painting kitchen cupboards

[mrshap]

Has anyone done this successfully? as just bought house with really dark wood units, they are fine and don't need replacement, so I am considering painting them..Is this likely to go horribly wrong. What paint do I use?

Not F&B.

Use a mini roller for a smooth finish.

YY to bullseye primer, i also bought the same brand perma white paint for my units and also did the tiles and it came out fab. Didn't even need to sand down, just a very good clean with sugar soap and scourers first. And make sure it dries fully between coats. 1 primer and 2 paint.

I also think its lovely (F&B) and I've used it successfully on wooden bedside tables, but it doesn't stand up to the wear and tear in a kitchen. I did everything properly, but it regularly gets knocked, dripped on etc and as a result of that, and the cleaning, its worn very badly and even over the course of a short period of time, I've had to touch up the paint. I definitely wouldn't recommend it for kitchen cupboards.

Another vote for 123 primer, then oil based eggshell. I think F&B only do water based eggshell which won't be durable enough in a kitchen - it isn't fairing that well on the woodwork in my hall/stairs which was only painted last December

Little Greene do oil based, or get your chosen colour mixed at eg Johnstone's - used theirs on tongue & groove in our main bathroom 8 years ago and it's still immaculate

Thanks for the replies did not realize the primer was going to be so expensive have googled it on amazon and ebay the b i n one recommended for wood cabinets is £71 for 5 litres big ouch! but it got to be done properly, I dont want it to wear off as already being doubted by the family that I can do it..

How many cabinets do you have? I only bought the small tin of primer and it went quite a long way. I did all of my cupboards (not doors just carcasses) and all of my tiles and still had some over. You don't want to apply it to thick and if you do buy a small tin and run out you can always buy another small tin to finish.

And £70 for primer is nothing compared to how much new cupboards would cost you! That's how i looked at it. We spent about £1k doing up our kitchen and that included a bit of plastering and new flooring, sink, hob and worktops, plus labour. Sounds alot but was effectively a new kitchen so very cheap really.

Hi I paint kitchens for a living and have worked for a number of bespoke companies,its not an easy job but the results that can be achieved can make a 10k kitchen look like a highend 40k job by Plain English.lots of companies spray prime their kitchens but will invariably use a water based primer ,which I do not think achieves the best result especially when used on the mdf centre panels that all companies use on their doors.So I use an oil based primer made by albany that I tint to close to the finished colour,I then sand very thoroughly with 180 grit paper. Next I apply my second coat of paint,I use Farrow and Ball estate eggshell which is a water based paint which, after a second coat after sanding again will give a tough durable finish on any kitchen.Do not use farrow and ball or any other companies primers, The only other paint I will use is Little Green oil eggshell this is a nice quality paint in a great range of colours,it also dries really fast for an oil based paint which is great but can cause problems with dragging when applying it,put about 50to 75 mils of the paint in a plastic paint tray or kettle then add about 5 to 10 mils of Owatrol oil, this is a paint conditioner and prevents the paint drying too quickly,I also use a good quality mini paint roller to apply the paint to the centre panels on kitchen doors,all the brushwok is done using a 1 and 2 inch Purdy monarch elite paintbrush.Hope all this is of use

Sparkat that's great info thanks..
I have bought a big tin of zinssers primer as am painting the Bannister in the hall too which seems to have several layers of paint, but does not look like it was undercoated, as i remove one layer the underneath one is peeling off too, I am now resorting to the heat gun to remove it once and all!
I am finding the prospect of doing the kitchen cupboards quite daunting but it needs to be done..

I will wash the kitchen cupboards well do I have to sand these too before i start?

Jmumma its only a small kitchen but I am doing doors and ad littlt of the carcass i can get away with! Have opted for big tin but think it will get used up as have Bannisters an years worth of inherited bad glossing painting on skirting an door frames to do yet.

Oooooooooo

Bloody hell not sure what happened there ^^! Apologies OP!

I did wonder why..