Are Glazed Cabinets Shiny?

Glaze Finish

• Glaze, in general, is a translucent product mixed with paint to produce a stain-like material. The material is brushed onto cabinets, and then wiped back off with a terry towel or rag. The glaze is left in the crevices of architectural trim and molding found on the cabinetry. Each manufacturer's glaze will have a different final sheen finish. Some may leave a glossier sheen than others.

Paint Sheen

• When mixing glaze and paint together, the ration for staining cabinets is often a one-to-one ratio, or 50 percent paint and 50 percent glaze. Always mix in a flat sheen paint for less sheen or a higher gloss paint for additional sheen. The sheen will not be similar to what the paint's sheen would be, if not mixed with glaze, but it will make a slight difference in the final glazed cabinet look.

Experiment

• Purchase a few samples of glaze, and mix with a sample color of paint. Apply a few swatches of the glaze onto a piece of baseboard or molding for practice. Brush the glaze on, dab with the terry towel and allow to dry. Label each section on the back of the molding, so you don't forget what brand glaze was used in each section. Allow to dry for 24 hours, and inspect the different variations in sheen.

Add or Subtract Sheen

• if you are finished with your glazing project and you feel the sheen level is too much or too little, you can always add a clear coat. Never use an oil-based clear coat because it will yellow over time. Instead, opt for a water-based version. Clear coats come in different sheen levels from dull to high gloss. Add extra coats for added durability to your paint projects. If adding a clear coat over dark-painted cabinets, do not paint on a humid day. The moisture may become trapped in the air and create a milky white haze that cannot be removed.