Hire Someone to Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets

Is your kitchen looking tired and dated? Do the existing cabinets feel dull or dingy? Painting the cabinets can provide an instant face lift without the cost of full cabinet replacement. But is it a DIY project or better left to the professionals? Here's what you need to consider when deciding whether to hire someone to paint kitchen cabinets.

Painting cabinets seems straightforward, but it involves meticulous preparation and technique to achieve a smooth, consistent finish. From thorough cleaning and sanding to priming and painting, it's crucial to follow best practices at each step. Rushing through or cutting corners can lead to a blotchy, sticky mess. And if you've never tackled a painting project this large, it can be daunting.

Assess Your Skills and Determine the Scope

The first thing to think about is whether you realistically have the DIY skills, time, tools, and workspace needed to paint your kitchen cabinets. Consider:

• Have you painted furniture or cabinets before? Do you know proper techniques for prep, priming, painting, etc?
• How comfortable are you operating a sander, paint sprayer, or other equipment?
• What is the overall scope? How many cabinet doors, drawers, and boxes need painting?
• Do you have an outdoor workspace for disassembling, prepping, and spraying cabinets?

Painting even a small kitchen's worth of cabinets is a big commitment. You may need to fully empty all upper and lower cabinets, remove doors and hardware, thoroughly sand every surface, prime, apply multiple coats of paint, and protect nearby floors and countertops from spills and drips.

Be Realistic About the Time Involvement

From start to finish, expect cabinet painting to take up a full week, especially for beginners.

This timeline doesn't account for trips to the hardware store when realize you need more supplies. Are you prepared to have a nonfunctional kitchen for up to week? Do you have easy access to a second bathroom/kitchen during this process?

Weigh the Cost of Supplies

Even if you DIY cabinet painting, you still need to buy supplies. At minimum, you'll need:

• Paint stripper (if repainting)
• Sandpaper
• Painter's tape
• Drop cloths
• High-adhesion primer
• Cabinet paint
• Foam paintbrushes and roller
• Paint sprayer rental

Depending on your kitchen size, this can easily total over $300-500+. Are you willing to invest this upfront without professional results guaranteed?

Find an Experienced Cabinet Painting Contractor

Once you weigh the cons of DIY cabinet painting, hiring a professional starts to look very appealing! But finding the right person for the job still takes research.

Seek Referrals and Check Reviews

Start gathering recommendations from recent customers. Friends, neighbors, realtors may know quality painters. Search "kitchen cabinet painting" plus your city on Google, Yelp, HomeAdvisor, etc. Within reviews, look for:

• Mentions of cabinet painting specifically
• Descriptions of prep work completed
• Types of paint products used
• If sprayers or brushes were used
• Photos of the finished job

This helps you gauge their experience with cabinetry and kitchen remodels specifically. A house painter won't necessarily translate well to the intricacies of cabinet work.

Verify Licensing, Insurance, and Credentials

Reputable cabinet painters should hold a business license and liability insurance. Having a contractor bond protects you if they damage property or fail to finish the job. Verifying credentials upfront builds trust in their skills and professionalism.

Ask if they have special cabinet painting certifications like CKBR (Certified Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeler). Also request 3-5 past customer references to contact regarding their quality of work and service.

Compare Multiple Bids

Always get quotes from 3+ options before deciding on a painter. Most provide free estimates where they'll inspect your kitchen, ask questions about your goals, and tailor a bid with cost breakdowns. As you compare bids, look for:

• Level of detail about prep, installation, paint product choices
• Types of services included (cleanup, trash hauling, etc)
• Warranties or satisfaction guarantees for finish issues
• Photos of past kitchen cabinet painting work in similar sizes to yours

A fixed bid for unlimited access until the project is complete is ideal vs hourly charges. Discuss any questions you have about potential surprise fees.

Prep Your Kitchen for Painting Day

Once you've settled on a selected cabinet painter, discuss exactly how to prepare your kitchen for when they arrive. Ask them to provide clear prep instructions so that cabinet painting day goes smoothly. Typically, they'll recommend:

Empty All Cabinets and Drawers

Remove everything from upper and lower cabinets so all surfaces can be fully sanded, primed and painted. Label drawers/doors with painter's tape matching cabinet frames so it's easy to reinstall hardware back into place.

Clear Countertops and Protect Surfaces

Clean and Lightly Sand Cabinets

Using mild detergent, thoroughly wash cabinet parts inside and out to remove grease before priming or painting. Go over existing cabinet boxes and frames with fine 220 grit sandpaper to rough up the surface so fresh paint adheres properly.

Your painter may also fully remove failing/flaking paint using chemical strippers if cabinets were previously painted. Proper prep paves the way for smooth, professional looking results.

What to Expect During and After Painting

Once prep work is complete, here is a general overview of the cabinet painting process:

Priming

A quality bonding primer designed for slick surfaces like laminate or wood should be brushed or sprayed on first. Priming provides an essential base layer so paint fully adheres and covers evenly without bleed-through.

Paint Coats

Based on your finish selection, multiple coats of kitchen cabinet paint formulated for durability will be applied. Typical sheens like satin or semi-gloss add subtle shine while hiding flaws better than flat paints. Expect painter to use an airless spray system for the most seamless coverage on door frames and cabinet boxes.

Using sprayers is also exponentially faster compared to hand brushes and allows paint to penetrate grooves better. Each coat takes 2-4 hours to dry before the painter returns for subsequent layers to build protection and vibrancy.

Protection and Repairs

Once fully cured, your freshly painted cabinets should be protected from scrapes or impacts by reattaching any removed doors/drawers. Cabinet painters should provide touch ups if any minor drips or flaws occur. They'll clean up workspace, supply leftovers for future repairs, and haul debris away.