Kitchen Cabinet Painting & Refinishing
A properly prepped and coated cabinet finish changes a kitchen more than almost anything else you can do for the money, and it only works if the prep is done right.
Licensed NV C-4 #0092296 · UT #14220959-5501 · Serving Nevada & Utah
Cabinets punish shortcuts faster than any other surface
Cabinet doors get touched with greasy hands several times a day, get slammed, and get cleaned with whatever is under the sink. Wall paint on a cabinet door will chip at the edges within months.
Kitchens are also the hardest surface to prep. Years of cooking film sit on the doors around the range, and no primer bonds to that. Sanding without degreasing first just grinds the grease in.
The prep sequence that makes cabinet paint last
This order is not optional. Skipping any step is why refinished cabinets peel at the door edges a year later.
- Doors and drawer fronts removed and labeled
- Hardware removed, not masked around
- Degreasing of every surface before any abrasion
- Sanding or deglossing to give the primer a mechanical key
- Bonding primer suited to the existing finish
- Grain filling on oak where a smooth finish is requested
- Cabinet-grade finish coats, built for cleaning and impact
- Doors rehung and adjusted after cure
Choosing cabinet color and sheen
Cabinet color has to work against your counters, backsplash, flooring, and wall color, and those five things are rarely chosen at the same time. We will sample on a spare door or an inconspicuous cabinet and look at it against your actual counters before committing.
Sheen is a durability decision as much as a look. Higher sheen cleans better and shows more of the substrate; lower sheen hides more and is harder to scrub. We will tell you the tradeoff for your specific doors and write the final choice into the estimate.
What we do not promise
Painted cabinets are a refinish, not a replacement. Deep grain on oak can be filled but the door profile stays what it is, and a damaged or delaminating thermofoil door does not become a new door because it got coated. We will tell you before we quote if a door is a bad candidate.
What the project actually looks like
- STEP 01
Assess the doors
We look at material, existing finish, grain, and damage, and tell you honestly what a refinish will and will not fix.
- STEP 02
Remove, degrease, prep, prime
Doors and hardware come off and get labeled. Degreasing precedes sanding, and bonding primer goes on before any color.
- STEP 03
Finish, cure, reinstall
Cabinet-grade finish coats, then time to cure before doors are rehung and adjusted so nothing sticks.
What moves the price
We do not publish a price list, because a real number depends on your property. These are the things that actually change it, and every one of them shows up as a line item on your estimate.
- Door and drawer count
Cabinet work is priced by the piece far more than by the square foot.
- Existing finish
Raw wood, factory-catalyzed lacquer, and previously painted doors each need a different prep and primer.
- Grain and smoothness
Filling oak grain for a smooth painted finish adds labor and multiple passes.
- Interiors and boxes
Coating the inside of boxes and shelves is a separate decision and a separate line item.
- Color change severity
Dark stained wood going to white takes more build than a light-to-light change.
- Hardware and repairs
New hardware, re-drilling, hinge replacement, and door repairs are quoted individually.
What is included, and what is not
You approve the scope in writing before we start. If it is not on the estimate, it is not in the price, and we would rather tell you that now than argue about it later.
Included
- Door, drawer front, and hardware removal and labeling
- Degreasing of all surfaces before abrasion
- Sanding or deglossing for adhesion
- Bonding primer matched to the existing finish
- Named cabinet-grade product, color, and sheen
- Coat count stated in writing
- Kitchen protection and dust control
- Reinstallation and door adjustment after cure
Not included unless quoted
- New doors, boxes, or hardware unless quoted
- Cabinet box replacement or re-facing
- Countertop, backsplash, or appliance work
- Interior box coating unless listed on the estimate
Straight answers before you call
Often paired with this work
Get a Cabinet Refinishing Estimate
Priced by door and drawer count, with the prep sequence written out. Free.
Written warranty on every project.