An often asked question pertains to the type of paint used on cabinets and if there is any difference between it and that used with walls. There are distinctions due to the fact that cabinets and walls are very different surfaces, and the type of paint preferred for home walls will face some difficulties when attempting to apply them to kitchen cabinets.
Many kitchen cabinets have slippery surfaces because of the materials used in their construction to give them their elegant look. Common wall paints may not adhere properly to cabinets or begin to chip and flake off prematurely. The type of paint professionals use for cabinets has adhesives that allows it to stick to these slippery surfaces better, and is also usually thicker to guarantee longer durability. The chemicals and composition of cabinet paint also necessitates longer time to dry and cure than those usually applied to walls.
Comparing cabinet painters to find the most suitable one for your needs and vision takes a substantial amount of effort. A good place to start is by knowing precisely what look you're trying to accomplish with your kitchen cabinets. You should ask contractors to see samples of their past work matching what you're looking for beforehand to get a feel for their experience and skill. Reliable contractors would be pleased to grant this request, and many retain a gallery of pictures for potential customers to browse through on their in-person or online.
You need to have a defined budget worked out while shopping around for professional cabinet painting contractors, as costs often fluctuate widely. Ensure that any painter you hire gives written statements of all material and labor expenses and gives clear verbal communication during the process about it's expected completion. What you don't need is for unexpected surprises to occur after the project begins that will raise costs higher than you planned for.
Pay close attention to the contractor's reliability by evaluating any online customer reviews. Most experienced painters will have comments and reviews from previous customers for view online, and these can be an efficient way to judge their ability to deliver the services you expect on time and within budget.
It's may be tempting to immediately begin painting and get your kitchen remodeling project moving forward, but there is some prep that needs to be done first to ensure your cabinets look as envisioned and hold up to the heavy-use they will likely see in the years to come. Cabinet painting will quickly turn into an overwhelming task when attempting it on your own, but an expert will quickly and effectively bring your vision to reality beginning with the most important prepping stage of cleaning, sanding, and priming:
- Cleaning: It's critical that all dirt or grime are thoroughly cleaned from cabinet surfaces prior to painting or staining or it might affect their adherence. The cleaning step is also an appropriate time to disassemble the cabinets and their components, including doors, knobs, hinges, etc., to make the following steps easier and more efficient.
- Sanding: The good news is that innovations in home improvement have made great leaps, and there are products today which professionals use to make one of these prepping steps a breeze. Deglossers, also known as liquid sandpaper, is a chemical abrasive that easily removes gloss from cabinet surfaces so that the dusty process of sanding in the old way is virtually obsolete. Liquid abrasives will also reach any nooks and crannies that are exceedingly challenging to get to with regular sandpaper.
- Priming: Priming is mandatory in many cases, and it serves a vital purpose for the painting that follows, such as allowing for better adhesion, preventing stains and imperfections from bleeding through, and providing an added layer of protection over the cabinet surface. If the existing paint was oil-based and you cover it with a latex paint without priming, it will only peel off and require repainting sooner than expected.
There are many factors that affect the cost of getting your kitchen cabinets professionally painted, such as the size and complexity of your kitchen, the number of cabinets, what type of paint will be used, and the rates of the contractor. Around Birmingham, Alabama, you will pay anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars for a good cabinet painter, and it's suggested to first obtain quotes from several professionals listed on the Thumbtack platform to get an accurate estimate based on your needs and vision.
- Kitchen Complexity or Number of Cabinets: Depending on the complexity of your kitchen cabinets and the scope of your project, painters could charge you based on square footage or by the number of cabinet doors and drawers.
- Type of Paint and Finish: The contractor will have to recoup the cost of materials unless you're providing them, and these usually vary by quality. Per-gallon cost of paints utilized in cabinet painting range anywhere from twenty to one hundred dollars or more for designer brands with a gallon typically being plenty for the average kitchen.
- Labor: Labor will be your biggest expenditure when it comes to professional cabinet painting, but your requested timeline could also raise or lower the overall cost depending on what time of the year or how soon you want the project completed.
You'll need to talk about your home's unique cabinets and layout and your vision for them with more than one professional to find the best price.