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Painting Geneva Metal Kitchen Cabinets
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My metal kitchen cabinets are from the 1950s or earlier. I would like to paint them since I cannot afford to replace them. They are in good shape but they are ugly. Someone told me there is a no prep metal paint that requires no preparation of the surface - just paint it on. If this does not exist is there an adhesive type primer I can use before I paint and not have to strip or sand the cabinets?
Susan L [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Gloucester City, New Jersey
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I also have metal kitchen cabinets that I would like to paint. They are Geneva cabinets and in very good condition, but awful color. Any ideas on how to best do this and the type of paint to use will be appreciated. David D [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Bowling Green, Kentucky ++++++ I have Geneva cabinets that are from the 1950's. They are white and in great shape except for the ugly paint. We are trying to redo the kitchen and keep it as retro as possible. What can I use? Nancy J [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Nebraska City, Nebraska +++++++ We have Youngstown 1950's to 1960's vintage cabinets. They have been repainted with an enamel paint and the paint has adhered well but need refreshed again (white). What brands of primer/paint would you suggest ? Do I need to use both, or is there a self-adhering paint that will work ? Also, is it true that I should be looking for an auto body paint, or would an enamel paint be sufficient ? Cheri HeadConsumer - Geneva, Nebraska +++++++ We have Geneva Metal Cabinets in our kitchen and we had a company come and spray paint the inside and outside. They did a great job. I believe they used a special sprayer and paint for working on metal. They look great and were finished in a few hours. Well worth the money since we can't afford to gut the kitchen. I would look under appliance and metal painters in the phone book. Our guy was local to our area. Carmelina Mattera- St. Louis, Missouri |
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When you don't really care how much it costs, you can do as I did with the 15 pc Geneva Kitchen I salvaged: Disassembled all chrome and plastic, Soda blast to bare metal ($3000) and powder coat ($3200),then reassemble.
Robert Srour- Rockville, Maryland
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I also have a kitchen that featured metal cabinets made by Geneva. They were dirty and ugly. After cleaning them up, I used a roll-on, epoxy appliance paint manufactured by Rustoleum. When you roll the paint on, the surface will be covered with tiny bubbles. This freaked me out at first. As the bubbles began to pop (immediately after application) they formed a nice, orange peel texture. It took two coats of white appliance paint to cover. I love the result.
My cabinets have white, plastic inserts that fit behind the chrome handles. I painted these with white spray paint intended for plastic to clean them up a bit. They also turned out great.
- De Smet, South Dakota
Sirs:
I have the ugly green cabinets Geneva Metal. I have lived in the house for 50 years and cannot afford to replace a new kitchen. How can I have these painted.
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
February 25, 2008
I have Geneva Metal cabinets in great condition and I can not justify replacing them. I have painted them with regular acrylic paints - use a sponge, not a brush - and then polyurethaned them. You can get a low odor, flat to gloss finish with the polyurethane. My parents and my aunt have both painted their cabinets with different methods, but have not had my success with durability. My aunt had her's sanded down to the metal, primed and painted with car paint. These cabinets started to yellow and degrade within a couple of years. My parents sanded and sprayed their cabinets with an initial great finish, but, alas, they too, started to yellow and the paint is wearing off as we speak (or, rather, read). Painting with the acrylics and polyurethaning has had the most lasting effects. Painting with a sponge is scary, but the air bubbles "dried out" and the finish is a matte finish that is very smooth. The polyurethane just makes the cabinets very cleanable. From the voice of twenty years of experience...
Lori
- Franklin, Pennsylvania
March 22, 2008
Need handles and inserts for Geneva metal cabinets [circa 1953]
I have white metal Geneva cabinets with plastic inserts that chrome handles fit into. I want to know if there is a source for parts for these cabinets.
Michael CooneyHomeowner - St Louis, Missouri
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August 31, 2008
I am also in need of the plastic inserts! Can anyone help? Angela Murray- Falls Creek, Pennsylvania September 8, 2008 I am looking for a response to the questions from others looking for plastic inserts for metal Geneva Cabinets. Thank you, Jim James H McRoy- Southbridge, Massachusetts ---- |
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March 30, 2008
We have beautifully redone white Geneva cabinets that we love, but we are wondering how one would go about repairing a dent? - St. Louis, Missouri June 2, 2008 Terry R- - Crestwood, Missouri June 2, 2008 Hi, Luby. Any auto body shop (collission repair shop) will have the right equipment and the competent people to spray the cabinets. Although not all auto body shops want to do that kind of work, some are happy to. Regards,
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June 4, 2008
I have also refinished and am looking for 4 plastic handle backs. I think these cabinets are great, but has anyone out there replaced the counter tops. I want to replace them. How do we disconnect the original ones and attach the new?
Yvonne Frydenlund- DeForest, Wisconsin
August 26, 2008
I have Geneva cabinets in my kitchen that were installed in 1951 by the original owner. We have had them painted twice using epoxy paint.They did wonderfully and I am considering painting them again. The shelves are coated wire so no bugs on the shelves and you can see up into the top shelf easily. If you use epoxy paint you must not stay in the house for 24 hours as the fumes are toxic.
Charlotte Wolfe- Savannah, Tennessee
September 10, 2008
I am just wanting to know if there was any response to the question about removing a dent from a metal cabinet?
Elizabeth A Bates- Garwin, Iowa
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February 5, 2009
I, too, am looking for white plastic inserts for Geneva cabinets. I have looked everywhere I can think of,including local salvage warehouses, but with no luck. Anybody have any suggestions? Margret Schnitzer- Baltimore, Maryland April 23, 2009 We are in need of the plastic pieces for our cabinets. Does anyone know where we can purchase some? Julie Taylorhome owner - Crawfordsville, Indiana ---- |
June 30, 2009
My question is, I have purple St. Charles metal cabinet that are in great condition, need advise on changing colors.
Jomain Brown- Lake Charles, Louisiana
June 30, 2009
Hi, Jomain. Just wash them with detergent to remove any film of kitchen grease, very lightly sand them to remove some of the gloss from the existing paint, and spray them with a rattle can of paint. Good luck.
Regards,
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 Ted Mooney, P.E. finishing.com Brick, New Jersey |
August 3, 2009
If anyone is that interested in Geneva cabinets from the late 40's early 50's come to fresh meadows queens(new york). Fresh meadows apartments complex houses 3000 families and many of the kitchens still have geneva kitchen cabinets. Fresh meadows recently began gutting out the kitchens after tenants move out and most likely throw away the geneva kitchen cabinets.
Ryan S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]student - Fresh Meadows, Long Island, New York
September 18, 2009
Hey I live in Fresh Meadows and yes the guy above me is right. I have seen them toss out the meta cabinets and placing in wood ones. But I did find an image of someone who painted their metal cabinets. Look at the "before" image:
retrorenovation.com/2008/02/13/painting-metal-kitchen-cabinets-jay-and-jamies-nashville-condo-with-retro-renovated-youngstown-cabinets/
- Fresh Meadows, New York
April 25, 2010
Hello Folks,
I also have a full compliment of beautiful and rare Geneva Metal Cabinets in the house that I just purchased... I was told by a gentleman on another forum that the cabinets in my house were rare because they have rounded doors vs. square ones... not to mention that they still have the original stickers and I even found the original blueprint in a closet!
- St. Louis, Missouri
August 23, 2010
Any idea on the fixing of dented Geneva cabinets?
Sally Costik- Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA
December 29, 2010
I also have 60 year old Geneva cabinets, and would like to repaint them. I need new handles, however. Does anyone have a source for these? Thank you.
Amy
- Arlington, Virginia, USA
December 15, 2011
I am a painting contractor and have finished numerous Geneva Cabinets over the years. I find the best way is to give a good cleaning, light 220 sand, prime and paint with a quality gloss or semi-gloss. No need for epoxies or any of that crazy stuff. We have found an HVLP turbine sprayer similar to the auto shops to be best. There are numerous products that will spray well and will last. One thing, we do isolate the room and use a negative air machine to withdraw airborne particles and keep odor from migrating into the house. Also the sprayer should be wearing proper respiratory protection.
I guess a talented homeowner could attempt but I would leave it to the pro's as even a lot of my competitors stay away from this as they need auto body talent mechanics.
If approved, I will post some photo's of before, during and after.
As for the dents, just like auto body, use Bondo
Price: for full protection, containment, prep, prime, paint, replace hardware, and final clean my usual price for a normal kitchen is $1,750.00. I may even be too cheap.
- Plainview, New York, USA
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Ed. note: Thanks for the excellent technical information, David. Sorry, but even with that, for a number of reasons we do not put readers in contact with each other or let companies advertise their services in this free forum section which is paid for by their competitors.