If you’re reading this, it is because you have painted cabinets in your home and you have an issue with peeling paint.
When we are painting kitchen cabinet doors, we take extra steps to make sure you have a new, clean, solid painted surface that will last for years to come. We are so sure we give you a lifetime warranty on all our cabinet painting.
There are issues where the paint on a painted surface will peel away. We know this because we are getting calls from people who have this issue and we have had this issue with work we have done. In each case the reason is simple- the paint is not adhering to the surface.
Is your paint peeling, chipping or bubbling?
These are 3 different reasons that cause paint to come off of a surface.
- Improper preparation
- Impact damage
- Water damage
With these reasons there are some other reasons why paint will come off a painted surface like cabinet doors but for today we will keep it simple. So lets hit the 3 reasons.
Improper preparation causing paint to peel
We see this issue in many different ways:
- Cabinets not cleaned of dirt and grease
- Cabinets not sanded to allow a surface for paint to stick
- Finger prints! If you try to paint and clean without gloves on, finger prints show up on the paint
- Using the wrong primer. A good bonding primer is needed to stick to previously finished cabinets and give a surface for new paint to stick too
- Wrong paint. Not all paints are created equal! A high quality cabinet tested grade paint is what you need to use.
We take a lot of time to clean cabinets. We use degreasers, wax removers and de-glossers to get rid of any contaminates in and on cabinet doors. Sometimes, heavy grease or cooking oil just will not go away. In those cases we are stuck using oil primers. If you are working with bathroom cabinets or areas where hair spray is being used, you will have a major issue with silicone that takes shellac to cover.
If you don’t take the time to clean, sand, prime and inspect for contamination issues you will have paint issues.
Impact damage
This damage is usually seen with chipping paint
- Areas around silverware drawers will chip because putting silverware away, at some point you will hit the paint with a utensil.
- Finger nails – This usually happens around knobs or at the ends of a drawer or door because there is no hardware to use.
- Trash access – Cabinets that have trash inside the cabinets ALWAYS get damaged. Cans, plates, you name it- cause paint to be damaged.
- Toys – Usually small kids but we have seen some older kids do some damage to cabinets.
- Cleaning tools – We usually see this with vacuum hoses. The metal hose dings the edges of the cabinets
- Dogs – We have fixed many cabinets where dogs have chewed the edges of cabinet doors
We cant do much to prevent this, it happens and you should expect it in every type of kitchen cabinets. Stained cabinets have just as much damage, you just cant see it as easily as a painted cabinet.
Water Damage shows itself in bubbling
Water damage comes in various forms. We have done a few videos and blog posts on this already.
- Water and wood do not mix!
- Leaving wet towels or rags on wood cabinets
- Using the wrong products to clean wood
- Allowing water to stand and dry on wood cabinets
- Humidity
You can read and watch some of the most common water issues we deal with in these links below:
- Water damage mdf
- Fixing water damaged cabinets
- Top 3 ways for overcoming damaged cabinets
- Youtube water damage video
- Youtube water damage repairs video
The hidden enemy of cabinet water damage: Humidity. Humidity in a home not only will damage and cause problems with your cabinets, but with your floors and interior doors!
In the pictures in this post, this was due to water in the home, excessive humidity, which caused the doors to expand then caused the paint to “pop” or blister. We received the call to fix them!
So, that is our process. There may be better – I just don’t know what they are. We work with a few cabinet makers and have their process as part of ours. We use the same materials they use when making them, so it is a solid system.
Is prevention possible? Yes to some point
But when you are asking “why is the paint peeling from my cabinets?” it is not a simple answer. Kind of like: I was stung by a bee. Was it a bee or was it a wasp, honey bee, bumble bee, yellow jacket or sweat bee?
So top ways to reduce damage to your cabinets and prevent paint failure:
- Maintain level humidity in your home (humidifier and dehumidifier).
- Avoid standing water left on your cabinet doors
- DO NOT leave wet towels, rags, aprons etc. hanging on your wooden painted doors
- Use a vinegar and water 50/50 mix to clean the doors. It evaporates fast, no residue.
- Hire a reputable cabinet painter with the right systems to get the job done right
Have questions? Let us know. We look forward to helping you love the space you’re in!
You can also check out our podcast where we talk about home improvement issues as well, The Paint and Paper Podcast. (iTunes) (Windows player)
