Matt is a professional painter who owns and operates his own painting business, specializing in interior and exterior house painting.
Do you have to caulk kitchen cabinets to paint them?
Caulking kitchen cabinets for a paint job hides gaps on painted doors and wall boxes for a seamless look, but before you grab your caulking gun, there are a few important things to know.
Caulking cabinet door panels is risky
Unless you’re willing to risk cracks forming, I strongly recommend that you only caulk your cabinet wall boxes and moldings and not the door panels. I successfully caulked cabinet doors for a long time until I ran into cracking issues. After this experience, I stopped caulking the door panels to paint them.
The purpose of the floating panel on a cabinet door is to allow the wood to expand and contract, but when you fill those gaps the sealant can split as the wood absorbs moisture and swells. You are more likely to have this problem if you live in a high humidity area and have porous wood cabinets such as oak. Cracks in putty are difficult to repair, and in some cases you may even need to repaint the doors.
Caulked vs Uncaulked Doors
The best way to avoid a big headache is to not just caulk the floating panels on your cabinet doors. You’re probably worried that uncaulked gaps won’t look right when the doors are painted, but that’s not the case at all when done right. I use an air compressor and a razor blade to remove debris from the corners so the doors have a nice clean profile when painted. The key to a professional paint job is to keep door crevices clean as you paint.
What is the best caulking for kitchen cabinets?
Choosing the Best Sealant for Paint Cabinets
In my experience, cracks in painted putty are less likely to form on cabinet frames and moldings than on floating panel cabinet doors, but the type of putty and the size of the gaps to be filled play a role. also a role in this regard. It’s also essential to make sure you buy a high-quality painter’s putty that’s compatible with your paint.
Cabinet Paint Caulking Options
The best sealant for painting cabinets is higher quality acrylic latex with more flexibility. Don’t buy cheap painter’s putty. It is less flexible and more prone to cracking. If you are filling large spaces and want to maximize flexibility, one of the best options is elastomeric sealant. In the past I have used Sherwin Williams’ Shermax elastomeric sealant, but this product is hard to find in stock where I live. I’ve also used Sherwin Williams’ Quick Dry Putty, but I’ve had issues with cracking while using this product.
Scroll to continue
The sealant I use and recommend for painting cabinets is Dap Alex Flex Premium Molding and Trim Sealant. I use this putty to fill gaps on wall boxes and cabinet moldings, not doors. I explained earlier why I don’t caulk cabinet doors anymore, but if you do decide to caulk your own, I highly recommend using extra flexible caulk to reduce the risk of cracking. For better flexibility on floating door panels, I would opt for Dap Extreme Stretch Crackproof Elastomeric Sealant instead of the Alex Flex Sealant I recommended. The added flexibility allows the putty to expand further with the wood.
Learn how to caulk cabinets like a pro.
How to caulk cabinets before painting
The type of sealant you choose and how you apply it both play a role in its performance. If you paint your cabinets with acrylic enamel or acrylic alkyd enamel, the products I recommended earlier are both good options.
I highly recommend reading the application instructions and specifications of the sealant you are using to maximize performance and durability. Most importantly, make sure the labeling on the tube says the sealant can be painted. I would also use white putty instead of clear.
Caulk after cleaning and sanding
Do not caulk your cabinets before cleaning and sanding them. If you do, the sandpaper and cleaning chemicals will damage and ruin the putty. The first cleaning also ensures that the sealant bead forms a good bond with the surface. I also recommend caulking before priming, not after. The primer seals the putty to prevent shiny imperfections in the paintwork. These imperfections are often called “shiners”.
Caulk cabinet wall boxes
Using a dripless caulking gun, fill the space where the cabinets meet the wall, as well as any space between the moldings and wood frames. Apply enough sealant to fill the gap, but don’t apply too much or leave buildup on the surface without wiping it away. Caulk shrinks as it dries, so it’s important to fill in the deepest gaps or you’ll end up with cracks. Use a damp cloth to wipe away residue and smooth the bead. Do not repeatedly wipe the fresh bead with a damp cloth. Too much water will thin the putty and cause cracking when it dries.
Never paint over wet putty
Letting the putty dry completely before painting is probably the most important tip. If you paint over caulk that hasn’t dried, you’ll end up with cracks soon after the paint dries. Drying time is even more important when using an elastomeric sealant, as it can take up to four hours to fully dry. It may take even longer if you have filled deep gaps. If you are using a slow drying sealer, my recommendation is to wait until the next day to prime and paint.
This content is accurate and faithful to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not intended to replace the formal and individualized advice of a qualified professional.
© 2022 Matt G.