How to Remove Metal Kitchen Cabinets to Paint Them

Introduction

Painting metal kitchen cabinets can completely transform the look of your kitchen. It allows you to update the color and style without the expense of installing brand new cabinets. However, properly preparing metal cabinets for painting requires a bit more work than painting wood cabinets. The metal surface needs to be thoroughly cleaned, sanded, and primed to achieve an even, durable painted finish.

Removing the doors, drawers, and hardware is the first step to providing full access for cleaning, removing grease buildup, sanding, and priming all surfaces of the cabinets. Taking cabinets off the wall provides the ability to paint the cabinet boxes and interiors as well. This allows you to completely change the color of the entire metal cabinet.

This article will provide detailed steps for how to remove metal kitchen cabinets to prepare them for painting. We’ll discuss how to remove doors, drawers, and hardware. We’ll also cover taking cabinets off the wall, including filling holes and preparing walls for fresh paint. Follow these steps properly and you’ll have the perfect surface for repainting your outdated metal cabinets.

Gather Supplies for Removing Metal Kitchen Cabinets

Before starting demo work on your kitchen cabinets, gather the necessary supplies to remove the components safely and efficiently. Here are the recommended supplies:

• Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
• Cordless power drill with Phillips and flathead bits
• Pry bar
• Hammer
• Putty knife
• Painter’s tape
• Tarp or drop cloths
• Boxes and bins for organizing hardware
• Stud finder
• Level
• Utility knife
• Pencil
• Masking tape

Make sure to have all of your paint supplies on hand as well. Once the cabinets come off the wall, you’ll want to prime and paint the boxes and interior walls as soon as possible.

Remove Cabinet Doors

Taking the doors off the cabinets allows you to fully clean, sand, prime, and paint them separately from the boxes. It also prevents them from swinging open and being damaged during the renovation process.

Follow these steps to remove metal cabinet doors:

Inspect Hinge Type

The process for removing doors depends on the type of hinges used:

Concealed Hinges: Most modern metal cabinets use concealed hinges with removable pins. This allows the doors to lift off easily once the pins are removed.

Visible Barrel Hinges: Older metal cabinets often have visible barrel hinges held on with removable screws. You’ll need to unscrew these to detach each door.

Continuous Hinges: Continuous hinges run the length of the door and are removable only by unscrewing the entire hinge.

Release Concealed Hinge Pins

For concealed cabinet hinges:

1. Open the cabinet door fully to access the hinge plates.
2. Locate the small removable pins that attach the hinge arm to the mounting plate on the cabinet frame.
3. Use pliers or needle nose pliers to pull the pins straight out of the hinges.
4. Lift the door up slightly and away from the cabinet to detach it.
5. Place the door on a protected surface and repeat for remaining doors.
6. Keep all hinge pins and mounting screws organized in bins so they can be replaced later.

Unscrew Visible Barrel Hinges

For visible barrel style hinges:

1. Open the cabinet door fully to access the hinge screws.
2. Use a power drill with Phillips head bit to unscrew the screws attaching the hinges.
3. Carefully lift the door off the hinges and place on a protected surface.
4. Remove all screw caps covering screw holes as well.
5. Save all screws for reattaching the hinges later.

Unscrew Continuous Hinges

For long continuous hinges:

1. Starting at one end of the hinge, unscrew the screws attaching the hinge leaf to the cabinet frame.
2. Slowly work down the length of the hinge, unscrewing several screws at a time until the door can be detached.
3. Carefully lift the door off the hinge and place on a protected surface.
4. Remove the leaf of the hinge still attached to the door.
5. Save all screws for reinstallation.

Label Doors

As you remove cabinet doors, mark the back of each door with masking tape indicating the cabinet it came from. This ensures you don’t mix up the doors during the painting process.

Remove Drawers

Follow similar steps to detach all drawers from the cabinets. Taking the drawers out allows full access to clean and paint the entire cabinet box.

Unscrew Rail Screws

1. Pull the drawer out as far as possible to access the rail screws or brackets on the sides.
2. For modern drawer slides, look for small levers or tabs to press down while pulling the drawer all the way out.
3. Use a screwdriver to remove the screws attaching the drawer slides or brackets to the cabinet interior.
4. Carefully lift or slide the drawer off the rails and place on a protected surface.
5. Save all screws, slides, and hardware for reinstalling drawers later.

Label Drawers

Mark each drawer with masking tape indicating the cabinet it was removed from to prevent mixing them up.

Repeat for Remaining Drawers

Continue the process until all drawers are removed from the cabinets.

Remove Cabinet Hardware

Detaching all hardware allows full access for painting the doors and provides a clean surface for spray painting as well.

Drawer Pulls and Knobs

Use a screwdriver to unscrew all knobs or pulls from drawers first. Place hardware in bins or bags labeled for each drawer.

Door Handles and Pulls

Unscrew any additional door handles or pulls and place in labeled bins.

Hinges and Plate Covers

For concealed hinges, unscrew plate covers from the door and cabinet frame. Keep hinge parts organized with the correct door.

Number Plates or Covers

Carefully remove any number plates or covers from doors and place in bins.

Miscellaneous Hardware

Remove any other screws, brackets, or hardware attachments from the cabinets. Label bins accordingly so all hardware can be replaced in the correct location.

Remove Cabinet Boxes from Walls

For full access to paint all surfaces, removing metal cabinets from the walls may be required. This allows painting the interior walls, sides of the cabinet, and the exterior that was previously hidden by countertops.

Use caution and make sure cabinets are properly supported when removing them from the wall. Have assistants to help lift heavy cabinet boxes down safely.

Clear Countertops and Interior

Before unfastening cabinets, be sure to:

• Remove all contents from the cabinets and drawers
• Clear countertops of any appliances or accessories
• Detach plumbing or electrical connections

Locate Mounting Points

Examine the interior corners and top and bottom of the cabinet boxes to locate screws or brackets. Kitchens often have standards and soffits that may also require removal.

Unscrew Mounting Screws

Based on your cabinet style, unscrew:

• Toekick screws attaching cabinets to each other
• Wall screws through the cabinet backing
• Screws through corner braces or standards
• Screws through the cabinet top into the wall

Carefully Remove Cabinets

With an assistant, carefully lift the detached cabinet off the screws and down from the wall. Place on a protected surface and continue removing cabinets one by one.

Remove Any Backing or Soffits

Unscrew any soffit panels or cabinet backing from the wall once cabinets are detached. Repair and repaint these surfaces as well.

Fill Holes

Examine the walls once cabinets are removed and fill any screw holes or wall damage with spackle. Sand smooth for painting the walls.

Prep and Paint Walls

With cabinets removed, it’s the perfect time to paint the kitchen walls. Follow these steps:

Clean Surfaces

Wash walls to remove grease, dust, or debris that may have collected behind cabinets. Allow to fully dry.

Sand and Patch

Lightly sand to dull glossy areas. Fill any holes or imperfections with spackle and sand smooth.

Prime

Apply a high-quality primer to walls and soffits. This helps paint adhere to glossy or damaged areas.

Caulk Cracks

Run a bead of paintable caulk along seams, corners, and where the wall meets the ceiling. Smooth with a wet finger for a continuous look.

Cut In Ceiling and Trim

Use angled paint brushes to hand “cut in” primer and paint around all ceilings, corners, trim, and moldings.

Roll Paint

Pour your topcoat wall paint into a paint tray. Use a roller with an extension handle to efficiently roll primer and paint onto walls and soffits. Apply two coats allowing proper drying time between coats.

Replace Cabinets on Wall

Once the walls are prepped and painted, you’re ready to mount cabinets back on the wall.

Mark Studs on Wall

Locate studs using a stud finder. Mark their locations with painter’s tape at the top and bottom of the wall to guide cabinet placement.

Level and Mark Height

Use a level and measuring tape to determine cabinet height. Mark a level line on the wall to help align the top of the cabinets.

Lift and Fasten Cabinets

With an assistant, lift and hold cabinet boxes in position against the wall. Insert mounting screws through the cabinet backing into the marked studs.

Attach to Wall and Previous Cabinets

Continue securing cabinets to the wall and each other by replacing any screws through corners, braces or toe kicks.

Replace Trim and Fill Gaps

Reattach any soffit panels, backing panels, or trim pieces that were removed. Caulk and fill any gaps between cabinets or surrounding countertops.

Prep and Paint Cabinet Boxes

With the cabinet boxes rehung on the wall, shift your focus to prep and paint the cabinet interiors and faces.

Remove Grease and Grime

Clean cabinet interiors, sides, and exterior surfaces with a degreasing agent and sand any rough areas. This provides the ideal surface for your primer and paint.

Sand Surface

Lightly sand all cabinet sides and external surfaces to rough up the finish. This helps paint adhere better than to a slick metal surface.

Clean and Dry

Wipe sanded surfaces with a tack cloth to remove any dust before painting. Allow surfaces to fully dry if wiping down with cleaner.

Prime

Apply one to two coats of high-quality metal primer to all cabinet sides, letting dry completely between coats. Primer helps provide grip for the paint.

Caulk Seams

Run a bead of paintable caulk along cabinet frames and any seams or gaps. Wipe smooth with a wet finger before painting.

Paint Cabinets

Using a high-quality cabinet paint formulated for metal, apply two to three coats to the cabinet sides, fronts, interior, and frames. Allow proper dry time between coats.

Prep and Paint Doors

The doors, drawers, and hardware can be painted separately from the cabinets for ease of handling.

Fill Holes

Inspect doors and use wood filler to patch any holes or imperfections in the surface. Allow to dry completely.

Sand Surface

Lightly sand doors to rough up the glossy metal surface for painting. Be careful not to scratch or gouge the metal.

Clean and Dry

Wipe door fronts and backs with a tack cloth to remove dust before painting. Allow to fully dry.

Prime and Paint

Follow same process as the boxes by applying 1-2 coats of metal primer and 2-3 coats of cabinet paint to door fronts and backs. Allow full drying between coats.

Replace Hardware

Once doors are fully painted and cured for a few days, reinstall the handles, pulls, hinges, and number plates. Refer to labels or bin system to ensure all hardware goes back in the right location.

Reinstall Drawers and Doors

The final step is attaching the painted doors, drawers, and hardware back on the freshly painted cabinets.

Drawer Slides and Fronts

Reattach drawer slides brackets to interior cabinet frames. Slide each painted drawer back into place and fasten to slides. Refer to labels if needed.

Cabinet Door Hinges

Hold doors in place against cabinets and reinsert concealed hinge pins to remount doors. For other hinge types, use screws to reattach hinges to cabinet frames.

Adjust Doors

Test door opening and closing. Adjust concealed hinge plates if needed to achieve proper alignment.

Add Pulls and Hardware

Install all handles, pulls, knobs, or other hardware in original locations on doors and drawers.

Touch Up Paint

Use a small brush to touch up any paint scratches or gaps that may have occurred during reinstallation.

Tips for Painting Metal Kitchen Cabinets

Follow these tips to get the best painted finish on metal kitchen cabinets:

• Clean surfaces thoroughly with a degreaser before sanding or priming
• Sand well to rough up the slick metal for better paint adhesion
• Apply 2-3 coats of primer formulated specifically for metal
• Use thin, even coats of quality metal paint, waiting proper dry time between coats
• Allow painted cabinets to cure for several days before reinstalling doors and drawers
• Use painter’s tape around wall edges for a crisp paint line
• Number or label hardware and doors to ensure easy reassembly

Patience and attention to detail in the prep work and painting stages will provide you with a durable, beautiful finish on your metal kitchen cabinets. The thorough steps above answer how to properly remove metal cabinets for painting. Now it’s time to enjoy your colorful makeover!

Frequently Asked Questions About Removing Metal Kitchen Cabinets to Paint

Can I paint over metal kitchen cabinets without removing them?

It is not recommended to paint metal cabinets without removal. Leaving doors on does not allow full access to clean, sand, and prime the metal properly. Cabinets left on the wall also makes it difficult to paint the interior boxes and interiors. Taking cabinets off the wall is advised for a complete, professional looking paint job.

What type of paint adheres best to metal cabinets?

Specialty metal paints are formulated to bond tightly to slick metal surfaces. Look for cabinet paint approved for metal that provides strong adhesion and a durable finish. Oil based and acrylic options are available. Priming with a metal-specific primer also improves paint adherence.

How long does it take to remove kitchen cabinets?

On average, it takes 2-3 days to fully remove wall and base cabinets, doors, drawers, and hardware from a standard 10 x 10 kitchen. Working with an assistant speeds up the cabinet removal process.

Should you paint cabinet insides?

It is recommended to paint the inside of cabinets when repainting the kitchen. This finishes off the full transformation and allows you to change interior color as well. Fully painting the entire cabinet also provides better durability and easier touch ups down the road.

What order should you paint cabinets?

It is best to paint cabinets in this order: remove doors, drawers, and hardware > clean and sand surfaces > remove boxes from wall > paint walls and soffits > paint cabinet boxes > rehang cabinets > paint doors, drawers, and hardware > reinstall.

How do you paint metal kitchen cabinets that cannot be removed?

For situations where cabinets cannot be taken off the wall, you can still prep and paint cabinets in place. Remove all hardware, doors, and drawers. Clean, fill holes, sand, and prime existing cabinets. Use painter’s tape and drop cloths to pain the exposed sides and fronts. Paint doors separately. Let all painted surfaces cure before reassembling.

Conclusion

Upgrading kitchen cabinets by properly prepping and painting metal surfaces can make a huge difference in the appearance of the space. While removing the doors, hardware, and entire cabinets takes time and physical effort, this comprehensive process ensures all surfaces can be fully cleaned, sanded, and painted for a cohesive finished look.

Use the steps above for safely removing metal cabinets, preparing the underlying walls, and conducting the painting process from start to finish. Pay close attention to using the right metal-specific paint products, thoroughly sanding prior to priming, and allowing adequate drying time between coats. With some diligence and elbow grease, you can revive your outdated metal kitchen cabinets with a fresh painted color.