By Tom Sisto, Tom’s Inside Out Painting
Most people assume cabinets are either fine or need replacing. There is a third option that costs a fraction of new cabinets and changes a kitchen more than almost anything else you can do. Below are real kitchens we painted, along with what actually happens during a cabinet repaint and how to judge whether yours are a good candidate.
What Does a Cabinet Repaint Actually Look Like?
Here are two kitchens we painted in the Riverside area, shown before and after. Same cabinet boxes, same layout, same footprint. Only the finish changed.
You can see more of these side by side on our cabinet before and after page, where you can drag a slider to compare them directly.
Why Paint Cabinets Instead of Replacing Them?
Painting costs a fraction of replacement and takes a fraction of the time. Replacing kitchen cabinets means tearing out the boxes, often reworking countertops, and living without a functional kitchen for weeks. Painting keeps your existing boxes and layout and changes the thing you actually notice, which is the finish.
It also makes sense structurally. Most kitchens built in the last few decades have solid cabinet boxes that are nowhere near the end of their life. What dates them is color and sheen, not construction.
Are My Cabinets a Good Candidate for Painting?
If the boxes are solid and the doors close properly, they are almost certainly a good candidate. Good signs include sturdy boxes with no water damage, doors and drawers that still operate correctly, and a layout that works for you.
The cases where painting is not the right answer are usually structural: boxes with real water damage, particleboard that has swollen or crumbled, or a layout you want to change anyway. If you are gutting the kitchen and moving the sink, that is a remodel, not a paint job. We will tell you if that is what you are looking at.
What Actually Happens During the Job?
The finish quality comes almost entirely from prep, which is where most of the labor goes. The process runs roughly like this:
- Everything gets labeled and removed. Doors, drawer fronts, and hardware come off and get tracked so every piece returns to the exact opening it came from.
- Cleaning. Kitchen cabinets carry years of cooking grease, and nothing bonds to a greasy surface. This step is not optional.
- Sanding and repair. Surfaces get scuffed so the primer has something to grip, and dents or chips get filled.
- Priming. A bonding primer suited to the existing surface is what stops the finish from peeling later.
- Finish coats. Applied in thin, even coats and given proper cure time between them.
- Reassembly. Doors and hardware go back on, and everything gets adjusted so it sits straight and closes right.
The containment and dust control matter as much as the painting, since this is happening in the room where you cook.
How Long Are We Without a Kitchen?
You keep using your kitchen through most of the project. The cabinet boxes stay in place, and the doors and drawer fronts are what leave for finishing. Counters, sink, and appliances stay usable for the large majority of the job.
The exact timeline depends on the size of the kitchen, the number of doors and drawers, and how much repair the existing surfaces need. Cure time between coats is real and cannot be rushed without hurting the finish. We give you a specific schedule before starting.
What Does a Cabinet Repaint Cost?
The price is driven by the number of doors and drawer fronts, the size and layout of the kitchen, the condition of the existing surfaces, and the finish you choose. A small kitchen with sound cabinets and a large kitchen needing significant repair are very different jobs, which is why we do not quote cabinets over the phone.
We look at the actual kitchen and give you a written number. If you want a fuller breakdown of what drives the price, our guide to cabinet painting costs in Riverside walks through it in detail.
What Paint Do You Use on Cabinets?
We use Sherwin-Williams products on cabinet work. Cabinets are the hardest-working painted surface in a house, opened and closed daily and cleaned constantly, so the finish has to level out smoothly without brush marks, cure hard enough to resist chipping at the edges, and hold up to repeated cleaning without burnishing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cabinet Painting
Will painted cabinets chip or peel over time?
Not when the prep is done correctly. Nearly every failed cabinet job traces back to skipped cleaning or skipped priming, because nothing bonds to grease or to a glossy factory finish that was never scuffed. Proper degreasing, sanding, and a bonding primer are what make the finish last.
Can you paint over any cabinet finish?
Most cabinet surfaces can be painted, including previously finished wood and many laminates, as long as the boxes are structurally sound. What determines the approach is the existing surface, which sets which primer is appropriate. We check that on site before quoting.
Do the doors have to leave my house?
Doors and drawer fronts are removed for finishing, which is what produces a smooth, even finish without brush marks. The boxes are finished in place, and your kitchen stays usable through most of the project.
What colors work best for kitchen cabinets?
Whites and soft off-whites are the most requested because they brighten a kitchen and tend to stay current, which is what both kitchens above went with. Deeper colors on a lower island with lighter uppers is also a popular combination. We can put samples on your actual doors so you see the color in your own light before committing.
Thinking About Your Own Kitchen?
If your cabinet boxes are solid and the layout works, painting gets you most of the visual change of a new kitchen without the cost or the weeks of demolition. Tom’s Inside Out Painting has served Riverside and the surrounding Inland Empire since 1997. We handle cabinet painting across the area. Contact Tom’s Inside Out Painting for a free estimate and we will tell you honestly whether your cabinets are a good candidate.