Cabinets are counted, not measured
Walls are priced by area. Cabinets are priced mostly by count: every door and drawer front has two faces and four edges, and every one has to come off, be prepared, coated and rehung. A small kitchen with lots of narrow doors can take longer than a bigger one with a few wide panels. Here's what a Knoxville painter weighs when pricing cabinet painting.
Humid hours and cure time
In an average year at Knoxville, NOAA counts about 702 hours with the wet-bulb temperature at 73°F or higher, and NOAA's engineering weather data counts about 2,299 hours with the wet-bulb temperature above 67°F.
Cabinet coatings are harder enamels than wall paint, and they need time to dry and then cure before they stand up to daily use. Moist air slows that. Many painters spray doors in a shop or garage where they can control conditions, and they may recommend running the kitchen's air conditioning while frames are painted in place. If your project falls in a humid stretch, ask how long before doors can be rehung and how gently you should treat them in the first weeks.
What sets the price
Count and style of doors and drawers
Flat slab doors are quickest. Raised or recessed panels, beadboard and decorative edges have corners that need careful prep and coating. Glass-front doors need masking. Open shelving and end panels add surfaces.
Removal and labeling
Doors come off, hinges are removed and every piece is labeled so it returns to the right spot. If you're changing hardware, new hinge or handle holes may need filling or drilling.
Degreasing
Kitchen cabinets carry a film of cooking oil, especially near the range and above the sink. Paint won't stick to it. A thorough degreasing is the most important step and takes time.
Sanding or deglossing
Factory finishes are hard and slick. They need scuff-sanding or a deglosser so the primer can grip. Damaged edges and dings need filling and sanding.
Primer
A bonding primer suited to the existing finish is standard. Oak and other open-grain woods may need grain filling if you want a smooth look, which adds steps.
Coating type
Water-based enamels, hybrid alkyds and catalyzed or two-part finishes differ in hardness, smell, dry time and cost. Ask which product and why. See paint sheens and finishes for how sheen affects cleaning.
Spray, brush or roller
Spraying gives the smoothest finish but needs masking of the whole kitchen if frames are sprayed in place. Brushing and rolling is slower and can show texture. Many painters spray doors off-site and brush or roll the frames.
Inside the boxes
Painting cabinet interiors adds a lot of time. Most jobs paint only the outside faces and edges; make sure the proposal says which.
Lead in older finishes
Under EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in homes, childcare facilities and preschools built before 1978 must hold RRP certification, firms included, even sole proprietorships, and their workers must be trained in lead-safe work practices.
Cabinets that have been painted before, in a house built before 1978, may have older paint under the current coat. Sanding them makes dust. Ask whether the painter's firm holds RRP certification and how they'll contain dust in the kitchen.
Living without a kitchen
Cabinet painting is not a one-day job, and the doors are off for much of it. Empty the cabinets beforehand, plan simple meals and keep counters clear. Ask about the sequence and when you'll have usable doors back.
Questions for the proposal
- How many doors and drawer fronts are counted?
- Are interiors included?
- Which degreaser, primer and topcoat?
- Sprayed where, and how is the kitchen protected?
- How long to cure before normal use?
Our cabinet painting and refinishing page explains the process in more depth, and the pricing guide covers general cost drivers.