The most critical step in the process of any paint job is the preparation work. Preparation for the painting of stained woodwork and cabinets requires special attention to get the desired result and consistency. Rosie Certified Partner Joe Miller of the Arizona Painting Company (APC) is joining us to discuss the steps they recommend and use to ensure a professional paint finish on stained wood.
Stained Woodwork and Trim
Before the early 2000s, wood trim work like baseboards, window trim, door trim, and stair rails, along with their accompanying newel posts and handrails, were predominately wood. In the ’70s, ’80s, and early ’90s, in a good many homes, these items were stained. Current design trends include more color, and that often means painting over a stained surface. Joe tells us one of the more common requests for the Arizona Painting Company is painting over stained wood banisters, spindles or balustrades, and staircases.
Joe explains the necessary prep work to transform a stained wood finish into a painted finish. Whether you plan to take this on as a DIY project or pay to have it professionally done, here are some of the required steps.
- Whether the surface is to be hand-painted or spray-painted, taping and masking off surrounding areas and spreading tarps to protect surfaces is the first step. Extra protection of windows, doors, and floors is required for spray painting due to the potential for overspray.
- The next step is to clean the surface to be painted by wiping it down with water and a lint-free cloth. A mild soap solution should be used for heavily soiled surfaces. Rinse the surface with just enough water to ensure the soap is gone.
- Sanding surfaces is also a critical step needed before painting a stained surface. The top coating of a stained surface is typically a lacquer or shellac that protects the surface of the stained wood. Paint will not adhere to lacquer or shellac.
- Note: *The surface detail of the wood dictates the type of sanding tools, hand or machine. Delicate or detailed wood will require hand sanding. The age and thickness of the topcoat may vary and dictate the elbow grease factor.
- Once the basic sanding is done, the surface should be wiped again with a damp cloth to remove residual sanding dust.
- Caulking imperfections are necessary for a professional finish. Check for cracks, unfilled nail holes, dings, and other surface blemishes. Joe recommends these imperfections be filled with sandable and paintable wood putty, not caulk. Caulk tends to shrink over time, leaving a gap between the wood and caulk.
- Sand the filled areas and wipe the surface again to remove dust.
- Prime the wood before painting. One coat of primer is often sufficient. A water-based primer might be enough for indoor wood surfaces such as trims and stair railing systems that are not exposed to a lot of use. An oil-based primer will work better for high-use wood surfaces like doors and windows.
- When the prep is done, it is time to paint!
Cabinets
Painting stained wood cabinets involves some of the steps mentioned above.
- Spraying is the preferred method to achieve a professional paint finish on cabinets. Spraying avoids brush marks and fills in details more readily. The spray process will require a greater level of protection. All surfaces not being painted need to be covered. This includes walls, ceilings, floors, light fixtures, appliances, sinks, and adjoining rooms. Joe likens this process to creating a paint booth in your home, and this prep will likely take a whole day.
- Remove the doors and drawer fronts. The cabinet doors and drawer fronts are removable, allowing that part of the painting process to be moved to another location. The face fronts, which are on the front of the cabinet boxes, are not removable.
- Remove all the hardware. For doors this includes hinges, and handles. For drawers, just remove the handles; there is no need to remove the drawer itself, as the cabinet interiors are rarely painted.
- Clean the cabinet parts well. The build-up of oils and dirt on the surfaces of a kitchen from cooking may require extra effort. Still use a mild dish soap but more elbow grease may be needed. Be sure to wipe soap residue from the surface and let the surface dry before going to the next step.
- The surfaces will need to be sanded. Hand sanding is best for those pieces with greater detail, while machine sanding does the job for the flatter surfaces.
- After sanding, check for any imperfections that need to be filled and, as we mentioned above, use a wood putty product, not caulk.
- Primer. As cabinets tend to get more use than a baseboard, an oil based primer is recommended.
- Again, for a smoother finish, spray don’t brush the cabinets. Brush marks are hard to avoid when painting by hand.
As you can see, much more time-consuming work is needed to cover a stained wood surface than a painted one. If the woodwork is already painted, the surface usually includes light sanding without the washing and rinsing.
For a professional result, wood surfaces require a lot of steps before and during the process. Skill in the use of brushes or sprayers also contributes a great deal to the quality of the final product.
For DIYers: It is also a good idea to practice using the sprayer and brushes to master the techniques before you begin. Pay careful attention to the preparation steps.
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Content Partner | Arizona Painting Company
With years of experience, specialized house painters understand the technical and aesthetic components of house painting. Our staff ensures that each individual client gets exactly what they envisioned for the spaces inside and outside of their homes.
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