Cabinet Painting & Refinishing in Atlanta, GA

What this job actually involves

Cabinets get touched, splashed and scrubbed every day, so the finish has to be hard and well bonded. That comes from degreasing, scuff-sanding and the right primer, not from a coat of wall paint.

How the work runs

1. 1 Label and remove doors and hardware Doors, drawer fronts and hinges are taken off and numbered so everything returns to its original spot. Hardware is bagged. Drawer boxes and cabinet frames stay in the house and get masked.
2. 2 Degrease and deep clean Years of cooking residue sit on cabinet faces, especially near the stove. We clean with a degreaser, then rinse. Paint over grease will peel off in sheets, so this step is not skipped.
3. 3 Repair, sand and fill Dings, old hardware holes and gouges are filled. All surfaces are sanded to dull the existing finish. Open-grain wood such as oak may get grain filler if you want a smooth look, otherwise the grain will show through.
4. 4 Prime with a bonding primer A stain-blocking bonding primer goes on to seal tannins and grip old finishes. Dark or stained cabinets can bleed through, which is why primer matters.
5. 5 Sand lightly and apply finish coats We scuff the primer, then apply two coats of a hard cabinet enamel by spray or fine roller and brush, with drying time between coats. Humid weather slows this down and can leave a soft film, so we manage airflow and timing.
6. 6 Cure, reinstall and adjust Doors are rehung after the finish has dried enough to handle, and hinges and doors are adjusted so they close squarely. New or original hardware goes back on. The paint keeps hardening for days to weeks, so go gently at first.

What moves the price

• Number of doors and drawer fronts, which drives most of the labor.
• Condition and material. Water-damaged, peeling or heavily worn cabinets need repair.
• Wood species and grain. Oak and similar open-grain wood takes extra work to look smooth.
• Whether we paint cabinet interiors and the end panels and toe kicks.
• Color change. Dark to light usually needs more primer and coats.
• Whether doors are sprayed off-site or in a controlled space versus painted in place.

What does this actually cost? Real metro-Atlanta price ranges and what moves them — no email required. →

Materials

We use a bonding primer and a hard-curing cabinet enamel rather than wall paint, because cabinets take constant handling and moisture, and ordinary paint stays soft and scuffs.

Questions we get asked

How long are my kitchen cabinets out of commission?

Plan on about a week for a typical kitchen, sometimes a bit more. Doors may be gone for several days while they are painted and dry. You can still use the kitchen sink and appliances, but the cabinets themselves are partly unusable.

Will the paint chip?

Any painted surface can chip, especially at edges and around handles. Proper cleaning, sanding and primer, plus a hard enamel, cut that risk a lot. The finish continues to cure for weeks, so be gentle at first.

Can you paint cabinets that are already painted or stained?

Yes. Both are fine with proper prep. Laminate and thermofoil are trickier and we will tell you honestly if yours is a poor candidate.

Is painting cheaper than replacing cabinets?

Usually, if the boxes are solid and the layout works for you. If the cabinets are damaged, sagging or badly designed, replacing them may be the better move.

Is there a smell?

Some, during painting and for a day or so after. We use low-odor products where we can and recommend ventilation.