Kitchen Cabinet Painting FAQs
Cabinets tend to take up a lot of real estate in your kitchen. As such, these functional features have a major impact on your kitchen’s overall appearance. Some homeowners might prefer the classic wood-stained look of their kitchen cabinets, but donning them with a fresh coat of paint can transform your interior. Still, painting your kitchen cabinets is no small decision, and if you’ve never attempted this task before, you’re bound to have plenty of questions regarding the cost, process, and other details.
To help you navigate these matters, here are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) associated with kitchen cabinet painting -- and our best answers.
Common FAQs for Kitchen Cabinet Painting
Q: What Does Kitchen Cabinet Painting Cost?
A: There’s a range of price points for every renovation based on the type of project, its scope, location, the quality of services and products used, and so on. Cabinet painting is no exception, of course. But while we can’t give you a definite answer to this pertinent question, we can give you a general sense of what your project might cost. The smallest and cheapest kitchen cabinet painting jobs across the country can run as low as $1,200, and the largest, most expensive ones can approach $10,000. Again, this broad spectrum of prices is due to the many variables that inform a cabinet painting estimate. The average job will typically run somewhere between $3,000 and $6,500.
Q: What Does the Cabinet Painting Process Entail?
A: A full kitchen cabinet painting job begins with the removal of doors, hinges, and other hardware -- this is done both for efficiency and complete, accurate coverage. After the cabinets have been disassembled, the removed pieces are moved outdoors or to an appropriate facility to minimize mess and allow for more room in the kitchen itself. While a small team tackles the doors, another will work on the fixed portions of the cabinets. All surfaces must be properly prepared (i.e. cleaning, sanding, and priming) prior to painting. Painter’s tape and coverings (i.e. drop cloths and plastic sheets) are strategically placed in the kitchen to prevent paint from ending up on walls, countertops, and/or floors. Paint can be applied via spraying, rolling, or brushing depending on the situation. After the necessary number of coats have been applied and left to dry completely, new or existing hardware is reattached and the cabinets are put back together.
Q: How Long Does It Take to Paint Kitchen Cabinets?
A: Much like the cost of the job, the time it takes to completely paint kitchen cabinets can vary quite a bit. Keep in mind that the preparation work as mentioned above should be factored into the process’s total duration. Less-experienced interior painters might take longer to complete each step of the process, or they might cut corners and speed through certain steps. Conversely, reliable painting contractors will get the job done right, but it might take more time to do so -- if they take your doors and drawers to a remote location, apply several coats, replace your hardware, and so on, the entire project may take one to two weeks from start to finish. The process may take less time if there are fewer cabinets to paint, fewer coats to apply, a larger team working on the job, and/or if the contractor brings a mobile spray booth and other convenient equipment to the site. On average, you can expect the process to take about 3-7 days.
Q: What Type of Paint is Used for Kitchen Cabinet Painting?
A: Many types of paint can be used on kitchen cabinets, but some are better than others. Professional painters recommend alkyd paints with zero- or low-VOC content, or acrylic latex-based paint. As far as colors and finishes go, these are matters of preference. If you’re looking for inspiration, though, read our blog, “5 Hot Colorways for Your Kitchen Walls and Cabinets.”
Q: How Long Do Kitchen Cabinet Coatings Last?
A: The answer to this question depends on how well you maintain your painted kitchen cabinets and the quality of coatings applied in the first place. If you invest in quality coatings and stay on top of maintenance duties, your painted cabinets can retain their beauty for several years (as long as ten years or more). On the other hand, if your cabinets may begin to lose their color and/or peel in just a couple of years if you’re not careful.
Q: How Do I Care for My Painted Kitchen Cabinets?
A: In order to get the most out of your painted kitchen cabinets (and interior painting in general), you must keep them clean and reduce the conditions inside your kitchen that might ruin your paint job, namely moisture, sunlight, and temperature fluctuations. Maintaining proper ventilation will reduce heat and humidity levels inside your kitchen, and blocking direct sunlight with curtains or shades will protect your cabinet paint from fading.
Q: Kitchen Cabinet Painting: Should You DIY or Hire a Pro?
A: If you’re looking for the best, longest-lasting results, hire a reliable painting contractor to coat your kitchen cabinets. Hiring a pro can also help you with other interior painting concerns such as how to approach painting a room two colors or applying the proper number of coats. You can try to tackle cabinet painting on your own, but you run the risk of making costly errors. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
If you have any questions regarding kitchen cabinet painting that haven’t been covered by the FAQs listed here, Anderson Painting is happy to provide more answers. To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
