What to Do When Your Painted Cabinets Feel Rough

When painted cabinets feel rough, don’t fret—there are a number of ways you can treat them to get a professional-looking finish. If you have a spare weekend and the tools to do it yourself, this is a fairly simple DIY project that can get your cabinets looking top-notch without a hefty price tag. The steps below break down what you can do to smooth out the kinks in your cabinets’ paint job. 

1. Sand Them Down 

The most likely reason your painted cabinets feel rough is that they didn’t get the full sanding they needed before the lacquer went on. A few rough patches here and there can be lightly sanded with 220-grit sandpaper and painted over for a quick fix. But if nearly every inch of your cabinets feels rough to the touch, you may need to sand them completely (this is a good job for an orbit sander if you have one) and then redo the paint job using the following steps.

2. Remove Traces of Dust 

The downside to sanding is that the dust left behind can easily cling to nearby surfaces, like your cabinet doors, drawer fronts, boxes, and bases. If you sanded your doors inside, have a shop vac hose or similar tool on hand to suck up any traces of dust from your floors, countertops, cabinets, and furniture. You’ll also want to wipe down your cabinets after sanding to make sure the surface is free of any debris. 

3. Apply Primer 

Now that you’ve sanded down your rough areas, you’ll need to repaint the spots you smoothed out. Start with a coat or two of primer to help lay a smooth foundation for your cabinets so any texture is covered before the final coats of paint go on. Depending on what chemicals are included in your primer, make sure you put on protective gear such as a mask and goggles and apply the primer in a well-ventilated area to avoid exposure to strong fumes. Let the primer dry completely (the instructions on the can will tell you how long to wait) before moving on to the next step.

4. Use a Paint Sprayer 

If you’re only painting over a few small patches, a brush will work just fine. But if you have a lot of repainting to do, you’ll get the smoothest finish if you use a paint sprayer instead of a roller or a brush. A quality paint sprayer will deliver a consistent, even coat that leaves behind zero drips or brush marks. Just make sure you use oil-based paint; water-based latex paint will clog the paint sprayer and make for a messy, uneven finish. And be sure to clean the sprayer out between coats so that it doesn’t get clogged.

If you’re trying to save on the cost of painting cabinets, you can rent a paint sprayer from your local hardware store for about $50 to $70 a day, or ask your neighbors or family members if they have one you could borrow. 

Ideally, you should spray your cabinet door and drawer fronts in a separate space that’s well-ventilated, such as a garage or outdoor space, so no residue gets on your floors or appliances. Covering your flooring, appliances, and countertops with dropcloths is also helpful in preventing spills or stains while you’re painting cabinet boxes. 

5. Invest in Quality Paint 

If you just need to paint over a few patches you sanded down, use leftover paint from the original paint job or take a cabinet door to your local hardware store to have the experts match the color for you. But if you’re more or less starting over and repainting the majority of your cabinets, this is a good opportunity to upgrade to a better paint. The higher quality paint you use, the better chances you have of creating a smooth finish on your cabinets. The best paint for cabinets has levelers in it, so once it’s applied, it levels out over the surface for an even, professional-looking coat. If you’re not sure which paint uses levelers, you can ask for recommendations from your local paint store.

6. Hire a Professional 

If you’re not confident in your DIY skills or don’t have the time to dedicate to a project like this, you can hire a local cabinet painting company to resurface your cabinets. You can expect to pay anywhere from $422 to $1,419 for your cabinets to be smoothed out, depending on how labor-intensive and complex the project is. 

How to Prevent Painted Cabinets That Feel Rough

To prevent rough cabinets, it’s all about prep work. If you’re doing the painting yourself, you’ll want to first clean each cabinet door, drawer front, base, and box with water and dish soap, then let them dry completely. Next, fill in any dents, holes, or scratches with wood filler. Once the filler dries, gently sand it down until it’s even with the rest of the cabinet. You’ll also want to sand the cabinets between each coat of paint, whether you’re applying primer or the final color coat.