If you have a range hood in your kitchen, you most probably love to use it as it removes odors, smoke, fumes, and grease from your kitchen and it sucks up all the polluted air. But you have one problem – it looks boring and dull in your modern kitchen. Now you wonder whether you can do something to let it fit in better with your kitchen’s color scheme. Is painting an option and if so, what type of paint do you have to use? And are there specific steps to take to paint a range hood?
You can do something about your dull hood – you can paint it. Painting is definitely the best option to beautify your range hood. Furthermore, apart from providing a cost-effective way to update the look of your range hood, it also simultaneously prevents rust, water damage, and chipping. To do the job professionally there is a specific procedure and if you follow the steps you will be able to paint the hood yourself.
In this article, we’ll give you the steps to follow to professionally paint your range hood and we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions in this regard. We’re convinced that after you’ve read this article, you will be enticed and equipped to paint your range hood.
Can you paint a range hood?
You definitely can paint or repaint a range hood. If it is done professionally, your range hood will look brand new and it can be in any color you want. Thus, by painting the range hood you can make your range hood look at its best. Painting the hood is also an excellent cost-effective way to update the look of your kitchen.
But because the hood is often exposed to high temperatures, standard appliance paint will not be good enough. You have to use a product specifically designed for application to high-heat surfaces such as stoves, furnaces, and ovens.
How to paint a range hood – step-by-step
Step 1 – Clean the range hood thoroughly
Prepare the cleaning mixture and get a ladder
You can’t paint anything, including a range hood, if the surface is not clean.
In preparation to get it cleaned, get a small step ladder or something to stand on that enables you to reach all the sides and corners of the hood easily. For safety reasons make sure that the step ladder is opened completely and is stable.
Get a degreaser ready and also prepare a water and soap mixture. You’ll also need a sponge to clean the range hood’s surface. We recommend that you use a sponge because it has a better texture than a piece of cloth.
Wash the surface until all dirt and grime are removed
Before you begin painting, you need to clean the surface of the hood thoroughly. Start with a degreaser to remove all the accumulated grime. Wipe down all the oily spots that might have formed on the hood.
Then wash off the degreaser by swiping the soapy water over the hood with the sponge. Repeat the swiping until all the dirt has been removed.
When you are satisfied that all the surfaces are clean, use a damp piece of cloth or sponge to wipe away excess soap and water. During the cleaning process ensure that you don’t put too much pressure or weight on the metal.
Step 2 – Sanding the range hood
After you’ve cleaned the hood and it is completely dry, you can start with the sanding process.
Cover everything around the hood
Before you start sanding, it is very important that you cover all walls, ceilings, cabinets, and countertops around the hood. The better you cover everything, the easier will your clean-up process be later!
Covering everything helps prevent them from becoming messy and full of dust. The easiest way to cover everything is to use a painter’s plastic sheet to put on everything.
If there are buttons, decals, and knobs on the hood that you don’t want to sand or paint, you can use painter’s tape to protect the parts.
Do the sanding
For the sanding process, get a piece of sandpaper and use it to get rid of rust spots and old, chipped paint. By removing the rust you prevent further oxidation.
A word of warning: don’t be too abrasive with the sanding as you don’t want to cause scratches on the metal. When the sanding has been done, take a dry piece of cloth or sponge and wipe the surface clean. Make sure that no dust or rust spots are left.
Step 3 – Prime the hood
Prepare the surface and the primer
Your first step should be to cover all outside edges with painter’s tape. When this has been done, get a painter’s tray and pour the primer into it. Stir it for a few minutes. Also, get your brushes and roller ready and available.
Apply the primer to the hood
The next step is priming. Ensure that you use a good quality adhesion-promoting primer. The primer has to be applied evenly over a smooth surface, whether you are using a paintbrush, a paint roller or using spray paint.
Apply one coat, let it dry and apply a second even coat. Read the instructions on the can to find out how long you need to wait before applying the next coat.
Step 4 – Paint the hood
Prepare the paint
Get a painter’s tray ready and pour the paint into it. Stir it for a few minutes. Also, get your paintbrushes and paint roller ready and available.
Cover the hood with paint
Get your paintbrush and use it to paint over the hood over the dry primer. When done, take a paint roller and finish off the painting process. Implement even and light rolls on the painted surface with the paint roller to remove excess paint bubbles.
Apply metal primer and final paint coat
Apply two layers of metal primer and allow a few minutes for the primer to dry. Get your favorite metal paint ready and pour it into the paint tray. Use a paintbrush to paint the trim and the roller to apply two coats of metal paint.
Step 5 – Seal the hood
After the paint has dried, take a clean paint roller and apply two different layers of sealant on the hood. This is an important part of the whole painting process. The sealant plays a huge role in preventing rust, water damage, and chipping.
Step 6 – Drying
When the process has been completed, wait for the sealant and paint to dry completely. Don’t use the hood for at least 24 hours. After that, you can continue using the range hood part of your kitchen normally.
Remember to wait 24 hours because exposing the hood to heat before the paint is dry might damage all your work and you’ll have to start from scratch again.
A few tips and things to keep in mind
Keep the following in mind when you are painting or repainting your range hood:
- Open at least one kitchen window – the paint might have a heavy smell.
- Use a small paintbrush for hard-to-reach places.
- Do the painting project on a day when you can be at home most of the day to complete it in one day.
- Buy good quality primer and paint.
FAQ
Q: Can you use spray paint to paint your range hood?
A: Spray paint is a popular choice for hood paint, but as for any kitchen remodeling project, you should always use heat-resistant paint. For the best results, you have to spray several very thin layers of paint on the surface.
Q: Can you paint the underside of a range hood?
A: Yes, you can paint the underside of a range hood. You just have to take extra precautions and time to ensure that everything that should not be painted is taped off. Painter’s tape can be used for this. If possible, you can remove the light panel and painted under it as well.
Q: Can you paint a metal range hood?
A: Yes, you can paint a metal range hood, including a stainless steel range hood. You just have to ensure that you use a paint formula that contains actual stainless steel. Also, ensure that you use a paint primer meant for metal. After you’ve cleaned the hood, you have to apply the paint primer in a few thin layers. Allow about 30 minutes between the application of every layer. Then paint or spray four to five coats of paint on the hood’s surface.
Conclusion
A range hood can be a very unattractive element in your kitchen. Fortunately, you can change that with a brush and paint! Painting a range hood is a relatively easy DIY job.
If you look at the tips and answers given to frequently asked questions in this article and follow the easy steps we recommend, you will be able to transform your ugly range hood into an attractive element in your kitchen.
