When it comes to DIY remodeling of your kitchen you will discover that you will have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to the materials and finishes that you will be using as part of the remodeling plan. One of the biggest decisions that you will have to make is what you want to do with all of the cabinets and how they will fit in with your new design ideas.

While many people simply rip out the old cabinets and replace them with a newer, more modern look, if your cabinets are still in good condition there is absolutely no reason the rip them out. With the right amount of preparation and really high-quality paint, you could easily refinish and paint the old cabinets.

Choosing the right paint for your remodeling project

With so many different types, finish, and colors to choose from, you will be wanting to find out as much as you can about the two kinds of paint that are currently on the market that can be used in the kitchen; oil-based and water-based paints. Each one of them has a number of pros and cons that you will need to take into consideration before you buy the paint that you will need.

Oil-based Paints

Oil-based paints are preferred by a number of professional painters for a number of reasons including complete coverage in a single coat and does not fade much over time. While the number of disadvantages often cause novice painters to avoid them, more experienced painters are not so put off by them.

Advantages of oil-based paints

• Applies much smoother, with fewer brush marks
• No shrinking during the drying process
• Resists stains much better
• Fades less
• Easier to keep clean

Disadvantages of oil-based paints

• Clean up is much more difficult, requires mineral spirits or turpentine
• Mineral spirits and turpentine cannot be poured down the drain
• Serious paint fumes must be ventilated

Water-based Paints

Water-based paints, also known as latex paints are a very popular option when it comes to the refinishing of kitchen cabinets. There are a number of advantages to using water-based latex paints in the kitchen. There are also some disadvantages as well that you will want to take into consideration when making plans for repainting your old cabinets. The following is a shortlist of advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages of water-based paints

• Clean brushes, rollers with just soap and water
• Quicker drying times
• Strong ventilation is not required to remove odors
• Does not yellow over time
• Better for the environment

Disadvantages of water-based paints

• Requires additional preparation than oil-based paints
• Surfaces must be absolutely clean in order for the paint to adhere to it
• The grain of the wood must be sealed properly to avoid swelling

We hope that the information that we have included in this article helps to make it a little easier for you to make the decision between oil-based and water-based paints.