Yes, you can spray paint your kitchen faucet and even keep it looking fresh for years. If your faucet needs redoing or even if you’re just a DIY enthusiast, this post would be perfect for you. I’m going to share a simple 8-step guide on how exactly you can paint your kitchen faucet to perfection and also keep it looking that way for a long time.
Spray painting your kitchen faucet or sink is a great, cost-effective way to update your kitchen. However, to make sure that the paint stays on and your effort doesn’t go in vain, it’s very important to take proper care of the painted surfaces. Let’s look into this in detail.
Contents
Step-by-Step Guide on Painting a Kitchen Faucet Perfectly
Painting an outdated kitchen faucet is a great way to update your kitchen without spending hundreds of dollars. If done correctly (and patiently, might I add), the results are actually quite worth it.
However, executing the job incorrectly can cost you a lot of time, money, and effort so it is important to get it right the first time. To make it easier for you, I’ve broken down the entire process into 8 simple steps:
1. Ready the Supplies
It’s important to ensure that you have all essential supplies before you start on the project. To spray paint your kitchen faucet, you’ll need:
- Screwdriver (optional)
- 220-grit sandpaper
- Steel wool
- A damp cloth
- Painter’s tape
- Brown paper covering or plastic tarp
- A Primer or undercoat
- Spray paint of your choice
- Lacquer or topcoat (optional)
Painting is a tricky job – you have to wait for specific intervals of time to add more coats of paint. You don’t want to be running off to find a supply when your faucet is ready for the next coat of paint!
2. Remove Handles from Your Kitchen Faucet
Although optional, separating the handles from the faucet makes the job a whole lot easier for you. Simply grab a screwdriver and disassemble the handles. The purpose here is to disassemble the faucet so that it would be easier to clean and paint the individual components.
Note: You would also want to paint your sink’s drain and plug if you are changing the color of your faucet.
3. Sand the Surfaces to be painted
Use a 220-grit sandpaper to sand the finish of all components thoroughly. Make sure that every part is clean and dry before you sand it.
Sanding takes off the sheen that’s already on the metal, allowing the paint to penetrate deeply.
Make sure you sand all sides and corners so that the paint penetrates evenly and the final look is seamless.
4. Clean the Surface Carefully
After thoroughly sanding the surface, it’s time to clean it properly. This means that simply dusting it off won’t be enough. I recommend using a steel wool followed by a damp cloth to ensure that the surface is perfectly clean and ready to be primed.
5. Cover the Surrounding Areas to Protect Them
This step may take some extra time, but it needs to be done carefully or else you’ll end up painting more than just your faucet (I’ve been there and trust me, scraping paint off of your sink and countertop is not fun).
So, how to make sure that everything stays clean? Use plastic tarp or brown paper covering along with painter’s tape to cover surrounding areas completely.
Make sure that you cover at least 12 inches from all sides of the surface to be painted.
Remember, you’re also painting the plug and the metal drain at the bottom of the sink so you’d probably need to tape your entire sink.
6. Prime the Surface & Let it Dry
Finally, now that your faucet and the area around it are both prepped, it’s time to bring on the first layer: the primer.
Many people skip this step and paint directly. The results are similar at the time, but primed surfaces hold onto the paint better than those unprimed in the longer run.
A spray paint is only as good as the primer it is sprayed on!
Since you’re painting metal, using automobile paint as a primer is a good idea. Each brand comes with its own directions that you must follow as closely as possible. Wait for the recommended amount of time for the primer to dry before you start painting.
7. Spray the Surface Evenly
Once the primer is completely dry, it’s time to paint! You can use any metallic spray paint of your choice.
2-3 coats of paint are usually enough. Make sure that you wait for the first coat to dry up completely before bringing on a second coat of paint. To avoid any splotches or drips, keep the spray about a foot away from the faucet surface and move your hand in a sweeping motion.
If you’re doing it for the first time, it’s okay to apply several light coats for a finer finish instead of 2-3 heavy coats.
8. Add a Top Coat for Extra Shine
By now, your faucet has finally been painted successfully and if you’re really happy with the results, you can skip this step. If not, adding a top coat of a shiny lacquer is a good way to get a seamless, glossy finish and to add a protective layer over your hard work.
Remember, this is not the time to be impatient. Let each coat dry completely before you add another one. And after you’re done with the final coat, stay away from using the faucet for almost a week! Trust me, you do not want a single mark on all your hard work now.
And you’re done! After a week, your sink would be ready to be used regularly.
Yes, I admit, spray painting your kitchen faucet takes a lot of time, but it is a great way to save while also doing a fun DIY project!”.
Painting a Faucet vs Replacing it: Pros & Cons
When it comes to updating your kitchen faucet, you have the two obvious options: replacing it with a new one or painting your current one. Both ways have their pros and cons. Let’s look at them individually:
Painting a Faucet:
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| – Does not require external help. You can do it yourself at home. – The entire cost is under $40. – Creates a beautiful finish | – It can chip off with time and require occasional touch ups – You have to wait up to a week for the paint to dry before being able to use the faucet |
Installing a New Faucet:
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| – Changes the look of your kitchen completely – Looks brand new – A reliable and long-lasting solution – You don’t have to wait to be able to use the faucet | – It costs more – It might require external help like a plumber to install |
Honestly, I don’t think there’s any “best option” here. It comes down to your needs and your budget. If you’re only looking for a temporary solution at the moment, spray painting is a great option.
On the other hand, if you want to permanently change the look of your faucet, investing in a replacement is not a bad option (especially if you have the budget for it!). If you’d like to explore the option of getting a new faucet, our detailed review of the best kitchen sink faucets will be a helpful resource.
Maintenance: Keep Your Spray-Painted Faucet Looking Fresh
In my experience, I’ve found spray-painted faucets to last a good 2-3 years but only if you take good care of them.
By taking care, I mean:
- Avoid frequent scrubbing with harsh materials (like a steel wool)
- Doing frequent touch-ups where the paint comes off (use a q-tip to paint in corners or small areas).
- Keep sharp knives and edges away from the painted surface
Remember, you’ve only painted your kitchen faucet, not replaced it with a brand new one. A little care can go a long way!
Spray Paint Your Kitchen Sink for the Full Experience
Yes, you read that right. Kitchen faucets are not the only thing you can paint, kitchen sinks can also be painted using spray paints. In fact, some people prefer going all out by painting both the sink and the faucet for a complete makeover instead of just painting one of the two.
Stainless steel sinks need to be primed first and then painted, while acrylic sinks don’t need to be primed so they are painted directly. Used oil-based paints for best results.
If you have a stainless steel sink that you’d like to paint, check out our step-by-step guide on how to paint a stainless steel sink.
Porcelain sinks are to be refinished professionally only. You cannot spray paint them at home.
Final Thoughts
By now, you know that not only is spray painting your kitchen faucet possible, it’s actually a great way to revamp your kitchen’s look under a budget.
The procedure may take some time and effort, but the end results are definitely worth it. Even If you do want to buy a new faucet in the longer run, spray painting your current faucet can buy you 2-3 years easily!
