Painting Thermofoil Cabinet Doors

The nice thing about adding Thermofoil cabinets to a home is that they are easy to install and at the same time they are also very easy to clean. Since they are not made from wood, you need to take extra care of them in order to get the most out of them. It is often a good idea to paint the Thermofoil cabinet doors. The task is not all that difficult and in fact you only need to lightly sand the doors and then apply the primer and paint.

What you need

Here is a look at the things that you need to get the job done:

Foam brush or roller
Sponge
Acrylic latex paint
220 grit sandpaper
Primer that is made out of plastic
Stiff bristle paintbrush
Tack cloth

1. Wipe away the dirt and grease

To start with, take a sponge that has been soaked in a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap and use it to wipe away all traces of dirt and grease off the cabinet doors. A double sided sponge will help you get desirable results. One side of the sponge should be rough while the other side should be smooth. The rough side will help in removing stains.

2. Sand the surface

After cleaning the doors and allowing them to dry, it is time to sand the cabinet doors. Make use of a 220 grit sandpaper for the sanding work. This sandpaper helps to create a rough surface which in turn will be able to make the paint stick properly and it also helps to remove all traces of sheen and finish from the doors. After sanding the doors, clean them with a nice clean tack cloth. The tack cloth is able to pick up loose particles and all traces of dirt that was created when you sanded the doors. If a tack cloth is not available then you can use a damp cloth made from cotton.

3. Apply the primer

After cleaning the doors and after they have dried up you can then think about applying the primer. The best primer for your Thermofoil doors is one that is made for plastic surfaces. The primer helps in preparing the doors for the paint that is to be applied after the primer has dried up. The first coat of primer should be applied with a stiff paintbrush. Use thin strokes and then wait for the primer to dry. It may take an hour for the primer to dry. When it has dried, apply a second coat of primer and allow a minimum of three hours before applying each coat of primer. Allow the primer to dry overnight.

4. Apply first coat of paint

Now it is time to apply the first coat of paint to the Thermofoil doors. It pays to use acrylic latex paint which is nothing but standard wall paint. When applying the paint, use a roller or even a foam brush. The strokes you make should be long and even as this will help to ensure a cleaner finish. A rented electric paint sprayer is another option for those who want to paint their Thermofoil doors in a more professional manner.

Remember that when painting the Thermofoil doors that you should keep the windows open. This helps to control the paint fumes.