Best Wood For Painted Cabinets
If you're DIYing a kitchen makeover or home renovation for the first time, it may surprise you that not all wood species are cut out as an ideal option for painted wood cabinets.
The woods typically used by professionals on their paint-grade cabinet doors are the tighter-grained woods like Poplar, Soft Maple, Alder, Pine, Birch, Hard Maple, and MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard). Check out the wood species we offer.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Wood for Paint-Grade Cabinets
When shopping for wood for painted cabinets, there are a few characteristics you'll want to look for. This includes:
- Durability: You want a wood type that can provide long-lasting performance and withstand daily use. To maintain a professional finish, you should check how resistant the wood is to cracking and warping.
- Grain Pattern: The smoother the grain pattern, the better the painted finish. Wood types with a prominent grain pattern don't have a smooth surface level so the pattern may show through the paint.
- Wood's Natural Hue: Before you decide on a wood type for paint-grade cabinets, you'll want to nail down which color you plan on painting them. This way, you can check if the wood type's natural hue will impact the paint job.
- Affordability and Availability: Lastly, make sure the wood for the painted cabinet doors you decide on is affordable and within budget.
Top Wood Types for Paint-Grade Cabinet Doors
When exploring wood types for paint-grade cabinet doors, it's important to note that not all woods are created equally. The grain pattern, natural hue, and overall construction can impact the finish you're trying to achieve.
When selecting materials for paint-grade cabinet doors, the right wood is essential to achieving the desired finish. At Cabinet Door Factory, our paint-grade options include MDF, paint-grade poplar, and paint-grade maple, each carefully chosen for its suitability for painting.
If you are refinishing cabinet doors made from other wood types, the following pros and cons can provide helpful insights. Additional preparation, such as sanding, priming, and sealing, may be necessary to achieve the best results.
Medium-Density Fiberboard
Pros:
- Smooth surface, ideal for paint application
- Affordability
- It comes in various styles
Cons:
- Not as strong as solid wood cabinets
Hickory
Pros:
- Resistant to cracking and warping
- Durability
Cons:
- Prominent grain pattern that will show through the paint
- Expensive
- It would require multiple coats of paint to get your desired finish
Alder
Pros:
- Smooth surface
- Light grain pattern
Cons:
- Absorb primer at a high rate
- Considered a "softer" hardwood
- Low availability in some regions
Oak
Pros:
- Durability
- Affordability
Cons:
- Deep and open-grain wood pattern
- It would require drywall putty or a thick sealer
Maple
Pros:
- Durable and stable
Cons:
- Expensive
- Select maple is not preferred for paint-grade cabinets
Beech
Pros:
- Fine, straight-grain pattern
- Affordability
- Light, neutral, and natural hue
Cons:
- It may require additional preparation and sanding to ensure the grain pattern doesn't show through the paint
- Not as moisture resistant as other wood types for paint-grade cabinets
- It's not ideal if you decide to paint your cabinets a lighter color
Best Practices for Paint-Grade Cabinet Wood Types
- The “prep-prep-prep” rule: Save yourself time and ensure that the prep is on point so that you are satisfied with the final result.
- 5-F’s rule: This rule is “Fine Finishers Finish Firewood First.” It simply means that experimenting with your finish on scrap wood can prevent ruining a door with a failed finishing attempt.
- Understand Humidity: All Wood types expand and contract with changes in humidity. The paint will slow these humidity-caused wood movements, but no paint is entirely moisture-proof and will not stop the movements. This humidity-movement of wood presents another potential issue for the painted cabinet door. When the paint dries, it will no longer have the elasticity to move with the wood, so it will crack, usually along the glue joints where the Stiles & Rails join.
- Hardness of the Wood: The softer the wood, the more quickly it will dent if hit with a pot or frying pan. The dent in the wood may be slight and hardly noticeable, but dried paint doesn’t dent without cracking.
- Paint Application Method: To get a professional-looking finish, you will need to spray on the paint. This is not from a Krylon can but a compressed air or airless spray painting system.
Shop Wood for Painted Cabinets Today
Cabinet Door Factory is proud to offer high-quality, custom-sized replacement cabinet doors at the same prices enjoyed by distributors. Even better, you get your products delivered right to your door without the hassle of navigating the retail experience!
Explore our extensive selection of cabinet doors and get inspired for your project today. If you have any questions, we invite you to contact us online or by phone at 480-545-1221.
What is the best wood for painted cabinets?
Medium-density fiberboard is affordable and offers a perfectly smooth surface for paint application. Our frames are made with paint-grade poplar or maple and an MDF panel.
Which wood types are best for paint-grade cabinet doors?
Consider poplar or paint-grade maple if you prefer solid wood instead of MDF.
What is the most affordable wood for painted cabinets?
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) cabinets are more affordable than solid wood cabinets. MDF cabinet doors can also last 10-20 years, making the investment comparable to solid wood cabinets.
Can I use solid wood for paint-grade cabinets?
Yes, but you may need to add multiple layers of paint to get your ideal finish. If the grain pattern is still too prominent, you may need to apply a drywall putty or a thick sealer.
How do I prevent paint from chipping on cabinet doors?
Make sure your cabinet doors are properly prepped and primed before paint application. Taking proper care of the cabinets will also help their longevity.
Is oak a paintable wood for cabinets?
If an open-grain wood like Oak is your only choice, it is recommended that the grain be filled with Drywall putty, Bondo, or a similar thick sealer and then sanded to a smooth surface before painting. Or, consider 2-3 coats of an oil-based primer like based primer like Kilz. Each coat helps fill in that grain and will conceal 75% of the overall grain.
