Caulk Flat Panel Doors In Cabinets?

cstrombe

We're doing a kitchen remodel and painting shaker style cabinets--doors and drawers have flat panels. Wondering if we should caulk the joint between the panel and the frame before painting (we'd use the thinnest bead possible to keep the door corners looking sharp...but will be difficult). Paint will be light color, so any gap would show. The frames are hardwood (maple) and the panel is MDF with maple veneer. I have heard that the panels on these types of doors need to move, so maybe caulk is a bad idea, but these are tight, and even have some nails/staples holding them in place I think (can see some poking thru in places). And does MDF need to move that much??

So, not sure whether to caulk or not. Any advice?

Brushslingers

I'd leave it and paint it the way it is.

__________________
Benn

Workaholic

I would leave it as it is. After painting if that joint looks bad then caulk and touch up. Mdf gets caulked all the time.

__________________
Sean

gary lee

This is kind of a tangent to the original question, but do you guys caulk doors in a house when they have panels. For example pine or fur doors that are 4 panel-6 panel etc.

Gary

boman47k

normally no, don't think I have.

Brushslingers

Nope.

__________________
Benn

DeanV

I would rather not see paneled doors with the floating panels painted at all. If the crack of the panel is filled with paint, it will open with movement, if it is caulked and it moves then it will look even worse. IMHO the best bet is if the crack can be kept completely free of paint and caulk, but that is not always possible.

MakDeco

Yes I would say also no paint, but if they are I wouldn't caulk it. BTW were the doors once stained? usually if someone is putting in doors that are painted they will some type of MDF product.
I have had a view re-paints of an very old houses and yes the panels were all ready caulked and painted so I re-caulked them, that was the only time.

__________________
MAK Deco

slickshift

The floating panels are not supposed to be caulked
They are meant to expand and contract when the house is open for the humid summer, and closed up tight with the super dry wood stove burning in the winter

__________________
Signature Quote

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr