Ask the Expert

Paint Can
Paint Can

The kitchen cabinets of the house I bought about five years ago are painted white over an original tan surface. The white paint is beginning to fail, especially around the cabinet and drawer knobs. The tan finish is remaining in place. Should I try to just touch up these spots with white paint or repaint the entire surface? And what type of paint should I use for a longer lasting finish?

"In paint-chipping situations, we need to know the source of the problem," says Greg Taylor, owner of CertaPro Painters of Central Arkansas. "There could be real paint failure or just normal wear and tear."

Tiny chipped areas that don't continue to peel when they are picked at are most probably just due to normal wear and tear, Taylor explains.

But if after picking at the chips, additional paint comes off easily, then that is an indication that there is a problem with the adhesion of the newer paint to the older layer, he says.

Paint won't stick to anything shiny, so surfaces need to be clean, dry and dull in order to achieve the best possible results, Taylor advises.

"If you know the area was prepped correctly -- that it was sanded to remove the gloss and primed -- then you can try touching up the existing painted surface," he says. If that is not known or if the touch-ups are too visible in contrast with the original paint job, the best choice is to go ahead and repaint the doors or drawers that need it, Taylor says.

Repainting will always generate the best result, he says, but the job could be a difficult one if there are a lot of these areas.

And when it comes to oil versus enamel, Taylor advises that for those who don't like using an oil-based enamel paint, that a top-quality, 100 percent acrylic enamel paint is best for cabinets.

In some cases, it's best to remove the doors and drawers as well as all of the pulls, knobs and other hardware in order to be able to reach all the places that need to be repainted.

The next step is to clean the cabinets. While they may not look dirty, this room is a work space with grease and grime. This is also a good time to repair

any areas of the cabinets that may have gouges or holes in them with wood filler.

After the filled areas have dried, use sandpaper to smooth out the cabinet's surfaces. Those just touching up the cabinets won't have to sand and paint the inside of the cabinets or remove all the old paint it if is adhering well. Instead, just sand the areas where the finish did not adhere well, usually the result of greasy residue or moisture.

In conclusion, Taylor says that do-it-yourselfers shouldn't hesitate to ask for help.

"Ask the manager at your favorite paint store for recommendations or contact a professional painter for help."

-- Linda S. Haymes

Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We'll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203 or email:

lhaymes@arkansasonline.com

HomeStyle on 09/26/2015

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