We repaint a lot of cabinets that were painted once already. The story is almost always the same: it looked great for a few months, then it started chipping around the handles and peeling along the edges. The paint wasn't the problem. The prep was.
Step one is degreasing, and it's the step people skip most. Kitchen cabinets carry a film of cooking grease, hand oils and cleaning-product residue, especially near the stove and around the pulls. Paint won't bond to grease — it sits on top of it and lifts. Every surface gets a proper degreaser before anything else happens.
Step two is removing the doors and drawers. Painting doors on their hinges means paint in the hinge cups, runs down the edges, and unpainted strips where the door meets the frame. Taking them off, labelling them, and finishing them flat is slower, but it's the only way to get even coverage on every edge.
Step three is sanding. Cabinets usually have a glossy factory finish, and paint needs something to grip. A thorough scuff-sand dulls that sheen and gives the primer a mechanical bond. Previously painted cabinets with a failing coat need more — the loose paint has to come off first, or the new finish will fail right along with it.
Step four is repairs. Dings, chips, gouges and worn edges don't disappear under paint; a smooth new finish actually makes them more visible. They're filled and sanded flush now, while it's easy. This is also when old hardware holes are filled if you're changing to a different pull size.
Step five is primer, and the right one matters. A bonding primer helps paint stick to smooth surfaces like melamine and existing finishes. A stain-blocking primer stops wood tannins and dark old colours from bleeding through a light new colour — oak and cherry are notorious for it.
Step six is protecting the rest of the kitchen. Counters, backsplash, floors, appliances and walls are fully masked before any spraying. It takes time, but it's why you get a crisp edge and no overspray.
Only then does the colour go on. Do all of that properly and a cabinet-grade coating will wear well for years. Skip it, and even the best paint on the market will peel.
Want it done right the first time? Call AMF Coatings at (514) 249-7360 for a free estimate anywhere in Greater Montreal.