Should I Repaint or Replace My Kitchen Cabinets?

Kitchen cabinets and countertops are the centerpiece of any kitchen. A well-used kitchen means worn out cabinets. We touch them everyday with dirty hands, cook with grease that splatters incessantly, mark and “ding” them, and ultimately, create an unwanted “aged” look. Replacing cabinets is costly and while you may eventually reach the point of replacement, perhaps a kitchen remodel, with newly painted cabinets will provide the needed facelift. Before deciding on a paint job, the cabinets should be checked for structural integrity. If the cabinets have become frail with age, or any part of the cabinets have begun to pull loose or sag, they are probably not a good candidate for painting. If you determine them to be in good condition, the next step should be a call us, San Diego-based paint professionals, Chism Brothers.

Before the priming and painting begins, you or a professional painter should thoroughly prepare the cabinet surface. All doors, drawers and hardware should be removed and marked (so that they are returned to the appropriate place once the work is finished). Cabinets should be thoroughly cleaned to remove the grime and dirt, and some professional painters will choose to strip the cabinets to the original wood. Marks and dings should be filled using the proper wood fillers. Excess fillers should be removed immediately. Once the wood filler is dry, you should thoroughly sand the surfaces to be painted.

Most homeowners labor over the decision to use oil or latex paint. While latex dries quickly and cleans up with water, the oil based paints form a harder, more durable paint surface, but take longer to cure. A paint expert will examine the surface to make a determination as to the best type of paint to use. The final decision to be made is whether to spray the paint or apply with brushes & rollers.The sprayed on finish is smoother, but should be completed by someone with experience using a spraying device. Using a brush and roller is very rare these days because you don't typically get a good looking finish. We at Chism Brothers typically recommend using a catalyzed product (solvent or acrylic available) that dries very quickly and is extremely durable. This is applied with a special sprayer and can make your cabinets look like a factory finish. You'd be surprised at how good your cabinets can look and for a lot less than a complete remodel.

One final word on painting/refinishing vs. replacing: some folks may want their kitchen to look new and not cheap looking. If your cabinets are in decent shape and are refinished properly, your kitchen will look new. You can take it one step further and install new hardware too!

A kitchen update should start with the cabinets and if you decide to paint, call the professional painters at Chism Brothers (858-454-3850). We will be able to answer questions about paint, spraying versus brush/roller application, color choices and more!