Painting Kitchen Cabinets Instead of Replacing Them

Cabinets take up more of a kitchen than anything else, so they set the look of the whole room. When that look is dated, scuffed or just not your taste, replacing them is the obvious fix. It is also a big one. Pulling out old cabinets means demolition, new installation, new countertops in many cases and weeks of a kitchen you cannot use. Painting is the other option, and for the right cabinets it is a very good one.

When painting makes sense

Painting is a smart move when the cabinets themselves are in good shape. That means the boxes are solid, the doors hang properly, the drawers slide and the layout works for the way you cook. If your only complaint is the color or the finish, you can fix that without replacing everything.

Our own description is plain: painting cabinets is a cost-effective alternative to complete replacements. It is also faster, since the transformation happens in your existing kitchen, and a good finish is durable enough for everyday life. You also keep the cabinets you already have, and sound ones are often worth keeping.

When replacing is the better call

Paint cannot fix everything. If the layout does not work, if the boxes are swollen from water, if doors are warped or the structure is coming apart, new cabinets are the honest answer. Painting over serious damage is just a coat of color on a problem. A good painter will tell you that during the estimate rather than take the job anyway.

How a proper cabinet finish is done

There is a reason cabinet painting has a bad reputation when it goes wrong. Kitchen cabinets live a hard life. They get grease, steam, hands and cleaning sprays every day. A coat of wall paint brushed on over a dirty surface will chip and peel within months. The finish that lasts follows four steps, and we follow them:

• Preparation: the cabinets are thoroughly cleaned to remove grease, dirt and other residue.
• Sanding: the surface is sanded so the new coating has something to grip.
• Priming: a primer goes on to seal the surface and help the color bond.
• Painting: the color is applied with specialized brushes or sprayers, and multiple coats might be applied.

The first step is the one people skip. Years of cooking leave a film on cabinets, especially the ones near the stove, that you cannot always see. Paint does not bond to grease. Degreasing comes before anything else for that reason.

Why spraying matters

Brushes are fine for the frames and the details, but a sprayer lays down a smooth, even coat with no brush marks, which is why it is often used for cabinet doors. The doors are usually taken off, labeled so each goes back where it came from, and finished away from the rest of the kitchen. The hardware comes off too. This lets the paint coat the edges and the backs cleanly instead of leaving drips and missed spots.

Between coats, the finish needs time to dry. After the last coat it keeps hardening for days. Treat freshly painted cabinets gently for a while: no hanging wet towels on doors, no scrubbing and no heavy slamming. Let the paint finish curing before you put it to hard use.

Built-ins and bathroom vanities

The same steps work well beyond the kitchen. A built-in bookcase, a mudroom bench, a laundry room cabinet and a bathroom vanity are all candidates, and bathrooms add one more reason to prepare carefully, because steam and splashes test any finish. A vanity gets the same cleaning, sanding, priming and coating as a kitchen cabinet. Built-ins are often a chance to match the cabinet color to the trim in the room so everything looks planned.

If you are building something new, such as a new built-in that needs to match existing trim, a painter can finish it to blend with what is already there.

What the change looks like

The benefits of cabinet painting are a quick transformation, durability, versatility and a lift in the look of your home. White, soft gray, deep navy, green and warm wood tones are all popular choices, and a different color on the island can add depth. If you are not sure what color works with your counters and floors, ask us at the estimate.

How to get started

Start by taking a look at your cabinets honestly. Are the boxes solid? Do the doors close well? If so, painting can give you a kitchen that feels new for much less disruption than a remodel. We offer a free in-home estimate, and you receive a detailed estimate by email within two days of the visit. Every project is backed by our one-year craftsmanship warranty, and we finish with a walk-through so you can inspect the work.

To learn more, see /services/cabinet-painting or call (479) 283-3138. We paint cabinets for homeowners in Springdale, Rogers, Bentonville, Fayetteville and Bella Vista.