A Guide to Glazing Cabinets

When you want to remodel your kitchen, the cheapest project is glazing the cabinets. Glazing cabinets takes little time to do yourself, but there are some things about the glazing process should know before you begin. The information below will provide a short informational guide on glazing cabinets.

What is Glaze?

One common misconception is that glaze is something unique or refined. Glaze is just like any other paint or stain you find on the shelf in a paint store. The only difference is that the paint is mixed with either water or a solvent. You can make glaze yourself and save a few dollars. If you are using latex based paint, then mix water with the paint at a ratio of 4 parts paint to 1 one part water. An oil based paint is mixed with a solvent at a ratio of 3 parts to 1 part paint.

Cover Everything

When you are glazing cabinets, the glaze that you use can easily damage everything else it touches. This includes the frame of the cabinet, floor, backsplash, windows and even the counter. For this reason, you should always cover everything that is not meant to be glazed. The best material to use is a plastic drop cloth. They can be placed on the floor as well as the counter and taped in place using painter's tape.

Use the Right Brush

Glazing cabinets sounds like it should be pretty cut and dry, but the type of brush you use to apply the glaze can mean a lot to the final outcome. When you use paint or stain that is latex based, then any brush can be used to glaze the cabinets. If, however, you are using an oil based glaze, all natural or china brushes are the best brushes to use. The bristles of nylon brushes will spread apart, creating a poor finish, whereas natural and china brushes will create an even and smooth coat.

Very Forgiving Process

Glazing cabinets is a chore that is very flexible. No two things will ever be identical, but if you don't like how it is looking, you can easily change it. Due to the water or solvent in the glaze, it is possible for you to wipe away the glaze you just applied without harming the cabinet.

Direction of Painting

The best result you can achieve with glazing is buy painting with the grain of the wood. This helps to create depth in the wood by accentuating the natural shadows in the recessed features. The same effect does not happen with flat panels of wood.

Work Slowly

Due to the water or solvent in the paint, the glazing process is slowed when compared to simply painting the cabinets. When glazing cabinets, you typically wipe the glaze off with a rag, and this is what creates the deep and textured look. If you allow the glaze to sit too long on the wood, it will become tacky, and you will not be able to wipe off the cabinet. For this reason, work on one cabinet at a time.