Asked by: Adelma Espinel
home and garden home appliances

Is it necessary to paint behind kitchen cabinets?

25
Paint starts to break down and loses its ability to protect drywall and wood over time. Paint functions as a barrier to stains, heat, humidity and moisture. Paint hinders mold and mildew in damp environments because the warm, dark areas behind cabinets create the conditions conducive to mold growth.


Correspondingly, should you paint walls behind kitchen cabinets?

So, if you're installing new cabinets, most professional house painters would prefer to do their work after the cabinets are installed. If you are doing the painting yourself, we would generally recommend priming and painting first, then have the cabinets installed, then do any necessary touchup.

Likewise, do I need to tape drywall behind cabinets? If you ever plan to clean it then it should be finished. If it will come in contact with water or grease will land on it then it should be finished. If it's behind a cabinet where you'll never see it then that's pretty common to leave it unfinished. Painted No, taped and mudded yes.

Considering this, should you paint before or after installing cabinets?

It is best to paint the kitchen cabinets before you paint the walls. In fact, we suggest painting the cabinets before you even finalize your choice for the wall color.

Do I need primer on drywall?

When You Need a Primer You need a high-solids primer to prevent bleed-through and uneven coloring. You should also prime drywall before hanging wallpaper on it. The primer seals the paper and joint compound so that the wallpaper glue doesn't soak in and dry out.

Related Question Answers

Rosalbina Niekerken

Professional

Can you leave drywall unfinished?

Drywall isn't as durable as plaster, so it can't be left unpainted. First of all, because drywall must be painted, you must use a low-tox paint. Second, you should use a low-tox joint compound.

Federic Carrapico

Explainer

How do you seal under cabinets?

Easy DIY Steps to Fill the Small Gap Under Cabinets
  1. Wipe down the cabinets and floor with a simple cleaner and degreaser.
  2. Once dry, tape off the smallest gap possible with Painter's tape.
  3. Apply a light bead of caulk across the entire line.
  4. Use your finger to spread the caulk across the whole line.

Mattin Terheggen

Explainer

Should you paint walls before installing countertops?

Final wall preparation (i.e., painting, wallpapering, etc.) should not be completed prior to installation if at all possible. Care will be exercised during the countertop installation; however, scrapes, punctures or digs to wall surfaces are possible in the work area, as are scratches and scrapes to cabinetry.

Jaume Quirant

Pundit

How long should paint dry before installing cabinets?

Let that dry for 48 hours before installing the hardware and putting the doors back up. This is a great time to give your cabinets a fresh coat of paint, too.

Mattias Ruivaco

Pundit

In what order do you remodel a kitchen?

Remodeling Your Kitchen—An Order of Steps
  1. "Undo" the Kitchen. Remove cabinet doors first.
  2. Who's in Charge?
  3. Replace Dated Kitchen Plumbing.
  4. Replace Wiring and Install Kitchen Lighting.
  5. Hang the Drywall.
  6. The Art of Mudding.
  7. Paint Kitchen Walls and Ceiling.
  8. Install Kitchen Flooring and Baseboards.

Abdelrahim Newberry

Pundit

Do you put flooring under kitchen cabinets?

If you are installing a hardwood floating floor (or any floating floor such as cork or laminate), you should install the floor AFTER the kitchen cabinets are installed. So, floors that are nailed (or glued) should be installed BEFORE the cabinets and floors that are floated should be done AFTER the cabinets.

Fengzhu Jafrakov

Pundit

Should you tile under or around cabinets?

According to Cabinet Install: Before or After Tile, installing tile after the cabinets means that it's easier to change your flooring later on without having to remove the cabinets.

Berend Andrushko

Pundit

Is it cheaper to paint or reface kitchen cabinets?

Painted cabinets tend to accumulate grease and dust, so they are difficult to maintain; while refaced cabinets can be easily cleaned and maintained. Painting cabinets is much cheaper and more economical when compared to refacing cabinets. Refacing cabinets extends the life of cabinets making them more durable.

Anacleto Schickentanz

Teacher

Can you remove countertop without damaging cabinets?

Unscrew and Pry Countertops from Cabinets
If so, use a screwdriver to unfasten them. After that, you should be able to easily lift the countertop without damaging your cabinets. Countertops can also be held in place with brackets, nails or additional adhesive.

Xumiao Gruszczynsk

Teacher

Do you decorate before fitting a kitchen?

Painting before is useful but not essential if time is short. BUT make sure your painting or kitchen fitting isn't even started until the plaster has dried out. There was a small patch of plaster not quite dry before our fitter put up one of our tall units and mould came through the back within a couple of weeks.

Gretel Abram

Teacher

How do you replace drywall under cabinets?

Removing the Old Backsplash
  1. Cover the countertop, stove and lower cabinets with plastic sheeting.
  2. Put on a dust mask and protective eye goggles.
  3. Score the drywall along the edges of the backsplash with the utility knife.
  4. Cut along your score line with a drywall saw.
  5. Measure the height and width of the hole.

Da Younsi

Teacher

How do I protect my kitchen cabinets after painting?

Apply a thin coat of clear dewaxed shellac to all cabinet surfaces using a natural fiber paintbrush or a disposable foam applicator. Let the shellac dry for an hour; then gently sand away any surface irregularities using 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe off any sanding residue with a dry, lint-free cotton rag or a tack cloth.

Serkan Goodchild

Reviewer

How do you prep cabinets for painting?

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Without Sanding or Priming
  1. Remove Any Dirt and Grime. Using a scrubbing sponge, thoroughly wipe down each cabinet surface with a grease-cutting cleaner, making sure to remove all dirt and grime.
  2. Apply Liquid Deglosser.
  3. Label Doors + Remove Hardware.
  4. Clean Out the Inside.
  5. Paint the Back.
  6. Insert Thumbtacks.
  7. Paint the Molding.
  8. Paint the Front Side.

Xose Ernesti

Reviewer

How do I protect my new kitchen cabinets?

#1 Using Shelf Liner Helps Protect Your Cabinets From Moisture. Using shelf helps protect your cabinets against water stains and rings from not-quite-dry dishes and oil and stain rings from the bottoms of bottles and jars. ?If the surface is in great shape, a liner helps keep it that way.

Rafela Casielles

Supporter

How do I prepare for painting?

  1. Prep Your Walls. Properly painting walls starts with removing everything possible, including all HVAC registers or outlet covers.
  2. Apply Painter's Tape.
  3. Spread Drop Cloths.
  4. Cut in with Primer.
  5. Prime Your Walls.
  6. Sand Primer.
  7. Cut in and Paint Walls.
  8. Wrap Up and Clean.

Darinka Leveling

Supporter

What is kitchen paint?

Specially formulated to kill 99.9% of all household germs on the paint surface. Our kitchen paint is also a multi surface paint and can be used on interior walls, ceilings, wood and metal.

Samuil Hamschmidt

Supporter

How much does it cost to paint a kitchen?

Depending on the quality of the materials (of course the better quality ones will cost more), it ranges between $15 and $25 for a complete set of supplies. Labor - An average rate for a painter is around $50 per hour. As it takes approximately 4 hours to paint the kitchen, it will cost around $80 to $140.

Dimo Vamvakidis

Beginner

What does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets?

Professional Kitchen Cabinet Painting Cost
The average cost to paint cabinets is $3 to $10 per square foot or $30 to $60 per linear foot for all materials and professional labor. Painting contractors typically charge $50 to $100 per door, $120 to $170 per cabinet, and $20 to $30 per drawer.