Paint Cabinets or Built-In Shelving

A. Finished-Project Specification

Scope: one cabinet, cabinet section, or built-in shelving assembly, including all doors, drawers, hardware, and interior surfaces designated for coating, coated with a compatible bonding primer and cabinet enamel system, reassembled, adjusted, and inspected for operation and finish quality.

B. Cabinet Component Schedule

Component	Substrate Options	Removal / Handling Requirement
Cabinet body / carcass	Laminate, veneer, solid wood, MDF, or another approved substrate	Remains in place; interior protected during coating of surrounding surfaces
Doors	Laminate, veneer, solid wood, MDF, or thermofoil	Photographed, labeled, and removed with matching hinge codes
Drawers / drawer fronts	Laminate, veneer, solid wood, MDF, or thermofoil	Photographed, labeled, and removed with matching slide-position codes
Hinges, pulls, knobs	Existing hardware, reused unless the finish schedule specifies replacement	Bagged and labeled to match the door or drawer they were removed from
Removable shelves	Laminate, veneer, solid wood, MDF, or another approved substrate	Labeled with original position and orientation

C. Coating System Takeoff

• Bonding primer: the product confirmed compatible with the identified substrate; not interchanged between substrates without a new compatibility check.
• Cabinet enamel: the specified finish product, sheen, and color, applied at the coverage rate stated on its approved data sheet.
• Filler: a product compatible with the substrate, used only for minor dents, dings, and fastener holes within this chapter's scope.
• Attachments: approved finish and color schedule attached to the worksheet; if not issued, the worksheet must record that fact before coating begins.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Labeling	Every door, drawer, hinge, pull, and shelf photographed and labeled before removal, with no unlabeled components at reassembly
Surface preparation	All coating surfaces degreased, sanded or deglossed uniformly, and free of dust before primer is applied
Primer adhesion	Bonding primer passes the adhesion check after cure with no lifting, flaking, or removal of material under the tape test
Enamel film	Cabinet enamel applied in thin, even coats with no runs, sags, or dust nibs, and no buildup in hinge cups, slide tracks, or shelf-pin holes
Cure before reassembly	Hardware reinstalled only after the manufacturer's full cure time has elapsed, with no blocking or surface damage at contact points
Operation	Every door and drawer opens, closes, and aligns correctly with reveals matching the pre-removal photographs

E. Substrate Identification and Compatibility Confirmation

1. Identify cabinet material, existing finish, door and drawer system, hardware, interior surfaces, and required coating. Record the substrate category and existing finish condition for every component on the Cabinet Component Schedule.
2. Confirm the coating system is compatible with laminate, veneer, solid wood, MDF, thermofoil, or existing paint. Cross-check the selected bonding primer and cabinet enamel against the identified substrate.
3. Do not coat failing thermofoil, contaminated silicone surfaces, or unknown finishes without an approved test. Perform a test-patch application on an inconspicuous area and inspect adhesion after the specified cure time before proceeding to full application.

F. Disassembly and Labeling

1. Photograph and label every door, drawer, hinge, pull, and shelf position. Assign a matching code to each door and its hinge locations, and to each drawer and its slide position, before removing anything.
2. Remove doors, drawers, pulls, knobs, hinges, and removable shelves as permitted. Bag hardware from each component together with its label.
3. Protect cabinet interiors and adjacent surfaces. Mask or cover interior surfaces, countertops, and floors not scheduled for this chapter's coating.

G. Cleaning and Repair

1. Degrease all coating surfaces thoroughly. Apply the approved degreaser to every surface scheduled for primer, working from the least- to most-contaminated areas.
2. Rinse or neutralize cleaner as required. Follow the product instructions for rinse or neutralization before proceeding.
3. Repair minor damage with compatible filler. Fill dents, dings, and fastener holes, and allow the filler to cure fully before sanding.

H. Sanding and Dust Removal

1. Sand or degloss sound surfaces uniformly. Use the least aggressive abrasive that produces a uniform scuff across the entire surface.
2. Control dust and avoid sanding through thin veneer. Use light, even pressure and check veneer thickness at edges before sanding aggressively.
3. Vacuum and wipe surfaces clean. Remove all sanding dust with a HEPA vacuum followed by the approved tack or wipe method.

I. Bonding Primer Application

1. Apply the specified bonding primer. Apply in thin, even coats to every surface identified in Section E, maintaining wet edge and specified coverage.
2. Inspect adhesion after cure. Perform the tape adhesion test on a representative area once the primer has reached its stated cure time.
3. Sand primer lightly where required. Scuff-sand the cured primer only if the product instructions call for it before topcoat.

J. Cabinet Enamel Application, Cure, and Reassembly

1. Apply cabinet enamel by brush, roller, or controlled spray as specified. Follow the application method identified in the finish schedule.
2. Maintain thin, even coats on profiles and edges. Avoid overloading panel recesses, door edges, and drawer fronts.
3. Prevent paint buildup in hinge cups, slide tracks, shelf-pin holes, and moving joints. Mask or shield these areas during application and remove any bridging film before it sets.
4. Observe full recoat and cure requirements. Allow each coat to reach its stated recoat window before applying the next.
5. Apply additional coats. Apply the number of coats specified in the finish schedule, maintaining consistent sheen and color across all components.
6. Reinstall hardware only after sufficient cure. Confirm the manufacturer's full cure time has elapsed before installing hinges, pulls, and slides.
7. Hang doors and install drawers. Match each labeled component to its recorded position and hardware set.
8. Adjust reveals, hinges, and slides. Adjust hinge cups and slide mounting points until reveals match the pre-removal photographs and doors and drawers operate without binding.