What Kind of Glaze to Use on Cabinets?

Premixed Glaze

• Many hardware and paint stores sell premixed glazes. The glaze is already tinted with a color and no additional mixing of color is required. One benefit of using a premixed glaze is that if you run out, you can simply purchase more. Premixed glazes come in many different colors, including metallic.

Transparent Glaze

• Transparent glaze must have latex paint or tints mixed into the product. Before the paint is added, the glaze is a white color and when brushed is clear in color. Generally, one quart of latex paint is mixed into one gallon of clear glaze. When less glaze is required, use a 1 to 4 ration of glaze to paint. Vary your ratio for more or less color. The more paint added into the glaze, the darker the finish. However, the additional paint will cause the glaze to dry quicker. Glaze needs to stay wet as long as possible, so you are able to manipulate the product.

Different Brands

• When glazing cabinets, you may want to test different brands of glaze. Cabinets are hands on and require constant cleaning. Some brands of glaze are not as durable as others. The antique finish may rub off when you are wiping down cabinets. Test your glaze's durability on a test piece of wood. For added protection, cover the entire glazed cabinet with a clear coat of polyurethane. The clear coat can be sprayed or brushed on over your glaze finish.

Additional Glaze Tips

• Glaze must stay wet to give you time to maneuver the glaze and create the look you desire. Make sure you choose a glaze that stays wet for about 10 minutes before becoming tacky as it dries. This is commonly referred to as "open time" in the decorative paint industry. Some paint brands also sell accompanying glaze extenders. If you are forced to glaze cabinets on a very hot or humid day, a small amount of extender will keep the glaze from drying a few minutes longer. A few minutes could be critical to a successful glazed finish.