At We Spray uPVC, we often get asked by customers: “Is it better to hand paint or spray paint kitchen cabinets?” If you’re looking to give your kitchen a makeover, then a fresh coat of paint is a great way to renew the life of your existing kitchen cabinet doors if the colour has faded over time, without the need of replacing it all together.
In this article, we’ll help you make an informed decision about which cabinet painting process is better to suit your needs, highlighting the pros and cons of each method when it comes to restoring your kitchen to its former glory.
Firstly, it’s important to note that cabinets should always be repainted with specialist cabinet paint, which is designed to withstand food and liquid spills, heat from your stove or oven, as well as any natural wear and tear from human touch in the long-term.
The Advantages of Hand Painting Kitchen Cabinets
Even though this is an old-fashioned method of painting cabinets, it does come with a couple of pros.
- A natural finish – This is based on personal preference, but if you desire a more natural look to your kitchen, then you can use a natural bristle brush or a paint roller to directly apply paint in conformity with the wood grain of your cabinet doors or shelving.
- Low maintenance – If you happen to notice any scuffs or scratches, then these can be rapidly remedied by sanding down the affected area and hand painting it – an inexpensive option compared to completely remodelling or respraying.
The Disadvantages of Hand Painting Kitchen Cabinets
- Time-consuming – However, painting all those cabinets, doors and shelving takes an extended amount of time to complete, especially when having to apply at least two coats of paint for each surface. As a result, you’ll need to spend at least 3 – 4 hours to allow each coat to dry before the next one is applied.
- Brush marks – Finally, one of the biggest issues with a hand painted kitchen makeover is brush marks. Using a standard paint brush makes it harder to achieve an even coating, therefore it’s recommended that if you’re inexperienced, it’s best to seek out a professional.
The Advantages of Spray Painting Kitchen Cabinets
- Speedy application – There’s no doubt spray painting your kitchen is a quick and efficient way to restore your cabinets by covering a greater area in less time, with only a couple of thin layers to apply. This means you could have a brand new kitchen in just one day, depending on the layout and size of your kitchen space.
- A smooth, uniform finish – No pesky brush strokes, bubble spots or markings when it comes to spraying your kitchen. Paint sprayers used by professionals can leave a nice, uniform finish, allowing spraying experts to get into every nook and cranny of your kitchen.
The Disadvantages of Spray Painting Kitchen Cabinets
- Risk of overspray – If done by an amateur, there’s the risk of overspray, whereby paint mist can be left on objects, furniture, or walls nearby. However, when done by experienced professionals, this can be easily prevented by masking the kitchen to ensure all appliances and surfaces are covered.
- Longer preparation – Preparation time can be the longest part of the painting process, but nonetheless a necessary task to ensure your kitchen cabinet doors are the only things spray painted and nothing else.
So, where you decide to hand paint or spray paint your kitchen cabinets, it’s all about the final flawless finish in the end.
Hire the Kitchen Spraying Professionals
Of course, for an immaculate overall finish, hiring kitchen spraying professionals is always the best course of action. Here at We Spray uPVC, we will assess the layout, the space, and material of your kitchen cabinets to decide whether it will be beneficial to complete the whole kitchen spray on site, or complete half of the kitchen spray at our bespoke spray booth.
Get in touch for a FREE kitchen spraying quote today to discuss all our options for kitchen colours and coatings and help make your dream kitchen become a reality.