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The following describes our process for prepping a room for spraying, de-glossing, sanding, priming and painting kitchen cabinet boxes and doors.

We’ve created a material list, a step by step guide and a quiz to test your knowledge.

Tools Needed:

Many of these tools can be purchased from your local hardware store.  We’ve included links to our Amazon store, which helps support our how-to program.

Air lift 3m hand masker Rosin paper 72 inch 3M plastic Drop clothe M1 Degreaser & Deglosser Zip wall Zipper Bondo 312 FFLP tip 320-400 grit paper Festool dust extractor Wax paper

220 grit Festool RTS 400 Medium grit sanding sponge Festool vacuum tool Microfiber rag 12 inch van Titan 311 switch tip Coverstain Oil Kilz Airless sprayer Bolt Caulk Benjamin Moore Advance

1.  Pre-Arrival

Please refer to service standards post for instructions on how to communicate with a client and organize for a job

PART 1 (Cabinet Boxes)

2.  Preparation

1. Move fridge using air lift to area designated by homeowner.
2. Cover edge of flooring with using 3m hand masker and 9 inch paper.  Use 1 1/2 inch Intertape installed on hand masker.
3. Cover entire flooring up to tape line with rosin paper (this provides double paper near cabinets where over spray will happen).
4. Cover any appliances with 72 inch 3M plastic.
5. Place drop clothe in middle of flooring leaving 2ft of paper edge exposed closest to cabinet box.
6. Remove cabinet doors/drawers.  Label doors in recessed area of hinge hole.  Sequentially number each door starting with number 1 on furthest lower left door.
7. Remove drawer guides.
8. Clean doors and cabinet boxes with M1 Degreaser & Deglosser.
9. Mask cabinet door and drawer openings with 9 inch paper.
10. Using zip wall, create sealed barrier with two open areas using zipper for negative and positive sources of air flow.  One to vent fumes outside.  One to draw new air.
11. Apply bondo or wood filler to dents/gouges on doors and cabinet boxes.
12. Scuff sand cabinet boxes, drawers and doors with 220 grit paper if using festool RTS 400 or a medium grit sanding sponge.
13. Vacuum dust.  It easiest to use the Festool vacuum tool for dust collection followed by wiping with a damp microfiber rag.
14. Pack doors/drawers into truck to be brought off site for spraying (unless otherwise instructed).
15. If cabinets are closer than 2 feet from ceiling and we are not painting ceiling, cover ceiling with plastic.
16. Set-up air scrubber.  Air scrubber consists of a 12 inch van with ventilation connected to a large container.  On top of the container we place a furnace filter and the ventilation tube connects to a 12 inch air duct inlet.

3.  Application

1. Spray cabinet boxes with primer using Titan 311 switch tip (most standard primer is oil Coverstain or odorless oil Kilz).  Airless sprayer set to 2500-3000 psi. (Goal is for this portion to be completed by end of day 1.  Primer is 1 hr dry time with easiest sanding after overnight dry).
2. Sand primed Cabinet boxes with Medium to Fine sanding sponge and/or 220 grit paper.  When machine sanding use vacuum dust extractor.
3. Vacuum cabinet boxes.  Clean boxes with damp micro fiber rag to remove remaining dust.  Vacuum work area.
4. Caulk gaps with Bolt Caulk (areas where boxes meet wall and other expansion/contraction joints on boxes).
5. Apply top coat (a common top coat is Benjamin Moore Advance).  Top coat to be applied with 312 FFLP tip or specified by product TDS.  Fluid pressure set to 1800-2000 psi on airless or just beyond when tales disappear.  On AAA sprayer fluid pressure set to 1200 psi and 30 psi air.
6. Wait for Advance to dry overnight.  Begin work on cabinet doors/drawers off site if time allows.
7. Sand 1st coat lightly with 320-400 grit paper festool paper or fine sanding sponge.
8. Vacuum boxes and work area.  Clean boxes with damp micro fiber rag.
9. Apply final top coat.  If time allows, continue working on cabinet doors & drawers.
10. Before cleaning work area, allow to dry overnight and check for sags or dry areas next day.  Wet sand sags with fine sanding sponge and water.  Touch-up as needed.

4.  First Inspection

1. Before removing plastic/paper ask client to check for touch-ups. Repair as needed.

5.  Clean-Up

1. Remove tape, plastic, paper.
2. Fold drop clothes end over end to contain dust and remove from home.
3. Clean counters and vacuum floor.

PART 2 (Doors & Drawers)

6.  Preparation

1. Since de-glossing, dent filling and scuff sanding was completed on site this is not needed.  If for some reason it was not completed on site, de-gloss and scuff sand doors.
2. If drawer faces are attached to drawer boxes, mask drawer boxes.
3. Prepare drying rack by placing tape over metal racks

7.  Application

1. Do not caulk floating panels to rails. (Could cause cracking on door panels)
2. Apply oil primer using 311 titan switch tip.  Back side of doors/drawers to be sprayed first.
3. Set on drying rack.
4. Apply oil primer to front side. Allow to dry overnight.
5. Sand primer using medium to fine sanding sponge in recessed areas and machine sand flat surfaces with 220 grit paper.  Festool dust extractor to be used during machine sanding.
6. Vacuum all surfaces, vacuum work area
7. Clean surfaces with damp Micro Fiber rag
8. Apply top coat to backside of doors.  Allow to dry.
9. Lightly sand back side with 320-400 grit paper.  Vacuum and clean with damp micro fiber. Cut with razor where rails and panels meet to remove paint build up.
10. Apply final coat to back side
11. Flip doors and follow same process for door/drawer fronts.
12. Inspect doors for defects and repair as needed.
13. Wait two days to harden before preparing for delivery.

8.  Prepare for delivery

1. Wrap doors/drawers with wax paper
2. Place in vehicle or trailer stacked vertically with padding

9.  Re-installation

1. Re-install drawer guides
2. Re-install doors referencing sequential numbering system
3. Re-install drawers

10.  Final Inspection

1. Coordinate time with client on final day to complete a walk-through of the project.  At this time we can complete any touch-ups necessary before packing up equipment
2. After all touch-ups have been completed and customer is satisfied, contract is signed and client is asked to fill out a quality scorecard

Next Steps

Project Closeout

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