An often asked question pertains to the kind of paint used for cabinets and if there is any difference between it and that used with walls. There are differences because cabinets and walls are very different surfaces, and the kind of paint usually used for interior walls will encounter some difficulties when trying to apply them to kitchen cabinets.
Most kitchen cabinets have smooth surfaces due to the materials used in their design to give them their sleek look. Common wall paints will not stick adequately to cabinets and can start chipping or flaking off prematurely. The kind of paint contractors use for cabinets contains adhesives that allows it to stick to these slick surfaces better, and is also generally thicker to guarantee longer durability. The chemicals and composition of cabinet paint also needs longer time to dry and cure than those typically applied to walls.
Comparing cabinet painting contractors to uncover the perfect one for your specifications and style requires a substantial amount of effort. A good place to begin is by understanding precisely what look you want to achieve with your kitchen cabinets. You should ask candidates to view samples of their past work matching your vision beforehand to gain a feel for their experience and skill. Reliable contractors would be more than happy to accommodate this request, and many keep a gallery of pictures for potential clients to browse through on their website.
You need to have a defined budget worked out when shopping around for professional cabinet painting contractors, as costs sometimes fluctuate largely. Make sure that any professional you consider gives documentation of all material and labor expenses as well as clear verbal communication throughout the process about it's expected completion. The last thing you 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 professional's reputation by evaluating their online client reviews. Most experienced painters will have comments and reviews from past clients for view online, and these can be a great way to find out if they have a history of delivering the services you need on time and within budget.
It's always tempting to immediately start painting and get your home improvement project moving forward, but there is some prep that needs to happen first to ensure your cabinets look great and hold up to the heavy-use they will likely see in the future. Cabinet painting can quickly turn into an overwhelming task when attempting it alone, but an expert will quickly and effectively bring your vision to life starting with the most important prepping steps of cleaning, sanding, and priming:
- Cleaning: It's very important that all dirt or grease are thoroughly removed from cabinet surfaces before painting or staining or it could hinder their adherence. The cleaning stage is also a good time to disassemble the cabinets and its gear, such as doors, knobs, hinges, etc., to make the following steps easier and more effective.
- Sanding: The good news is that innovations in home improvement have made great advancements, and there are products that contractors use to make some of these prepping steps easier. Deglossers, also known as liquid sandpaper, is a chemical abrasive 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 penetrate to any places that are exceedingly difficult to get to with traditional sandpaper.
- Priming: Priming is necessary in most cases, and it serves many important purposes for the painting that follows, such as enabling better adhesion, preventing stains and imperfections from bleeding 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 expected.
There are many things that affect the cost of getting your kitchen cabinets professionally painted, such as the size and layout of your kitchen, the number of cabinets, what kind of paint will be used, and the rates of the contractor. In Pinellas Park, Florida, you will pay anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple 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 requirements and vision.
- Kitchen Size or Number of Cabinets: Depending on the layout of your kitchen cabinets and the scope of your project, painters might charge you based on square footage or by the number of cabinet doors and drawers.
- Variety of Paint and Finish: Your contractor will have to recoup the cost of paint and other equipment unless you're providing them, and these typically vary by quality. Per-gallon price of paints used with cabinet refinishing range anywhere from $20 to $100 or more for designer brands with a gallon typically being plenty for most kitchens.
- Labor: Labor will be your biggest expenditure when paying for professional cabinet painting, but your schedule could also raise or lower the overall price depending on what time of the year or how fast you want the project finished.
You'll need to discuss your kitchen's specific cabinets and layout as well as your vision for them with more than one professional to uncover an accurate estimate of price.