Can You Use Exterior Paint On Kitchen Cupboards? Knowledgeable Recommendation


Can you employ exterior paint on kitchen cupboards?
This text will discover the advantages and potential drawbacks of utilizing exterior paint on this distinctive utility.
We’ll focus on the variations between exterior and inside paint, and what concerns needs to be saved in thoughts when making your determination.
Chances are you’ll purpose that exterior paint, designed to resist the weather, might provide elevated sturdiness and safety on your kitchen cupboards.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to know the properties of exterior paint in comparison with these of inside paint, in addition to the affect on the general end and look.
Within the subsequent sections, we’ll cowl the important data you want to make an knowledgeable alternative on your kitchen cupboard venture.
Exterior Paint Vs Inside Paint
When contemplating a paint job on your kitchen cupboards, it’s important to know the variations between exterior and inside paint.
On this part, we’ll discover the important thing variations, sturdiness, and end of exterior and inside paint and allow you to make an knowledgeable determination on your venture.
Key Variations
Exterior and inside paints are formulated with completely different functions in thoughts.
Exterior paint is designed to resist harsh climate circumstances, UV rays, and moisture, whereas inside paint focuses on offering a sturdy, easy-to-clean floor inside your private home.
Some essential distinctions embrace:
- Resins: Exterior paints use softer, extra versatile resins to withstand cracking and fading, whereas inside paints use inflexible resins for straightforward clean-up and stain resistance
- Components: Inside paint incorporates components that cut back drying time and distribute pigment evenly. Exterior paint, alternatively, has components to make it weather-proof
- Volatility: Exterior paint tends to emit increased ranges of unstable natural compounds (VOCs) than inside paint, which might be dangerous to your well being if used indoors
- Fungicides: Exterior paint typically incorporates mildewcides or fungicides to guard in opposition to mildew and mildew development, whereas inside paint doesn’t sometimes embrace these components.
Sturdiness
One of many main considerations when selecting paint on your kitchen cupboards is sturdiness.
Inside paint formulation have been developed to offer a tricky floor that resists on a regular basis put on and tear, comparable to scuffing, staining, and cleansing.
That is particularly essential in high-traffic areas like your kitchen, the place your cupboards want to resist fixed use and cleansing.
However, the primary power of exterior paint lies in its potential to withstand the cruel outside components.
Whereas it may appear advantageous to make use of exterior paint to realize most sturdiness, its composition isn’t optimized for indoor use.
In the end, utilizing exterior paint in your kitchen cupboards might result in a subpar and probably hazardous end result attributable to its increased VOC content material.
End
Kind of end is one other consideration when choosing the suitable paint on your kitchen cupboards. Inside paints sometimes provide a broader vary of end choices, together with flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss finishes.
The flexibility of inside paint finishes means that you can choose a end that most closely fits your design preferences and cupboard floor.
Exterior paints, nonetheless, sometimes can be found in flat, semi-gloss, or gloss enamel finishes.
Furthermore, exterior paint might not adhere as nicely to some cupboard surfaces as inside paint, which is particularly formulated to be used on inside surfaces.
To sum up, whereas exterior paint might appear to be a viable choice on your kitchen cupboards, it’s essential to think about the variations in composition, sturdiness, and finishes when choosing the precise paint.
Utilizing inside paint particularly designed on your venture will finally result in a safer, extra visually interesting, and longer-lasting end result on your kitchen cupboards.

Making use of Exterior Paint on Kitchen Cupboards
Whereas it’s doable to make use of exterior paint on kitchen cupboards, specific care should be taken throughout preparation and utility.
This part will focus on the mandatory steps to take so as to obtain a profitable end result.
Preparation
To start with, take away the cupboard models as a lot as doable and clear them totally.
This course of might contain some sanding, however it’s important to carry out all preparations in a well-ventilated space with optimum airflow.
When sanding, be sure to take away any earlier finishes to assist the outside paint adhere to the floor.
After sanding, wipe down the cupboards with a moist material to take away any mud and allow them to dry utterly.
Additionally, cowl surrounding areas with drop cloths or plastic sheeting to guard them from paint splatters.
Software Strategies
As soon as the cupboards are clear, dry, and correctly ready, start making use of the outside paint. Observe these steps to make sure a easy and long-lasting end:
- Prime the floor: Utilizing a primer is essential when making use of exterior paint to your kitchen cupboards. Priming ensures a correct bond between the paint and wooden floor, stopping peeling and different harm over time
- Brush utility: Apply the paint with a high-quality brush, beginning on the prime of the cupboard and dealing your approach down. Use a brush with artificial bristles for water-based paints and pure bristles for oil-based paints.
- Clean utility: After brushing on the paint, go the comb flippantly over the moist end within the path of the wooden grain to eradicate brush strokes and obtain a easy end. This method, referred to as “tipping off,” needs to be completed in a single stroke from one finish to the opposite
- Permit to dry: Let the paint dry in response to the producer’s directions, sometimes in a single day. This can give the paint sufficient time to harden and attain its full potential resistance in opposition to moisture and different environmental elements.
- Apply extra coats: Relying on the specified protection and end, apply extra coats of paint, permitting ample drying time between every coat.
Do not forget that exterior paint on kitchen cupboards requires a well-ventilated area and ample airflow to keep up the right drying course of.
By following these preparation and utility strategies, you’ll be able to obtain a sturdy and aesthetically pleasing end in your kitchen cupboards.
Execs And Cons Of Utilizing Exterior Paint On Kitchen Cupboards
Benefits
Utilizing exterior paint on kitchen cupboards has some advantages that is perhaps interesting to owners.
Firstly, exterior paint is designed to resist numerous outside components, which suggests it may present your cupboards with safety in opposition to moisture, solar harm, and on a regular basis put on and tear.
This type of sturdiness might help prolong the lifetime of your cupboards and keep their look over time.
Moreover, since exterior paint is formulated to endure outside circumstances, it usually comes with higher resistance to chipping, peeling, and fading.
This may be particularly useful in a busy kitchen, the place cupboards is perhaps uncovered to hazards like steam, spills, and frequent use.
Furthermore, exterior paint typically has an in depth vary of colours and finishes obtainable that may be thrilling to experiment with throughout a kitchen renovation.
This expansive choice makes it doable to seek out distinctive paint choices, permitting you to customise your cupboards and create a standout aesthetic inside your kitchen area.
Drawbacks
Regardless of the potential advantages, there are some downsides to think about earlier than utilizing exterior paint in your kitchen cupboards. One notable downside is the potential for fumes and off-gassing.
Exterior paints typically comprise sturdy chemical components that make them sturdy and weather-resistant.
These components can result in sturdy odors and off-gassing, which is perhaps extra noticeable in an enclosed area like a kitchen.
One other problem is that exterior paint might not adhere nicely to sure forms of wooden generally used for kitchen cupboards, like maple or different close-grained species.
Because of this, you may have to strip the present end to make sure correct adhesion or select one other paint choice altogether in case of adhesion issues with sure woods.
Moreover, exterior paint might be costlier and more durable to work with than customary inside paints.
That is because of the extra efficiency properties and components that make it robust and sturdy.
Because of this, it’s possible you’ll face further bills and difficulties when making use of exterior paint to your kitchen cupboards.
Lastly, utilizing exterior paint indoors can pose potential well being dangers.
Some exterior paints comprise excessive ranges of unstable natural compounds (VOCs), which might trigger respiratory points or different well being problems if utilized in enclosed areas with out correct air flow.
Subsequently, it’s essential to verify the VOC ranking of an exterior paint product and select a low-VOC choice should you resolve to apply it to cupboards.

Various Paint Choices For Kitchen Cupboards
Whereas some might think about using exterior paint on kitchen cupboards, it’s important to discover different paint choices particularly designed for cabinetry.
On this part, we are going to focus on cabinet-specific paints, completely different paint varieties, and a few fashionable paint manufacturers that will help you make an knowledgeable determination.
Cupboard-Particular Paints
These paints are formulated to stick nicely and supply a sturdy, long-lasting end on kitchen cupboards.
These paints are often simpler to scrub, immune to moisture and mildew, and have a smoother, extra professional-looking end than common or exterior paints.
It’s all the time a good suggestion to go for cabinet-specific paints when portray your kitchen cupboards to make sure a high-quality end result and improve the longevity of your cupboards.
Paint Varieties
There are a number of paint varieties you’ll be able to select from for portray your kitchen cupboards. Some fashionable selections embrace:
- Latex Paints: Latex paints have improved significantly over time and are actually a preferred alternative for a lot of DIYers attributable to their fast drying time and straightforward clean-up with water. Nonetheless, you must search for high-quality latex paints with increased titanium dioxide pigment percentages for higher protection and sturdiness.
- Alkyd Paints: Alkyd paints are water-based paints which have an enamel end much like oil-based paints however with out the oil content material. They’ve a tricky, semi-gloss end and are extra sturdy than oil-based paints. Alkyd paints is usually a nice alternative for kitchen cupboards as they don’t want a topcoat
- Satin or Semi-Gloss Paints: Satin or semi-gloss paints are perfect for kitchen cupboards as a result of they’re moisture and mildew resistant and straightforward to scrub. Their end additionally holds up nicely in opposition to steam and normal put on and tear
Paint Manufacturers
Now that you just’re accustomed to completely different paint varieties, let’s have a look at some fashionable paint manufacturers identified for his or her high-quality cupboard paints:
- Benjamin Moore: Identified for his or her premium-quality paints, Benjamin Moore affords a variety of cabinet-specific colours and finishes to select from.
- Sherwin-Williams: Providing quite a lot of cupboard paint choices, Sherwin-Williams is a trusted model with a status for sturdiness and glorious protection.
- Farrow & Ball: Farrow & Ball is a high-end paint model identified for its distinctive coloration palette and superior end, making it a preferred alternative for designers and owners alike.
- PPG Paints: PPG Paints affords a variety of high-quality paints formulated to resist the calls for of kitchen environments, making certain long-lasting outcomes.
Take into account that regardless of which paint sort or model you select, correct preparation and utility are important to reaching knowledgeable, long-lasting end in your kitchen cupboards.

Remaining Ideas – Is Exterior Paint Good For Kitchen Cupboards?
Utilizing exterior paint on kitchen cupboards is certainly doable, however it’s important to maintain just a few essential elements in thoughts.
As a result of exterior paint is extra sturdy than inside paint, some owners might take into account it a sound choice for his or her cabinetry.
Nonetheless, this further sturdiness comes with potential drawbacks.
One important consideration is the truth that exterior paint is often thicker and fewer breathable than its inside counterpart.
This implies moisture from cooking and steam may get trapped behind the painted floor, which might result in points comparable to cracking, peeling, and total harm over time.
Correct prep work is significant when utilizing exterior paint in your kitchen cupboards.
Eradicating the cupboard models, cleansing them, and presumably performing some sanding are important steps to make sure a easy utility course of.
Ideally, this needs to be completed in an outdoor space with loads of airflows.
Furthermore, sustaining the dryness of exterior paint on kitchen cupboards might be difficult since these surfaces often require an everyday quantity of airflow.
Thus, be ready for doable upkeep points should you select to go together with exterior paint in your kitchen cupboards.
In abstract, utilizing exterior paint on kitchen cupboards is usually a viable choice, however it comes with its personal set of challenges.
Weigh the advantages of sturdiness in opposition to the potential downsides rigorously. In the event you resolve to proceed with exterior paint, you should definitely dedicate time to correct preparation, utility, and ongoing upkeep.
By taking these elements into consideration, you may make an knowledgeable determination on your kitchen cabinetry.