Painting cabinets can be a great way to update your bathroom or kitchen. You might be asking yourself if all that sanding, prep work, and labor is worth it. To help you decide if you can paint your cabinets without sanding, we have compiled a list of the necessary items for each state of cabinetry finish.

Raw, unvarnished surface

You don’t need to sand cabinets if they are made from raw wood. The surface of the cabinets will be smooth enough to accept the paint coat and allow it to sink into the wood’s pores. Let the paint soak into the surface to keep it looking new even after many years of use.

Recently Painted Surface

It is not necessary to sand a surface that has been recently painted. However, it may be a good idea. Cabinets that have been painted in the past year can be repainted with no need to remove the old coat. If it’s been a relatively short time since your last painting job, you can re-paint the cabinet without stripping away the previous coat.

You may need to sand the paint again depending on how it was applied. You could have areas that chip off or become damaged if the first coat was not evenly applied. It is a good idea if you are unsure if the coat is still fresh enough to paint your cabinets without sanding.

Paint that is peeling or damaged

It is essential to sand the cabinets first if they have a damaged or chipped paint job. In some cases, uneven areas may not give the paint enough hold to withstand repeated coats. It doesn’t matter how many coats of paint you apply, there will always be areas that don’t fully set the paint. This will impact the durability of the finish.

Another reason to sand peeling or damaged paint before applying another coat is that it will cause uneven results. After the job is completed, any divots or dips in the surface will remain.

Shiny or Varnished Surface

You must also sand down cabinets with shiny or varnished surfaces before you paint them. The polyurethane varnishes protect the surface from oils and moisture. This is a great way to protect your cabinets from water damage in the kitchen. It also prevents a new coat of paint from sticking to the surface.

It can be useful to know whether cabinets can be painted without sanding. However, this job requires a lot of time, knowledge, and many different sandpaper grades and tools. You may also find that your investment in time, money, and elbow grease could result in a poor quality job or worse results.

This post was written by a professional at St.Pete Home Painters. St.Pete Home Painters offers exterior and interior painting services in the beautiful St. Petersburg area. No matter the size of the job, our team can handle it. We offer the best house painting Saint Petersburg FL services, no matter how big or small. So contact us today for your free quote or any questions you might have!