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Design Dilemma
dawnswan13

Which paint brand is best for kitchen cabinets?

12 years ago
Hello!
My husband are starting on our DIY kitchen makeover. I have already decided to paint my cabinets white but now I am stuck on which paint brand will give me the best, most durable, smoothest finish. We have already started deglossing and priming so we are ready to paint! I went to my local ACE Hardware store which sells Benjamin Moore paint but they do not sell Ben Moore Advance (which I heard was the best). They do have Ben Moore Aura but the lady working there recommended I use their Clark and Kinsington brand paint which she said is just as good. The Aura paint is $70 a gallon which is okay with me if it truly is the best. I do not live close to any other Benjamin Moore retailers but I am a short drive away from Home Depot and Lowes. What would you do? I am attaching a pic of my kitchen just for reference! Thanks so much!
Featured Answer
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Sherwin's Pro Classic is meant for spray - it has anti-sag properties that allow for a good build without sagging - meaning it sets up real fast! If you try to brush it, however - it won't look so good. As you go around a door, when you brush into the last section - and thereby touch the first section - it will pull the first section and gum up a bit.

    So - if you can spray, SW ProClassic is the best. If you are brushing, Benjamin Moore Satin Impervo can be made to look like it was sprayed. (Just for confidence level....we have sprayed more than 75 kitchens in the last 14 years, and brushed just a few...). HD and Lowes will sell wood and trim paint, but it's not the same as SW or Ben Moore....

    Good luck with your project - Robert

    Comments (31)

    • 12 years ago
      Hi, I don't know if you have access to sherwin Williams or not, but my husband does spray finishing and painting and he always uses their interior acrylic latex "pro classic" brand, for his painted trim and doors. He says that is the best! It is also rather pricey, but does a beautiful job. You should also probably use their pro block primer first...hope that helps!
    • 12 years ago
      i've seen cabinets that have lasted more than a decade using behr, which is at home depot.

      i can't imagine spending $70 for a gallon of paint. omg.

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    • 12 years ago
      Thanks so much! My husband stopped by a Sherwin Williams store on his way home from work so I guess we are going with that! I really appreciate you both for responding to my dilemma!
    • 12 years ago
      Just to support your decision, we had new kitchen cabinets installed last year, and the cabinet company we used, which has a very good reputation in this area, uses S-W paints on its painted cabinets.
    • 12 years ago
      Have you looked at the cabinet paint from Rustoleum? I tried on some laundry room cabinets as a test and it turned out great. You'll love the white cabinets. Are you changing the counter tops to a darker color?
    • 12 years ago
      jabbott2012- we are going to replace countertops! I haven't picked a color yet, we've looked but still not sure on the color. I actually looked into the Rustoleum product but the Paint Man at Home Depot said absolutely do not attempt to use the white kit on my color cabinets because they require so many coats to cover that I would just be better off priming and painting the old fashioned way.

      Robert, my husband came home with ProClassic interior acrylic latex enamel. Uh oh! I'm not spraying anything! Just me and my purdy brush. I started painting already I can see what you mean about messing up where you've already been but it does seem to level out nicely as it dries. We are doing thin coats and hoping it looks nice and smooth in the end. Should I sand between coats? Thanks!
    • 12 years ago
      last modified: 12 years ago
      Ace hardware has a product called Alkatex which is specifically for cabinets and doors get them to mix the Benjamin Moore color in the Alkatex it is in the low 30s I just made it for a customer today in Revere Pewter. btw what state are you in?
    • 12 years ago
      I would have also recommended you use a high build primer.
    • PRO
      12 years ago
      Check with Sherwin to see if you can add an extender to the ProClassic. FLOOD makes two products (Penetrol and Floetrol) that keep the paint wet for just a bit longer, allowing it to level more. But I can't remember if SW recommends that or not when brushing... As for sanding, yes, a light scuff sand between coats with 220 or higher. Tack off (or vacuum) after sanding. Watch for the paint to "roll" as you sand - if it does, stop sanding. The paint takes a lot longer to dry than you'd think - if it rolls, it is still too soft. You can either wait (like a few days...) or just recoat without sanding. Best of luck! Robert
    • PRO
      12 years ago
      @ dawn...have you bought the paint yet?
    • 12 years ago
      I would stop now and wait to see what you have already painted looks like when it is fully dry. You may find that it is perfectly fine or you may find that you need to add an extender, which I bet SW does make, as suggested by Edmond Kitchen.
    • 12 years ago
      Joseph. Yes, we got paint and already started painting!

      Robert, thanks for all the tips! We bought this house in July and have painted the whole exterior an half of the interior but this cabinet painting project is by far the most stressful.

      Rubyloves2shop, I'm not sure if my ACE has that product because I've talked to those folks several times about my cabinets and they have never mentioned it. Also, I live in WA. :)
    • 12 years ago
      Robert, I just realized you were in Edmond Oklahoma!! I'm originally from Moore, Oklahoma. We are a military family and orders took us from home about 7 years ago. I have friends and family living in Edmond and all over OK of course! What a small world!
    • 12 years ago
      Maybe not but they have it here in San Diego County of CA. I do agree about the flowing agent for brushing and use the highest quality professional brush available. The trick is not to overwork the product. Please show us your project when you finish!
    • PRO
      12 years ago
      Did you prep and prime the cabs ?pro classic is great use XIM extender but for truly best cabinet paint fine paints of Europe but very expensive .
    • PRO
      12 years ago
      Hi Dawnswan - It is small - but it seems interesting to me to meet so many people that are from OK - wherever we go! My wife is from AZ - and even there we have friends that lived or grew up here. Have you had a chance to get some paint on the cabinets yet? If so - how's it looking?
    • PRO
      12 years ago
      I really cant tell from the picture, but if the cabinets are oak realize that the grain of the wood will show through. A brush coat of primer will fill the grain better than spray. I would use bulls eye for the 1st prime coat. If your going to spray use a HVLP unit, it has a lower overspray and more control. I've sprayed many furniture pieces with a waterborne lacquer from ML Campbell . They also have a dull finish topcoat , that I would recommend. They have a primer as well, that is a stain blocker. This product sprays on smooth and has good coverage. HVLP are easy to use and probably can be rented, brushing sucks. I've even used their clear primer and distressed the edges by wiping away the paint to expose the wood on the corners.
    • PRO
      12 years ago
      Aura sucks, hard to work with. I also like Lowes Ultra Interior sprays awesome.
    • 12 years ago
      If i am using Advance from BM for my kitchen cabinets, what do you suggest for the finish?
    • 12 years ago
      Sheen is always a personal choice but the higher gloss tends to give a very modern look.. Keep in mind the lower the sheen the less the imperfections will show that would be my choice. The light will reflect on a high sheen and unless the grain is filled perfectly you will see it. Low sheen seems to fit with any decor and if it is top quality durability would not be an issue.
    • 12 years ago
      old post.
    • 10 years ago

      Hi dawnswan13,

      We are also about to paint kitche ncabinets. Did you end up using SW ProClassic paint?

      Thanks,

      Mary

    • 10 years ago

      Also, did you paint with a brush or spray?

    • PRO
      10 years ago

      The best paint to use for a furniture type finish is ML campbell pre catalysed lacquer. This product must be sprayed. If your brushing or rolling use a good self leveling paint. I think Sherwin Williams Emerald would work well with a mini 4" velour sleeve and brush.

    • 10 years ago
      Thank you all for your advice;). Sorry for the misspelling;)! I'm excited...what colors are on their way in?
    • PRO
      10 years ago

      gray tones are the most popular right now for walls. If your talking about cabinets i would say a off white with a slight grayish cast. You want to stay on the neutral side, cause its not something you''ll be doing any time soon again. Just check out Houzz ideas


    • 10 years ago

      Distant Gray from Benjamin Moore is a great white for cabinets.


      Also, no one is talking about using a small foam roller for the second coat - I was planning on painting with a combo of a good brush and a foam roller. Sherwin Williams Pro Classic.


      Any rollers out there?

    • 10 years ago

      Has anyone used BM Advance line? Is it any better to apply to cabinets now?

    • 10 years ago

      Linen White by Ben is an awesome white color. Before putting my house on the market I remodeled my kitchen..Looked so good....they repainted the cabinets in Linen White Muralo semi-gloss. They brushed it but it looked like it had been sprayed. I could not believe how good it looked. There are so many awesome paint choices; its difficult to pick the wrong one if you do your research.


    • 7 years ago

      I am currently using the Benjamin Moore advance satin paint. For me this is the worse paint I’ve ever used! Air bubbles in the paint. Air bubbles with foam roller, regular roller for smooth surfaces and a Purdy paint brush! All bubbles. I have to roll it on, then take a brush to remove bubbles. My cabinets are flat. I need to find a different paint or I’m doing some mething wrong. I do not recommend this paint for anything. I did clean, sand, prime too.

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