painting bathroom vanity before and after pics

[caption id="attachment_784" align="aligncenter" width="500"] painting bathroom vanity before and after painting bathroom vanity before and after painting bathroom vanity before and after[/caption]

painting bathroom vanity before and after pictures

Paint a Bathroom Vanity

Don't trash a dated but sturdy bathroom vanity. Learn how to paint bathroom cabinets to achieve a beautiful finish with these step-by-step instructions.

Instructions

Follow these instructions whether you’re refinishing an existing vanity or painting the bare wood of a new, unfinished vanity. Because you’ll need to remove the doors and hardware from an existing vanity, this is a good time to upgrade the knobs and pulls. For a complete makeover, add a new vanity top, sink, faucet and backsplash.

Prep the Vanity for Painting

Step 1

• Remove the cabinet doors, drawers, false drawer fronts and any attached hardware.


• If you plan to replace the vanity top and sink, remove these as well for easier access and less masking later.


• If the cabinet has working drawers, remove them from the cabinet.


• Then unscrew the drawer fronts, where possible, and finish them separately.

Good to Know

If you want to replace the cabinet knobs and pulls but the new hardware won’t fit the old holes, now’s the time to fill the existing holes with wood putty and sand smooth before priming.

Step 2

• Use trisodium phosphate (TSP) and a scrubbing pad or sponge to thoroughly wash all surfaces to be painted.


• Rinse at least twice with fresh water and a sponge.

Good to Know

If you remove rubber cabinet bumpers and they leave behind an adhesive residue, remove it with mineral spirits while working in a well-ventilated area. Then wash the areas with TSP.

Step 3

• For wood surfaces protected by a clear finish, sand with 220-grit sandpaper to remove any gloss.


• Reach into the inside corners of the cabinet panels and recesses of any moulding.

Step 4

• For previously painted surfaces, remove any loose or damaged paint.


• Sand to feather the edges of the paint with the bare wood and apply a latex primer to the bare spots.

Step 5

• For melamine or thermofoil-covered surfaces common on cabinet sides and some doors, check that the plastic film is firmly bonded to the material underneath.


• If not, consider removing all of the film by using a heat gun to loosen the adhesive.


• After the film is gone, use a rag with alcohol or mineral spirits to wipe off the adhesive.


• If the film is firmly bonded to the backing, sand it lightly with 220-grit sandpaper until the surface becomes dull.

Good to Know

Some film surfaces may be loosened by the primer you use. Check them carefully as you work and after the first coat of primer dries.

Step 6

• For all surfaces, vacuum any sanding dust and wipe the surfaces clean with a soft damp cloth.

Step 7

• Use painter’s tape to mask off the underside of the vanity top, adjoining walls, floor and the inside face of the cabinet frame.