An often asked question pertains to the type of paint used for cabinets and if there is any difference between it and the paint used with walls. There are differences due to the fact that cabinets and walls are very different surfaces, and the variety of paint preferred for interior walls will encounter many challenges when attempting to apply them to kitchen cabinets.
Many kitchen cabinets have slick surfaces because of the materials used in their design to give them that sleek appearance. Common wall paints may not stick adequately to cabinets or begin to chip and flake off prematurely. The type of paint contractors use for cabinets has adhesives that helps it stick to these slick surfaces better, and is also usually thicker to guarantee longer durability. The chemicals and composition of cabinet paint also necessitates longer drying and curing times than those usually used on walls.
Vetting cabinet painting contractors to uncover the perfect one for your needs and vision takes a substantial amount of work. The best place to focus on is by understanding exactly what look you want to achieve for your kitchen cabinets. You should ask candidates to view samples of their past work aligning with what you're looking for beforehand to get a sense of their experience and skill. Reliable contractors will be more than happy to accommodate this request, and many retain a portfolio for potential customers to browse through on their website.
You need to have a defined budget in mind while shopping around for professional cabinet painting contractors, as prices sometimes fluctuate largely. Ensure that any painter you hire gives written statements of all equipment and labor costs and gives clear verbal communication during the project about it's timeline. What you don't need is for any surprises to pop up after the project begins that will raise costs higher than you planned for.
Give attention to the professional's reputation by evaluating their online client reviews. Most professional painters will have feedback and reviews from previous customers available online, and these can be a great way to find out if they have a history of delivering the services you expect on time and within budget.
It's may be tempting to immediately begin painting and get your home improvement 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 can quickly become an overwhelming project when doing it on your own, but an expert will quickly and effectively bring your vision to life starting with the most common prepping phase of cleaning, sanding, and priming:
- Cleaning: It's very important that all dirt and grime are fully removed from cabinet surfaces before painting or staining or it could affect their adherence. The cleaning phase is also an appropriate time to disassemble the cabinets and its hardware, including doors, knobs, hinges, etc., to make the next stages easier and more efficient.
- Sanding: The good news is that efficiencies in home improvement have made notable strides, and there are products today which contractors use to make some of these prepping steps a breeze. Deglossers, also called liquid sandpaper, is a chemical product that quickly strips gloss from cabinet surfaces so that the long process of sanding in the old way is virtually obsolete. Liquid abrasives can also reach any places that would be exceedingly difficult to get to with regular sandpaper.
- Priming: Priming is necessary in some cases, as it serves a vital purpose for the painting that comes next, such as enabling better adhesion, preventing stains and imperfections from showing through, and providing a protective layer over the cabinet surface. If the previous paint is oil-based and you apply a latex paint before priming, it will only flake away and require repainting sooner than you'd like.
There are many factors that affect the cost of having your kitchen cabinets professionally painted, including the size and layout of your kitchen, the number of cabinets, what type of paint is needed, and the rates of the contractor. In Clearwater, FL, you will pay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for a professional cabinet painter, so it's advised to first seek out quotes from several contractors listed on the Thumbtack site to gain an accurate estimate based on your needs and vision.
- Kitchen Complexity or Number of Cabinets: Depending on the layout of your kitchen cabinets and the scope of the requested services, contractors might bill you based on square footage or by the number of cabinet doors and drawers.
- Type of Paint and Finish: The painter must recoup the cost of paint and other equipment if you aren't providing them, and these usually vary by quality. Per-gallon rates for paints utilized with cabinet refinishing range anywhere from $20 to $100 or more for designer brands with one gallon usually being plenty for most kitchens.
- Labor: Labor will be your largest expenditure when paying for professional cabinet painting, but your schedule could also raise or lower the overall cost depending on what time of the year or how fast you want the job completed.
You'll need to talk about your kitchen's particular cabinets and layout and your vision for them with more than one contractor to find the best price.