How To Paint Melamine Kitchen Cabinets With A Paint Sprayer

Learn how to paint melamine kitchen cabinets with a paint sprayer for a professional looking finish using with this step-by-step tutorial.

Author Wanda Simone

screw driver
pyramid stands (optional) to keep the doors off the surface and make painting easier
electric paint sprayer
sanding block or electric sander (optional)
drill (optional)

Start by removing all doors from the cupboards. Take off the hinges and knobs or handles. Number the doors to keep track of their original positions. If replacing hardware, fill any unneeded holes with spackling compound or wood filler.
Lightly sand the surfaces to rough them up and remove imperfections.
Wash the doors and front cupboard edges with TSP in warm water, ensuring all grease and dirt are removed. Rinse with clear warm water to eliminate dust and detergent residue. Let dry thoroughly.
Lay the doors out on a sheet of plastic in a well-ventilated, clean area for painting. Arrange them in numbered order for easy re-installation.
Spray each door with an even coat of primer. Wait until the primer dries completely, ideally for at least 24 hours. If you want to paint the backs of the doors, turn them over and repeat the priming process on the other side.
Prime the outward facing edges and sides of the cabinets with a foam roller. You can use a paint sprayer for this, but you will need to cover everything except the cabinets with plastic to prevent over spray.
Paint the doors and cabinets with an even coat of semi-gloss or gloss door and trim paint using the same method as the primer. Wait until completely dry (at least 48 hours), sand lightly and then apply another coat. Apply at least two coats, possibly three, for smooth coverage.
Once the paint is dry, re-hang the doors carefully to avoid scratching the paint. Attach the knobs and handles.