How to Paint Kitchen Soffits
- 1). Clean the soffits with detergent to remove grease and grime. Pay special attention to the area above the stove, since a lot of cooking grease can accumulate there.
- 2). Caulk the gap between the lower part of the soffit and the cabinets. Choose a caulk color that best matches the cabinets (usually white, tan or light brown.) Run the bead of caulking along the entire line, smoothing it out with a damp rag or sponge and making sure it's not smeared onto the cabinets. Use clear paintable silicone caulking if your cabinets are a different color. Let it dry at least four hours.
- 3). Repair holes, dings or cracks with spackle. Sand it smooth. If the soffit drywall is textured, use joint compound or spray texture--available in spray cans to match many common wall textures--to re-texture the repair.
- 4). Tape a straight line, using blue painter's tape, along the cabinets. Press it down firmly to prevent the paint bleeding through. Tape the ceiling as well, unless you have a very steady hand.
- 5). Prime the soffit with general purpose latex primer. If it's in very good condition, it doesn't have to be primed unless you have made some repairs.
- 6). Paint the soffit with two coats of washable kitchen paint. Cut in with a brush first, then roll. This eliminates brush marks. Paint the underside of the soffit the same color as the front.
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