Semi-gloss or high gloss for painting kitchen cabinets?

3 Comments

1. fab frugal Jane says:

   February 4, 2011 at 8:27 am

   When painting kitchen cabinets, you can use an eggshell or satin paint and then varnish as an extra layer of protection.

   It’s a matter of what look you like better. I chose a flat varnish over my kitchen cabinet paint which was tinted so that it became an antiquing material. It really hides dirt and fingerprints, but my neighbor used semi gloss varnish, which has a richer look, and I like that more.

   When using varnish, like paint it also comes in gloss, semi gloss, or flat, and because ours was sprayed on, it was quick dry. If you were rolling or brushing it on you wouldn’t want that feature.

   To hold up to wear and tear, our painter used two coats of primer, two coats of paint and two coats of varnish. None of the paints he used were specially made for kitchens but they were oil based.

   It takes a couple months for the VOC’s in the oil based paints to out gas whereas the acrylic products, especially the low VOC ones, are a much healthier option.
2. GideonD says:

   February 4, 2011 at 8:27 am

   Semi-gloss or Satin. High gloss is more of a special request thing now days. It’s too shiny and looks cheap as a result.
3. goodnused says:

   February 4, 2011 at 8:27 am

   The main thing is to buy a product both designed and marked KITCHEN PAINT. They make it special as when steaming food in a kitchen or just cleaning with chemicals…it doesn’t soften or react like many latex products.
   If you are painting cabinets? A semi gloss is what I would recommend. A gloss is better on kitchen walls for easy cleaning/ above stove ETC. But high gloss will show all of the imperfections in the cabinets. The biggest thing is to remove all the grease from the cabinets….lots of work. If the cabinets are bare wood, use a high quality primer sealer before applying the finish coat.
   Good Luck! As All Great Finishes …Are about the preparation, not the final painting.