Painted Oak Cabinets With Grain Showing. Filling the grain still allows some of the natural texture of the wood to show through the paint, but the deep cracks are no longer visible. Proper surface preparation is critical when painting.
All wood requires detailed prep work, but oak is especially grainy and porous, so you will have to fill the grain with a high quality primer to prepare the cabinets for paint. Filling the grain still allows some of the natural texture of the wood to show through the paint, but the deep cracks are no longer visible. My question is whether I should purposely maintain the oak grain.
When using paint, you won't see any of the grain, character, or movement of the wood below, which If you're purchasing new cabinets, the paint or stain is factory applied to the cabinets before they Stain does move with the wood, and therefore will not show the same damage or cracking over time.
Oak and other porous woods may require extra prep time.
Paint-grade cabinetry is usually a smooth, flat wood made of lower-quality materials because the paint will cover the grain. After priming, add two coats of paint. Use a quality latex that has been specifically formulated for kitchen cabinetry.