Cabinet Painting & Refinishing
for an average Seattle/Bellevue kitchen
- Factory-smooth spray finish
- Any color — custom matching available
- 3–5 day project, minimal disruption
- Same visual impact as new cabinets
- No demo, no structural changes
- 10–15 year lifespan with proper care
Full Cabinet Replacement
for an average Seattle/Bellevue kitchen
- Change layout completely
- New box construction and hardware
- Address structural cabinet issues
- Add storage where none existed
- Different door profiles/styles
- 20–30 year lifespan
The Real Math: What You're Actually Paying For
When homeowners get a cabinet replacement quote, they're often surprised by how much of the cost is labor-intensive work that has nothing to do with the cabinet quality — demo, haul-away, countertop removal and reinstall, plumbing disconnection, appliance moves, electrical work. By the time you're done, you could be at $40,000+ for a mid-range kitchen in the Seattle area.
Cabinet painting skips all of that. You're paying for expert prep, professional spray application, and a finish that's genuinely indistinguishable from new factory cabinets when done properly. The kitchen looks completely transformed in 3–5 days at a fraction of the cost.
When We'd Tell You to Replace Instead
We'd rather lose the job than do the wrong thing for a homeowner. Here's when we genuinely recommend replacement over painting:
If cabinet boxes have water infiltration, delamination, or mold, painting is a cosmetic fix on a structural problem. The boxes need to go.
If your kitchen genuinely doesn't work — wrong placement of appliances, lack of a work triangle, inadequate storage — painting won't fix that. Layout requires replacement.
Doors that are warped beyond repair, boxes that have lost structural integrity, or significant particle board swelling — these need replacement.
Paint can change color but not profile. If you want to go from highly ornate raised panel to flat shaker, you'd need new doors — though that's much less than full replacement.
Our Process: Why the Finish Looks Like New
The difference between a professional cabinet painting job and a brush-rolled DIY attempt is significant. Here's our full process that produces factory-quality results:
- Door removal: Every door and drawer front is removed for off-site spray painting.
- Hardware removal: All hinges, pulls, and knobs are removed.
- Deep cleaning: All surfaces are degreased with TSP substitute — kitchen cabinets accumulate years of cooking oils that cause paint adhesion failure if not fully removed.
- Sanding: All surfaces are scuff-sanded to improve adhesion.
- Priming: Shellac-based or bonding primer is applied to all surfaces.
- Spray application: Two finish coats of catalyzed lacquer or waterborne enamel are sprayed using professional HVLP equipment. Zero brush marks.
- Rehang and inspect: Doors are rehung, adjusted for alignment, and inspected.
Not Sure Which Is Right for Your Kitchen?
Schedule a free on-site estimate. We'll assess your cabinet condition honestly and give you a recommendation — even if the right answer is replacement.