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Preparation is the most crucial and, really, the only secret to a lasting paint job on laminate cabinets. Paint will peel off laminate surfaces that aren't clean and grease-free. Paint will also peel off if there isn't proper etching on the cabinet surfaces. Taking time to deep clean and lightly but thoroughly sand before priming and painting will greatly increase your chances of success and help keep the paint from peeling.

There are three primary ways to attach upper kitchen cabinets to a wall, and installers may use more than one method at a time. The most common method is to drive screws through the back of the cabinets and into studs in the wall behind. Sometimes cabinets are glued to the wall with strong adhesive. Often a combination of screws and adhesive is desirable. The last way is by hanging the cabinets on hardware brackets that attach to the wall before cabinet installation.

Liquid sandpaper is a solvent used to soften existing layers of paint and make them porous enough that you can effectively apply a new coat of paint. You rub the liquid sandpaper on, wait for it to work, and wipe it off—no literal sanding is involved. Liquid sandpaper can save time and is helpful if parts of the cabinet are hard to reach with standard sandpaper. However, like paint stripper, liquid sandpaper creates dangerous fumes and must be used with care indoors. And unlike sanding, it can’t fix any scratches or dings in your cabinets.

Make sure your shelves are no more than 12 inches deep. Any deeper and it will become hard to access items towards the back of the shelf. Yet, for larger walk-in pantries, homeowners may prefer 15- to 18-inch shelving to make room for larger appliances and cookware.