Two weeks ago, I decided to paint my kitchen cabinets. Unfortunately, I misread the directions I had obtained searching on the internet. I cleaned the cabinets really well with a degreaser, removed them all. My husband added trim. I sanded the new trim but didn’t sand the old varnish that was on them. I totally skipped over that part of the directions (not intentionally) and then applied two coats of primer to the cabinets, doors, and drawers. Then I painted everything a beautiful Moss Green with a Latex Semi Gloss paint (not the best choice either according to the “Paint Doctor”). However, the paint seems to be scratching quiet easily. I KNOW NOW that if they had been sanded the paint would have “taken” a lot better. Now I have a problem. I don’t want to have to strip the paint off and do this over again. This is an extremely tedious project that I do not wish to tackle again anytime soonL Please tell me what I can do to keep my cabinets protected. Is Polyurethane my only option? Or is there some other product out there that would be easier? If I have to use Poly, please explain what the steps are for applying the stuff. PLEASE HELP MEJ I am really about to lose my mind trying to make these cabinets “Perfect” and beautiful!!!!!

labman

Is the paint on the trim where you sanded under it OK, but scratching easily over the old, unsanded varnish? If so you are correct that sanding would have made it stick better and not scratch as easily. I am afraid you may have no other choice that to remove it from all the unsanded areas and start again. Putting poly over it could only make it worse. The thicker the film, the easier it will chip and scratch if it didn't adhere to the surface under it. You could also have problems with likely an original oil base varnish, the latex, and then poly. That could lead to the alligatoring you often see on things that have been painted with different paint over the years.

Poly may have been a better choice, but if the latex is OK where you sanded under it, you might stick with it when you redo the cabinets.

tboette

I did put primer on them, do you think the paint just isn't completely dry? It has only been about 24 hours.

labman

I wasn't sure I understood the question originally, and am less so now. New paint is always going to be more tender at first. Is the scratching the same all over, or just a problem where you didn't sand the varnish first?

skiberger

Did you prime and then paint all in the same day? What did the primer say as how long to wait before top coating? Is the paint scratching from the primer or are all layers scratching from the wood?
Just because semi-gloss is dry to the touch doesnt mean its fully dry. Touch up the scratches and be very carefull around the cabinets for the next couple days. The cabinets should be OK when the paint is thouroughly cured. Also high humidity in the house will make the paint take longer to cure.