Painting a Clear Coat on Kitchen Cabinets

When staining or refinishing solid wood kitchen cabinets, apply a clear protective topcoat before you reassemble the cabinets. The protective topcoat seals the stain and the wood, which is particularly important for kitchen cabinets, which are often subject to spills, grease splatters and steam. Polyurethane is a common option for sealing kitchen cabinets because it is durable and comes in a variety of finishes, such as satin, matte and glossy.

Polyurethane
Foam or hair paintbrush
Fine grade sandpaper
Tack cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Allow the stain to dry completely before applying polyurethane. Wait about 16 to 24 hours after applying the final coat of the stain.
- 2
  Paint the polyurethane onto the cabinets with a foam, natural bristle or synthetic hair paintbrush. Apply with smooth, even strokes, overlapping slightly on each one to ensure complete coverage.
- 3
  Allow the polyurethane to dry. As it dries, you may notice it start to bubble slightly -- ignore this and let it dry for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer.
- 4
  Sand the dry polyurethane lightly with a very fine grade sandpaper, at least 220 grit or higher. Apply just enough pressure to scuff the surface and remove any bubbles that may have cropped up during the drying process.
- 5
  Wipe the cabinets clean with a tack cloth to remove any dust creating during the sanding process. Apply another coat of polyurethane and allow it to dry.
- 6
  Scuff the polyurethane again with sandpaper. Repeat the entire process until you have layered between two and five coats of polyurethane. Do not scuff the polyurethane before applying the final coat.

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