What does each option actually change?
Painting refinishes what you have; refacing gives the existing boxes new doors, drawer fronts and a veneer skin; replacing removes the cabinets entirely. This Old House describes refacing as applying veneer to the existing face frames and sides, “often accompanied by replacing cabinet doors to match,” and notes, “If your current layout doesn’t work, refacing won’t solve it.” This Old House: cabinet refacing.
| Painting | Refacing | Replacing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doors and drawer fronts | Kept, cleaned, sanded and painted | New | New |
| Cabinet boxes | Kept and painted | Kept, covered with veneer | New |
| Layout and storage | Unchanged | Unchanged | Can be redesigned |
| Countertops | Stay in place | Usually stay in place | Often replaced or reinstalled |
| Relative cost | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
| Best when | Solid cabinets, dated color | Solid boxes, unwanted door style | Damaged boxes or a layout that does not work |
Is painting kitchen cabinets worth it?
Yes, when the cabinets are well built and the layout works, because painting keeps everything you would otherwise pay to replace. Solid wood and sound plywood boxes take paint well. The value drops when painting is asked to do something it cannot: change a door style, fix swollen particleboard, or hide a layout that frustrates you every day.
Two expectations to set early:
- Wood grain. Oak has open grain that paint does not automatically fill. If you want a smooth, factory-like look on oak, grain filling has to be part of the scope.
- Hardware. Changing knob or pull sizes can leave old holes to fill and new ones to drill; decide before painting starts.
How much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets?
Our planning range for painting a standard kitchen of cabinets is $3,500–$9,500. The number of doors and drawer fronts drives most of it, followed by the preparation and primer the existing finish needs, detailed or raised-panel profiles, grain filling on oak, whether interiors and end panels are included, and hardware changes. Refacing and replacing add new doors, veneer or whole cabinets on top of the installation labor, so they start higher.
When is painting the wrong fix?
When the cabinet material itself has failed. Water damage near the sink and dishwasher is the most common problem: NC State Extension notes that particleboard cores “swell when they come in contact with water” and that “if the particleboard underneath has swollen, the damage will be permanent.” NC State Extension. Paint will not shrink it back. The same goes for refacing: This Old House notes that cabinets must be structurally sound to be refaced. This Old House.
Laminate and thermofoil doors need care too. Benjamin Moore lists a specific bonding primer for MDF, thermofoil and laminate under its ADVANCE cabinet paint, and for plastic veneer it calls for sanding the veneer off first. ADVANCE W792 data sheet (PDF). Thermofoil that is already peeling or bubbling is a door problem, not a paint problem.
How long does painting cabinets take, and when can you use the kitchen?
Expect the kitchen to be partly out of use for several days, and treat the new finish gently for about a week. Cabinet enamels dry quickly but harden slowly. Benjamin Moore ADVANCE W792 lists 1–2 hours to touch and 4 hours to recoat at 77°F, but no heavy use for at least 5–7 days and up to 30 days to reach full hardness. ADVANCE W792. Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel lists 2 hours to touch and 4 hours to recoat at the same conditions. Emerald Urethane data sheet. Cooler or more humid conditions slow both. For the difference between dry and cured, see interior paint dry vs. cure.
Do painted cabinets chip?
They can, and preparation decides how well they hold up. Both manufacturers call for dulling glossy surfaces before painting: Benjamin Moore specifies roughening cabinets by sanding (220 grit or coarser) before priming, and Sherwin-Williams says glossy surfaces “should be sanded dull,” adding that “any surface preparation short of total removal of the old coating may compromise the service length of the system.” ADVANCE; Emerald Urethane. Edges of doors that are opened constantly and the area around the trash pull-out see the most wear; letting the finish harden before heavy use helps.
Does an older home change anything?
Yes. In a Wisconsin home built before 1978, sanding painted cabinets usually falls under the state’s lead-safe renovation rules. Wisconsin DHS says work that will disturb more than 6 square feet of painted surface per room in a pre-1978 home must be done by a contractor that is a certified lead company with certified lead-safe renovators. Wisconsin DHS: hiring a lead-safe contractor. Sanding a full set of doors, drawer fronts and frames is well past that threshold, so ask about it if your cabinets carry old paint.
How should you decide?
- Check the boxes. Open the sink base and look for swelling, soft spots or delaminating edges.
- Check the doors. If you like the style and they are flat and solid, painting is on the table.
- Check the layout. If storage or workflow is the real problem, put the money toward a new layout instead.
- Compare scopes, not labels. Ask any painter to list doors, drawer fronts, frames, end panels and interiors, the preparation and primer, and who removes and reinstalls hardware.
How Midwest Painting Pros approaches cabinet painting
We paint and refinish kitchen cabinets, vanities and built-ins. The estimate starts with the cabinet material, its condition and the existing finish, then defines the surfaces included, the preparation and the coating. If the boxes or doors have failed, painting is not the right fix, and the estimate should say so. Recent cabinet work includes solid oak cabinets in Waukesha. Learn more about our cabinet painting service, or pair it with interior wall and trim painting.
