Can I Use Semi Gloss Paint on Kitchen Cabinets?

Alkyd Or Latex?

• Both alkyd and latex paints are available in satin, semi-gloss and high gloss enamel. Paint technology continues to advance in leaps and bounds, so latex paints are now almost as durable and washable as alkyd. Not only is latex much easier to use because it dries faster, does not have pungent fumes and tools can be cleaned in water, it's also easier to touch up if your cabinets get chipped or scratched.

  While oil-based paint is a little harder and more abrasion-resistant, it's also prone to yellowing and cracking, especially if the air in your home is dry. Couple that with the longer drying time, strong fumes and longer project completion time, both professionals and homeowners alike are much more likely to choose latex over oil.

Selecting Paint Sheen

• As a general rule, the higher the paint sheen, the harder the paint. This is why glossier paints are recommended for trim, cabinets and any other surface that needs to withstand cleaning and general abuse. Satin sheen paint is adequate for cabinets that don't get a lot of abuse. High gloss paint is harder, but will highlight surface irregularities such as the open grain on oak. Semi-gloss paint falls between the two in sheen, and is probably the most common choice for painting kitchen cabinets.

Considerations

• Even more important than paint sheen is the overall quality of the paint. High gloss budget-priced paint will not only take more coats to complete the project and not dry to as smooth a finish, it will also be much less durable than even a satin sheen, high quality paint. Considering it takes only 1 or 2 gallons to paint cabinets in an average-sized kitchen, skimping on paint quality for the project makes little sense. The Paint Quality Institute suggests using a 100 percent acrylic, or vinyl acrylic latex paint for stain resistance and durability. Purchase your primer and paint for the project from a paint store, instead of a hardware or home improvement center. Although it may cost a little extra per gallon, they have a wider range of better-quality products. When buying paint, the adage "you get what you pay for" holds true. Cheap paint won't seem like such a good deal if it takes four coats instead of two to cover, or if the paint starts chipping off within months.