How to Paint Cabinets Before Applying Gel Stain Home ~ Kitchen Kabinet

The most important step in the process of painting cabinets before you apply gel stain is the preparation work. Paint will not adhere to dirt, grease or oil so do not skip the prep work if you want to avoid a peeling paint job later. Although a thorough washing may suffice on previously painted cabinets, primer must be applied to stained wood to prevent the contaminants in the oil from bleeding through to the paint. Apply a high quality latex paint to provide a good base for your gel stain.

General Preparation and Cleaning

Lay drop cloths on the floor around the cabinets. Remove objects from the counter tops and lay drop cloths over them. Use painter's tape to mask the walls and the ceiling adjacent to the cabinets if applicable.

Remove all the drawers from the cabinets. Remove the doors using a drill. Place a small piece of painter's tape on the back of each door as you remove them. Number the doors to the corresponding place on the cabinet frame to save time when you replace the doors to the frame later. Use the drill to remove the hardware. Lay the drawers and the doors out on a work table. Omit this step and proceed to Step 3 if the cabinets do not have doors or drawers.

Prepare a bucket of hot water and trisodium phosphate (TSP). Mix the TSP solution according to the manufacturer's instructions. Prepare a bucket of warm water for rinsing.

Remove heavy grease deposits using a scraper. Clean the cabinets -- and the doors and drawers, if applicable -- using a clean cloth or sponge soaked in the TSP solution. Rinse the surfaces with clean, warm water.

Stained Wood

Sand the cabinets using medium-grit sandpaper. Remove sanding dust using a damp cloth. Sand the cabinets again using fine-grit sandpaper. Ensure that the sandpaper has been recommended for finish removal. Remove the sanding dust with a damp cloth.

Use a scraper to fill all holes, dents or nicks in the cabinets with sandable wood filler. Allow the filler to dry completely. Sand the filled areas using fine-grit sandpaper. Do not sand down to the bare wood. Wipe away the sanding dust with a damp cloth.

Pour primer into a small paint pan. Apply a coat of primer to the cabinets with a 6-inch foam roller. Cut in around the perimeter of the cabinets adjacent to walls or the ceiling with an angled paintbrush. Allow the primer to dry for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer. Use fine-grit sandpaper to sand the primed surfaces. Remove the sanding dust using a clean, damp cloth or sponge.

Apply a second coat of primer. Allow the primer to dry completely.

Previously Painted Cabinets

Sand the cabinets with fine-grit sandpaper to provide a smooth substrate for paint. Remove the sanding dust using a damp cloth.

Fill all holes, dents or nicks with spackling material. Allow the spackling to dry completely.

Sand the spackled areas using fine-grit sandpaper. Remove the sanding dust using a damp cloth.

Painting

Pour paint into a paint pan. Apply a coat of paint to the cabinets with a 6-inch roller. Cut in around the perimeter of the cabinets adjacent to walls or the ceiling using an angled paintbrush. Use the paintbrush to apply paint everywhere that the roller will not fit. Allow the paint to dry for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer.

Repeat Step 1 of Section 4 to apply a second coat of paint. Allow the paint to dry completely.

Proceed to apply the gel stain.

Things You Will Need

Drop cloths
Drill
Painter's tape
Trisodium phosphate (TSP)
Buckets
Clean cloths or sponges
Medium-grit sandpaper
Fine-grit sandpaper
Scraper
Wood filler
Primer
Paint pan
6-inch foam roller and handle
Angled paintbrush
Spackling material
Paint
Screwdriver
Degreasing cleaner
Caulking gun
Painter's caulk
Thinning agent
Safety glasses
Rubber gloves

Tips

Use a degreasing cleaner if TSP is not available.
Use a caulking gun and painter's caulk to fill seams and cracks when a seamless appearance is desired.
You should prime previously painted cabinets if you are painting a light paint over a dark paint.
Paint the inside of the doors to get a more professional, finished look.

Warnings

Wear safety glasses, and rubber gloves when you use TSP.
Wear a dust mask when you sand.
Ventilate the area when you prime, paint or stain.

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

Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images

How to Paint Cabinets Before Applying Gel Stain | Home ...
The most important step in the process of painting cabinets before you apply gel stain is the preparation work. Paint will not adhere to dirt, grease or oil so do not

How to Gel-Stain Cabinets | Home Guides | SF Gate
Gel stains have a gelled or creamy consistency that makes them Continue applying the gel stain until you cover How to Paint Cabinets Before Applying Gel Stain;

Use Gel Stain to Spruce Up Cabinets, Lamp Bases and More
Gel stain is good for any number of the oak kitchen cabinets in my old home. Me and the gel stain quickly went from antiqued look before applying

Help...! - General Finishes Gel Stain Kitchen Cabinets ...
Another theory is that I mixed the gel in the can before applying General Finishes Gel Stain Kitchen Cabinets That means the gel stain(modified paint)

Maybe If You Just Relax: How To Gel Stain Your Cabinets
who were good at DIY home improvements. I was nervous but was also all hot and bothered over the before/after results can paint, you can gel stain cabinets.

How to Use Gel Stain DIY Gel Stained Master Bath Cabinet ...
How to Use Gel Stain DIY Gel Stained Master Bath Cabinet cabinets. I like the idea of painting them gel stain before to change color of cabinets and

Gel staining kitchen cabinets
The easiest and cheapest way to update your kitchen cabinets. The process is simple but it takes some time to do since you have to let each coat dry a day

How To Gel Stain Your Kitchen Cabinets | Confessions of a ...
I love your cabinets! I am just wondering, the gel stain is the cabinets felt just like they did before I gel mother paint/stain her cabinets so this

Minwax Gel Stain - Wood & Metal Stain - Gel Stain Colors ...
Woodworking Projects Home; Accessories; Cabinets & Chests; Chairs & Benches; Before applying a clear finish, Before using Gel Stain,

Maybe If You Just Relax: Gel Staining Cabinets: Six Steps ...
Here is a reminder pic of the before and after: You just brush the stain on like paint and then let it dry. How To Gel Stain Your Cabinets;

About K-Sora

Travelling is my life

Kitchen Kabinet