What Is The Best Finish To Use On Kitchen Cabinets

Most people find that satin or semi-gloss paint works the best in kitchens.

What is the best finish to use on kitchen cabinets. While there are water-based stains on the market I prefer to use oil-based for cabinets because they are generally high-traffic pieces that get a lot of wear. A semi-gloss or gloss finish is the best choice when painting kitchen cabinets. Oil-based paint is no longer the best paint for cabinets just as its no longer suitable for residential applications.

No matter the types of paint you choose you will get the best result by prepping your cabinets beforehand. If you have spray equipment use a two-part polyurethane a pre-catalyzed lacquer or post-catalyzed lacquer. We actually prefer a third type of paint for cabinets the hybrid enamel.

Many different types of varnishes can be applied on the kitchen cabinetry. Backsplash areas may benefit from semi-gloss or even high-gloss paint since they are likely to be scrubbed with some regularity. Matte is not practical in kitchens and baths where you will need durable paint you can easily clean.

Many professionals now use latex paint citing the improvements to the formula and the as-good-as finish they can get on most surfaces. Depending on your budget home décor and lifestyle one option may be more suitable than the alternatives. Oil-based is the most durable finish to hold up to the highest of traffic.

Varnishes provide a protective coating to the kitchen cabinet. The two primary differences between oil-based paint and latex-based paint on kitchen cabinets are final texture and dry time. However solid wood contracts and expands so we recommend choosing cabinets made of engineered wood.

Paint with some sheen will help reflect light and be more durable in the long run which is important in the kitchen environment. The best wood for kitchen wall cabinets is engineered wood because its one of the most reliable materials. The best way to avoid cracking is to spec a painted MDF door but it needs to be a factory-applied catalyzed lacquer finish not a paint so the MDF is properly sealed and finish is baked on otherwise you can get swelling cracking and flaking the finish.