulations on volatile organic compounds in all areas. Consult your local and state regulations or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to determine if the product that you are using complies with VOC regulations in your area.
About the Author
Mona Culberson began working on the assembly line at a large manufacturing company in 1983, where she worked her way up into several positions of business responsibility. In 2005, she began a career in roofing, interior design and remodeling. She works daily as a professional painter/home remodeler/handywoman while lending her husband's roofing business a helping hand in her spare time.
Photo Credits
- Chris Amaral/Digital Vision/Getty Images
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