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 for walls. There are distinctions because cabinets and walls are very different surfaces, and the variety of paint preferred for interior walls will face some difficulties when trying to apply them to kitchen cabinets.
Many kitchen cabinets have smooth surfaces because of the materials used in their design to give them their sleek aesthetic. Common wall paints might not stick adequately to cabinets and can begin to chip and flake away prematurely. The type of paint professionals choose for cabinets has adhesives that helps it stick to these slippery surfaces better, and is also usually thicker to ensure longer durability. The chemicals and structure of cabinet paint also requires extended drying and curing times than those typically applied to walls.
Vetting cabinet painters to find the most suitable one for your specifications and vision requires a substantial amount of effort. The first place to focus on is by understanding exactly what look you want to accomplish for your kitchen cabinets. You should ask contractors to see samples of their past work aligning with your vision beforehand to gain a feel for their experience and ability. Reliable contractors will be pleased to grant this request, and many keep a gallery of pictures for potential clients to browse through on their website.
You should have a defined budget worked out when shopping around for professional cabinet painting contractors, as costs sometimes fluctuate widely. Ensure that any painter you consider provides documentation of all material and labor expenses and gives clear verbal communication during the process about it's timeline. The last thing you want is for any surprises to occur once the project begins that can raise costs higher than you planned for.
Give attention to the contractor's dependability by assessing any online client reviews. Most professional painters will have feedback and reviews from past clients for view online, and these are also an efficient way to find out if they have a history of delivering the services you need on time and within budget.
It's always enticing to immediately begin painting and get your home improvement project going, but there is some prep that needs to happen beforehand 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 task when doing it alone, but a professional can quickly and effectively bring your vision to life beginning with the most common prepping steps of cleaning, sanding, and priming:
- Cleaning: It's very important that all dirt and grime are fully removed from cabinet surfaces prior to painting or staining or it might affect their adherence. The cleaning phase is also the right time to disassemble the cabinets and its hardware, such as drawers, knobs, hinges, etc., to make the following stages easier and more efficient.
- Sanding: The good news is that innovations in home improvement have made notable leaps, and there are products today which professionals use to make some of these prepping steps a breeze. Deglossers, also called liquid sandpaper, is a chemical abrasive that quickly removes gloss from cabinet surfaces so that the dusty method of sanding in the traditional way is virtually obsolete. Deglossers can also penetrate to any edges that would be exceedingly difficult to get to with regular sandpaper.
- Priming: Priming is mandatory in some cases, as it serves a vital purpose for the painting that follows, such as enabling better adhesion, blocking stains and imperfections from showing through, and providing a protective layer over the cabinet surface. If the previous paint was oil-based and you cover it with a latex paint before priming, it will only chip off and require repainting sooner than expected.
There are many factors that play into the price of having your kitchen cabinets professionally painted, including the size and complexity of your kitchen, the number of cabinets, what type of paint will be used, and the labor costs of the contractor. In Redmond, WA, you could pay anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars for a professional cabinet painter, and it's advised to first obtain quotes from various professionals listed on the Thumbtack site to get an accurate estimate based on your requirements and vision.
- Kitchen Layout or Number of Cabinets: Depending on the complexity of your kitchen cabinets and the scope of your project, contractors could charge you based on square footage or by individual cabinet doors and drawers.
- Type of Paint and Finish: Your painter will need to recoup the price of paint and other equipment unless you're providing them, and these typically vary by quality. Per-gallon cost of paints utilized in cabinet refinishing range anywhere from $20 to $100 or more for high-quality brands with a gallon typically being plenty for most kitchens.
- Labor: Labor will be your most significant expense when paying for professional cabinet painting, but your schedule could also raise or lower the overall cost depending on what season of the year or how fast you want the project completed.
You'll want to talk about your home's unique cabinets and layout and your ideas for them with more than one contractor to find the best price.