Kitchen and Cabinet Painting

Why cabinets need more prep than walls

Kitchen cabinets collect a layer of cooking grease that is easy to miss and impossible to paint over successfully. Every door, drawer front and cabinet box is cleaned with a degreaser before any sanding begins. Factory finishes and old lacquer are slick, so they are scuff-sanded and then coated with a bonding primer that gives the finish coats something to grip. Dents and chips are filled, and the open grain on oak can be filled too if you want a smoother look. Skipping any of these steps is why painted cabinets sometimes peel at the edges, and it is why we do not skip them.

How the work is organized

Doors and drawer fronts are removed, labeled by location and finished away from the kitchen, where they can be laid flat and coated evenly. Hinges and pulls are bagged and labeled along with them. Inside the kitchen, countertops, floors, appliances and walls are masked and covered before the cabinet boxes are sanded and painted in place. You will have limited use of the kitchen during the project, so we agree on the schedule up front and keep the sink and a clear path through the room available where we can. Doors go back on once the finish has cured enough to handle without marking.

Finish choices that hold up

Cabinets are touched every day, so the finish has to resist chipping, moisture and repeated cleaning. We use cabinet-grade enamels rather than wall paint, typically in satin or semi-gloss, which level out smoothly and wipe clean. Color is a bigger decision on cabinets than on walls because it sits next to countertops, backsplash tile and flooring that are not changing. We can prepare sample boards so you can see a color against your stone and in your own light before committing. If you are also updating hardware, the new pulls can be fitted when the doors go back up, with any new holes drilled cleanly.