Valspar Cabinet Paint – the Complete Guide
Valspar cabinet paint is a popular paint line that is available at a variety of stores, including Lowes. Given its ready availability, Valspar cabinet paint can be a popular paint choice for a variety of paint projects, from DIY cabinet repainting to contractor cabinet repainting. In this guide, we will cover many of the questions frequently asked about Valspar cabinet paint, from how long it takes to dry to how to apply it and more.
General Info on Valspar Cabinet Paint
How long does Valspar Cabinet Paint take to dry?
Paints have 3 primary different dry times. One is how long it takes paint to dry before you can touch the surface without having wet paint on you; for Valspar Cabinet Paint, this is 4 hours. The second question on dry time is how long you need to wait before applying a second coat of paint; for Valspar Cabinet Paint, this is 8-12 hours. For the final cure, Valspar doesn’t list a time frame on its data pages. To be on the safe side, it is ideal to wait for a few days before the final installation of the cabinets; this will allow the paint to fully cure and prevent any issues like scratches in the finish or similar issues.
One important note about cabinet dry times, it will depend greatly on the temperature and humidity you paint in. For the times mentioned above, it is assumed that the temperature is around 77 degrees Celsius with mild humidity. Higher temperatures will accelerate the dry time while lower temperatures will slow down drying down.
Do you need a primer when using Valspar cabinet paint?
Primers help paint bond to a surface and create a strong lasting finish. That being said, primers are not always needed. With Valspar Cabinet Paint, primers are not needed for new wood or even cabinet repainting, though using a primer can help maximize results. Additionally, if you’re painting laminate cabinets, you will need a primer to help the top coat paint bind to it.
How many coats of Valspar cabinet paint should be applied?
Usually, the minimum recommended is 2 coats. If you're painting a laminate cabinet, you will want to prime the cabinet; then apply two additional coats of Valspar cabinet paint. If you’re painting over a previously painted cabinet, you will usually want to use a primer before two additional coats of Valspar cabinet paint are applied.
What steps are to be taken before coating and in between coats?
Before your first coat of primer or paint is applied, you need to ensure the surface is smooth. To do this, you can start by filling any holes/ scrapes with wood filler. Additionally, you should sand lightly to ensure the surface is smooth. Generally, sanding up with a 220 or finer grit paper will help ensure the surface is very smooth and ready for Valspar cabinet paint. After sanding, you want to clean the surface, making sure that no dust is left behind. If the surface has dirt or grease on it, you should use a proper degreaser to clean it before sanding. The idea is to get the cabinet surface clean, smooth, and dry before painting it.
Can Valspar Cabinet Paint Be Sprayed?
Valspar cabinet paint can be sprayed with an airless sprayer. It is meant to be sprayed around 2000 PSI with a 13 to 19 thousandth tip. Given that Valspar cabinet paint will be sprayed on cabinets, it can be ideal to use a fine finish airless tip. A fine finish airless tip will provide the smoothest finish possible and allow spraying at low pressure.
What if I don’t want to spray?
If you don’t want to/ can’t spray Valspar cabinet paint, the best option will be to consider a roller or a brush. A roller will typically leave fewer marks on the surface using Valspar cabinet paint. Ideally, a 3/6 to 3/8 inch nap roller, and a brush can be a synthetic hair brush.
What are the cleanup requirements for Valspar cabinet paint?
Valspar cabinet paint cleans up with warm soap and water; however, if it's been partially cured, you will want to use mineral spirits.
Overall thoughts on Valspar Cabinet Paint
Valspar cabinet paint is readily available and can be used for painting cabinets, laminate cabinets, wood trim, and more. Using a brush can often result in brush marks but it does work well with a roller or a sprayer. For best coverage, a primer can help prep the wood and improve the coverage of the top coats of paint. Dry time is a bit long, so if you need to complete a project in a hurry, it may not be the perfect option. Overall, Valspar cabinet paint is a readily available paint that can work well for cabinet or wood painting needs.
Our favorite sprayers for Valspar Cabinet paints:
Ultra Handheld by Graco
This handheld airless sprayer is a great option for small to medium projects. It has a fine finish tip, making it easy to spray cabinets with.
