Did you recently have your kitchen cabinets painted? Did you love the new look for the first few months only to find they aren’t wearing as well as you hoped? You are not alone. Your kitchen cabinets will take a beating and, over time, wear and tear can show up in the form of peeling paint. This is especially true for areas that regularly get wet or splattered, like near the sink and stove. The question is: Why does this happen and, more importantly, what can you do about it? Here’s what to know from the professional cabinet painters at N-Hance®.
7 Reasons Your Kitchen Cabinet Paint is Peeling
There are several reasons why the paint on your cabinets could be peeling. The obvious answers are age or everyday wear and tear. However, depending on the process used to paint them, there could be deeper underlying reasons at play.
According to our kitchen cabinet painters, here are seven main reasons paint often starts to peel off cabinets:
1. Poor Cleaning Before Painting
If your kitchen cabinets weren’t properly cleaned before your painter tackled the job, it’s going to show up in the form of peeling and other damage. Carefully cleaning and removing contaminants, such as dust, dirt, grease, and grime, is critical for achieving a long-lasting finish. Proper cleaning helps the primer and paint adhere to the surface. Even the smallest particles left behind can ruin the final finish, making it more vulnerable to peeling.
2. Not Sanding During Cabinet Painting
Another common mistake made by inexperienced kitchen cabinet painters or DIYers is not sanding before painting and in between each coat of primer and paint. Light sanding allows the primer and paint to adhere more easily to the cabinet’s surface, providing a longer-lasting and more resilient finish. It also smooths down an uneven surface so the painted finish won’t chip or peel over time.
3. Using the Wrong Products
When it comes to primer and paint products, not all are created equal. Cabinets should never be primed or painted with products designed for walls or other applications.
Cabinet paint, on the other hand, is made with special ingredients designed specifically to adhere to the slippery surface of cabinets. Likewise, cabinet primers are engineered to provide superior bonding to previously finished cabinets. These products create a better surface for the new cabinet paint to properly adhere to.
4. Applying Paint Too Thickly
When paint is applied too thick to a cabinet surface, it’s more prone to peeling. If you paint your kitchen cabinets yourself or hire an inexperienced painter, this is another common misstep.
It’s better to apply several thin coats of paint and wait for each one to fully cure, so you get a durable surface that can survive daily use. Impatience and inexperience, on the other hand, will lead to thickly applied paint that will peel right off.
5. Not Letting Cabinets Cure
When painting kitchen cabinets, professional painters recommend waiting for cabinets to fully cure before use. Keep in mind that curing is different from drying. Just because newly painted cabinets look and feel dry does not mean they are cured all the way through. Paint can dry in a few hours, while the curing process can take several days.
If you use your cabinets too quickly after painting, this can damage the surface in areas that make it more susceptible to peeling and chipping. So remember to be patient and wait at least 48 hours before touching cabinets.
6. Cabinets Get A Lot of Use
Another cause of peeling paint is the impact of daily use. Typically, areas that are used more often will start to look damaged and begin to peel. This includes the spots around your silverware drawer or around the knobs or pulls of your most-used drawers and cabinets.
In addition, standing water, splatter, or leaving wet towels or rags draped over cabinets can also cause peeling. To avoid this, be sure to wipe off moisture immediately instead of letting it sit. Likewise, don’t leave anything wet, whether it’s a towel, rag, or apron, hanging on or over cabinet doors.
7. Cleaning Cabinets with Harsh Products
When you’re cleaning your cabinets, it’s important to take the right approach to maintain the surface. Otherwise, this too can cause peeling. For instance, use a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water instead of harsh chemicals, and gently wipe cabinets down with a damp rag, not one that’s soaking wet. If you use abrasive products and aggressive wiping, this will set the stage for damage to your cabinets.
Want an Affordable Fix to Peeling? Turn to Our Kitchen Cabinet Painters
If your kitchen cabinets are peeling, chipping, or discolored, turn to the professional painters at N-Hance. We can transform them beautifully and affordably, whether you want a simple refresh or a major color change.
In the process, we use products designed especially for cabinets, including:
- Our cabinet cleaner – This special solution has been engineered exclusively by our company to eliminate dirt, grime, oil, and other build up on your cabinet surfaces.
- Our primer – This product is designed to block any bleed-through and imperfections while helping the paint product better adhere to the cabinet surface.
- Our paint products – Our proprietary paint products are made from water-based acrylic polyurethane blends that resist chipping and peeling, so your finish will be stronger and longer lasting.
In addition, we use our Lightspeed® Nano system for curing cabinets instantly, bringing the power of a factory finish right into your home. It relies on advanced UV technology to cure the paint in a matter of seconds, not the hours or days required by a traditional kitchen cabinet painter. This means you can get back to your kitchen and your life with less disruption.
Even if your cabinets are dated and old, we can paint and restore them in a way that impresses and surprises you. You don’t have to invest in expensive new cabinets and messy, time-consuming demolition. Instead, you’ll get cabinets that look like new and provide a rock-hard finish that won’t peel or chip – all at a fraction of the cost of a cabinet replacement.
Plus, with our team, you’ll have the expertise of our seasoned kitchen cabinet painters to rely on. These are professionals who know how to get the job done quickly and smoothly, delivering a gorgeous finish you will love, all in a way that works for your schedule and your budget. You can choose from our color palette or bring us a sample and we’ll match it!
Ready to find out more about how our kitchen cabinet painters can restore peeling cabinets to like-new condition? Call N-Hance today at (855) 642-6230 for a FREE consultation and quote.