Why paint instead of replace
If your cabinet boxes are solid and the layout works, painting gives you a different kitchen for a fraction of what new cabinets cost, without weeks of demolition. It's one of the most requested projects we do.
Our cabinet process
- Remove and label. Doors and drawer fronts come off and are labeled so everything goes back exactly where it came from. Hardware is removed.
- Clean and degrease. Kitchen cabinets carry years of cooking residue. Paint won't bond to it, so it comes off first.
- Sand. Every surface is sanded to give the primer something to grip.
- Prime. We use a shellac-based or high-adhesion bonding primer, chosen for the existing finish on your cabinets.
- Spray the finish. Two coats of Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel. Doors and drawer fronts are finished separately for a smooth, factory-style result.
- Reinstall. Once the finish has cured, doors, drawers and hardware go back on and are adjusted.
Both enamels we use cure to a hard, washable finish, but they need time to reach full hardness. We'll tell you how gently to treat the cabinets for the first few weeks.
Stain, two-tone and bathroom vanities
Not every project is solid paint. We've painted upper cabinets and stained lower ones in the same kitchen, and we paint bathroom vanities, built-ins and laundry cabinets with the same process.
How long it takes
Most kitchen cabinet projects are completed in two to three days. You'll lose access to some cabinets while doors are out, and we'll plan the order with you so the kitchen stays usable.
Problems we fix
- Dated oak or orange-toned wood cabinets
- Worn finish around handles and the sink base
- Previous paint that is chipping or peeling
- Cabinet boxes that are solid but look tired
