COST TO PAINT KITCHEN CABINETS IN 2023 ACCORDING TO NORTH AMERICAN SURVEY OF CABINET PAINTERS

by Pro Painter Digital
October 26, 2023
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In 2023 the price of $6092.00 is the average cost for a professional cabinet refinisher to paint a medium sized kitchen with 44 doors and drawers in the United States or Canada. The range is between $3,500 and $10,500 and all prices are based on a survey of 34 cabinet refinishing company’s in the United States and Canada conducted at The Painters Chatroom on Facebook in January of 2022.

This average price is based on a survey of 34 professional kitchen cabinet painting company’s in the United States and Canada done at The Painters Chatroom on Facebook at the beginning of 2021. (See chart below). The kitchen cabinet painting professionals were all asked to submit a legitimate bid for a 44 piece kitchen (depicted below) with the instructions to take the cabinets from their natural honey look to a solid white color. The most popular request made by homeowners in North America

graph showing many different prices from different painting companies to paint kitchen cabinets

The 40 factors and that go into determining the cost to paint kitchen cabinets have been categorized into three groups:

Group One: Significant factors Professional Kitchen Cabinet Painting Companies Consider

Group Two: Minor considerations Made By Professional Kitchen Cabinet Painting Companies

Group Three: Associated Costs When Dealing With Professional Kitchen Cabinent Painting Companies.

SIGNIFICANT FACTORS AND MINOR VARIABLES AFFECTING THE PRICE TO PAINT KITCHEN CABINETS

Significant Factors Affecting The Asking Price To Professionally Refinish Kitchen Cabinets

1. Total Number of Cabinets Most Assuredly Affects The Standard Price To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Primary Cost Factor: The number of kitchen cabinet doors and drawers is the main variable affecting the pricing for hiring a professional kitchen cabinet painting company.
Cost Comparison: More doors and drawers mean a higher cost. For example, 65 doors and drawers will cost more than 30 doors and drawers.
Measurement Methods: Some refinishers use square footage of painted doors and cabinet boxes to determine costs, while others, like the author, focus on the total number of pieces, requiring a breakdown of doors and drawers.
Spray Painting Process: The author emphasizes that their method involves spray painting in a shop using KILZ shellac primer/sealer and epoxy paint, which is more comprehensive than simply applying a coat of paint.
Importance of Counting Pieces: The total number of cabinet pieces is crucial for estimating costs due to the extensive spray painting process involved.
Estimating Overall Cost: To get a ballpark figure for resurfacing cupboards, it’s essential to break down the total number into doors and drawers separately.
Size and Square Footage Consideration: Doors are typically larger than drawers, affecting the cost. Also, large pantry doors are counted as multiple “regular doors,” impacting the overall square footage and cost.
Detailed Pricing Strategy: The article suggests a detailed approach to pricing, considering the size and number of doors and drawers for a fair and accurate cost estimation.

2. Painting or Staining Absolutely Will Affect The Selling Price To Refinish Kitchen Cabinets

Primary Pricing Factors: The most significant factors affecting kitchen cabinet refinishing costs are the number of doors and drawers, faux finishing, and the choice between painting and stripping then staining the cabinets.
Cost of Painting vs. Stripping and Staining: Painting existing cabinets is less expensive. Stripping and staining can double the cost of a project from $4,000 to $8,000 due to the extensive labor and skill required for paint removal and preparation for staining.
High Cost for Refinishing: Some refinishing companies may quote up to $12,000 for a stripping and staining job to discourage clients, as many lack the expertise for this task.
Risk of Inexperienced Refinishers: If a company undertakes a staining project, they might learn at the client’s expense. There’s also a possibility they might apply only two clear coats instead of the recommended three, compromising quality.
Decision Dilemma for Homeowners: Homeowners often face the dilemma of whether to stain or replace their kitchen cabinets. The decision is influenced by the beauty of the wood post-refinishing and the cost comparison with replacement.
Wood Types and Aesthetics: Oak looks exceptionally beautiful when stripped, re-stained, and given three clear coats. Maple, though challenging and unpredictable in staining results, can still be aesthetically pleasing and is more cost-effective than replacing the cabinets.

3. Brushing and Rolling or Spraying The Fixed Pieces Will Influence The Amount Of Money Paid To Resurface Cabinets

Fixed Pieces Definition: Fixed pieces or cabinet boxes are the parts of the kitchen cabinets that cannot be removed and stay in place during painting.
Painting Options: These fixed pieces can be either brush and rolled for a similar look or sprayed for an identical look to the removed pieces.
Cost Implications: There is a significant price difference between brushing and rolling versus spraying the fixed pieces.
Brush and Roll Technique: A skilled kitchen cabinet painting company can brush and roll the fixed pieces to closely simulate a sprayed look in color, sheen, and texture, achieving an 8/10 similarity.
Indistinguishable at a Distance: The brush and roll technique is often indistinguishable from spraying when viewed from a distance of 3 feet, offering good value.
Spraying for Perfection: For those who desire a perfect finish and scrutinize from close up, spraying the fixed pieces is recommended, which requires an additional budget of around $2,500.

4. Oak: Grain filling Will Significantly Impact The Market Price To Re Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Laminate Smooth on Oak Cabinets: Achieving a laminate smooth finish on oak kitchen cabinets is virtually impossible.
Grain Filling Process: To attempt a smoother finish, a thick plaster-like compound can be used to fill the grain. This involves a process of filling, sanding, and re-filling to smooth out the grain and eliminate undulations.
Extensive Application: This grain filling process needs to be applied to both the removable parts (doors and drawers) and the fixed parts of the cabinetry.
Significant Cost Increase: Grain filling can double the cost of the job, turning a $4,000 project into $8,000 and a $6,000 project into $12,000.
Limited Effectiveness: Despite this process, the undulations in the oak cabinets may still be visible, failing to achieve a true laminate look.
Recommendation: If the desired outcome is a laminate appearance, the better option might be to purchase new cabinets, as grain filling may not provide satisfactory results or superb value.

5. Company with employees Inescapably Affects The Sum To Resurface Cabinets

A professional kitchen cabinet painting company that has employees will ALWAYS have to charge more for the company owner to make any money versus a husband and wife team so that one factor alone will add significant costs onto the overall cost of having your cabinets refinished.

6. Faux Effects Will Quadruple The Fee And Put You In Debt If You Get Your Cabinets Professionally Painted

This one could actually be the most expensive in a heartbeat if you want to go down the decorative painting road. Funny thing is though that most professional kitchen cabinet painting companies involved with cabinet painting Vancouver and beyond, don’t offer this service. Doing just about any faux effect to your cabinet resurfacing project will skyrocket your price. Whether it’s additive ragging / sponging, the crackle look, marble look or worn look be prepared to pay triple and quadruple the price that you typically pay for “regular” cabinet refinishing in which one simple colour is being sprayed.

7. Pinstriping Naturally Adds To The Expenditure of Refacing Kitchen Cabinet

Pinstriping as a Faux Effect: Pinstriping is categorized under “faux effects” in cabinet refinishing.
Misconception About Simplicity: Sometimes, clients request pinstriping as a seemingly minor addition, underestimating its complexity.
Significant Impact on Cost: Despite appearing as a small request, adding pinstriping can double the average price of a cabinet refinishing job.
Time-Intensive Process: The process of adding pinstriping, involving lines of paint or tinted glaze to the crevices of cabinets, is time-consuming, particularly for a large number of cabinets.

8. Present Condition of Cabinetry Can Sometimes Add To Your Budgeted Money To Resurface Kitchen Cabinets

Condition Affects Cost: The condition of kitchen cabinets significantly impacts the cost of refinishing, with cabinets in serious disrepair costing much more to refinish than those in impeccable condition.
Additional Preparation Work: Cabinets in poor condition require extensive preparation, including extra cleaning, sanding, filling, re-filling, and double priming, before applying the finish coats.
State of Most Kitchens: Approximately 70% of kitchen cabinet refinishing jobs are in very good condition, 20% are in good condition but greasy, and only 10% start off in a less than stellar state.
Rarity of Disrepair: Kitchens in a serious state of disrepair are rare in the professional kitchen cabinet painting business.

8.1 Delamination Will 100% Guaranteed Add To The Cost To Resurface Kitchen Cabinets Professionally

Common Issue of Peeling Paint: Loose and peeling paint is a standard issue encountered in cabinet refinishing.
Delamination Significantly Increases Cost: Delamination, where paint lifts off in sheets, dramatically changes the scope and cost of the project, potentially turning a $4,000 job into a $6,000 one, or even leading to a decision to replace the cabinets.
Rare Occurrence of Delamination: Serious delamination is rare, occurring in only about 1 in 200 kitchen cabinet refinishing jobs.
Causes of Delamination: Delamination typically happens with thermofoiled cabinets, where a vinyl material is heated and molded over MDF or engineered wood.
Impact on Refinishing Costs: The presence of delamination issues can significantly increase the cost, as it requires a cabinet refinishing company to strip everything, which is a labor-intensive and costly process.

9. Painting Inside The Cabinets Invariably Adds To The Out of Pocket Money To Refinish Cabinets

Interior Painting Not Included: Most kitchen cabinet refinishing companies, including those in Vancouver, typically do not include the painting of cabinet interiors in their quotes.
Reasons for Exclusion:
1. Cost Consideration: Including interior painting would significantly increase the overall price, potentially deterring customers.
2. Work Difficulty: Painting the interiors is less enjoyable due to it being extra smelly and dirty.
Practical Approach: The common recommendation is to avoid interior painting to maintain favorable pricing.
Exception for Visible Interiors: As a compromise, interiors may be painted only if they are visible through glass cupboard doors, especially important when changing the color drastically, like from natural to white, to avoid odd appearances through the glass.

10. Shelves Will Add $70 More Per Piece To The Overall Price To Paint Kitchen Cabinetry

Painting Interior Shelves: When painting the inside of cabinets, particularly those with glass fronts, the shelves inside also need to be painted.
Priming and Painting Process: These shelves require priming and painting as part of the refinishing process.
Application of Urethane Coating: An ultra-strong clear urethane automotive coating is applied to the shelves to make them durable and scratch-resistant.
Durability Requirements: The coating is necessary to withstand the frequent abuse of items being removed, replaced, dragged, and dropped on the shelves.
Consideration in Costing: When inquiring about the cost of refinishing kitchen cabinets, it’s important to consider the additional work and materials required for the shelves in cabinets with glass fronts.

11. More Pieces Than You Thought Will Unfortunately Add More To The Asking Price To Refinish Your Cabinets

All my contracts have the exact phrasing which is: e.g: pricing is based on 20 pieces. Add $75 (+ materials) for every piece over 20.

“Honey, you said there was 34 cabinets but the ‘cabinet painting guy’ says there’s 45. Guess your night out with the boys is on hold huh.” –Mrs. Jones–

12. Painting Tricky Area (Crevices) Will, Once In A Blue Moon Add A Little To The Market Price Of Refinishing Your Cabinets

High Success Rate: 99.9999% of the time, cabinet doors and drawers removed for spray painting at a refinisher’s shop will be successfully sprayed without issues.
Ease of Spraying Decorative Pieces: Even decorative doors and drawers, which might seem challenging, are typically easy to spray, covering the entire surface effectively.
Multiple Thin Passes: In some cases, multiple thin passes are required for certain areas, especially between decorative parts, but these can still be done perfectly.
Rare Difficulties: There are very rare instances (one-in-a-million) where spraying cannot reach all crevices, leading to a buildup of paint on surrounding surfaces, which is considered disastrous.
Manual Intervention: In such rare cases, the only solution is to paint those hard-to-reach crevices by hand.
Cultural Reference: The difficulty in these rare situations is humorously likened to the feeling expressed by the Chinese phrases “aiyaaaa” and “aiyoooo,” indicating a progression from mild perturbation to a higher level of bewilderment, disbelief, and frustration.

13. Materials Used Should Always Affect The Fee Involved To Repaint Kitchen Cabinets

Material Costs Impact Price: The materials used in cabinet refinishing significantly affect the overall price.
Use of High-Quality Products: Professional kitchen cabinet painting companies use top-quality products, which are more costly but necessary for a quality finish.
No Compromises on Materials: It is crucial not to cut corners with materials in cabinet refinishing, despite the variety of products and applicators available in the market.
Price Range of Cabinet Coatings: Costs for cabinet coatings vary, with lower-end options around $35 per gallon and higher-end products ranging from $80 to $120 per gallon.
Importance of Budgeting for Quality Coatings: When considering the cost of painting kitchen cabinets, allocating sufficient funds for high-quality cabinet coatings is essential.

14. Two Tone Most Assuredly Adds To The Charge To Resurface Kitchen Cabinets

Two Tone vs. Two Colors: Two tone involves applying two colors to each cabinet door and drawer, distinct from “two colors” where typically half the kitchen (usually the top) is one color and the lower section is a different color.
Decorative Technique: Two tone is a decorative technique that requires more intricate work.
Increased Prices for Two Tone: The cost increases significantly for two tone refinishing due to the need for careful taping, spraying sections separately, and protecting parts of the cabinet during the process.
Complexity and Cost: Opting for a two tone design means a more complex and artistic approach by the cabinet refinisher, which can potentially double the cost of the cabinetry job.

Two-tone cabinets. Two colours on each cabinet.

15. Fill Handle Holes And Drill New Ones Obviously Adds A Little Something To The Valuation When Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Reuse of Handles and Knobs: If the same handles and knobs are reattached after resurfacing, there are no added costs.
New Hardware Costs: New knobs and handles that don’t fit existing holes lead to additional costs for filling old holes and drilling new ones.
Filling Process: Properly filling a hole to make it flush with the surface typically requires more than one application of wood filler.
Cost for Filling and Drilling: The cost for filling old holes and drilling new ones in a 40-piece kitchen ranges from $300 to $800.
Budget Consideration for New Hardware: When calculating the cost to paint kitchen cabinets, factor in additional expenses for new cupboard handles or pulls.

16. Trim on Ceiling Quite Understandably Affects The Value To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Rare Additional Costs: Occasionally, extra costs arise in a kitchen cabinet painting project when areas beyond the cabinets need painting to achieve a complete, new kitchen look.
Painting Beyond Cabinets: These additional areas might include parts not traditionally considered part of the cabinets, like ceiling trim, to enhance the overall appearance.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Even with these added expenses, painting cabinets is still significantly more cost-effective than a full replacement, often being about 1/3 of the price.
Comparison of Costs: An example provided is spending $6,000 on refinishing cabinets for a ‘dream kitchen’ versus the much higher cost of $40,000 and the inconvenience of a lengthy kitchen replacement process.

Extensive trim on ceiling requiring painting.

17. Glass insets In The Cupboard Doors For Sure Affects The Price To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Time-Consuming Glass Protection: Protecting the glass in cabinets is a time-consuming task for professional kitchen cabinet painting companies.
Meticulous Covering Required: All glass panes, whether a single large pane or multiple small ones, must be meticulously covered to prevent overspray.
Challenging Removal Process: After painting, the protective covering must be carefully removed, adding to the complexity and time required.
Risk of Damaging Paint: Removing the tape carelessly can lead to the paint being pulled off along with the tape.
Necessity of Scoring Tape: To safely remove the tape without damaging the paint, the areas where tape meets the glass must be scored with a razor blade to break the seal, facilitating worry-free removal.

18. A 2nd Colour Adds A Bit To The Project Fee To Paint Cabinetry

Cost for Additional Color: Adding a second color when hiring a professional kitchen cabinet painting company can increase the cost by $400 to $1000.
Impact on Production Speed: Introducing a second color can slow down the production process in several ways:
1. Equipment Cleaning: The need to thoroughly clean out the spray machine to switch to a different color.
2. Drying Time for Darker Colors: Darker colors, often chosen as the second color, take longer to dry and cure due to the extra amount of colorant.
Additional Production Day: The use of a second color can add a full day to the production schedule, along with associated costs.

19. Decorative Crown Increases The Rate To Refinish Kitchen Cabinets

Cost-Saving Method: A previously mentioned way to reduce costs is to brush and roll the on-site fixed pieces instead of spraying them.
Kitchen Layout Challenges: The specific design of a kitchen can impact the painting method. Many kitchens have crown moulding, which can affect the approach.
Crown Moulding Considerations: If the crown moulding is especially fancy or decorative, it is better to spray paint it for optimal results.
Brush and Roll Limitations: Brush and rolling fancy moulding can be disproportionately expensive and less effective due to brush marks.
Spraying Necessity: For intricate areas like decorative crown moulding, professional kitchen cabinet painting companies generally recommend spraying, even if the rest of the fixed pieces are not being sprayed.

Decorative crown molding must be sprayed.

20. Sub Zero Fridges With Affixed Cabinet Panel Could Add To The Cost To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Search Suggestions: Searching terms like “pain in the butt” or “cabinet refinishing sucker” on Google and checking the resulting images.
Common Image Result: The search is likely to show images of a kitchen cabinet refinisher struggling with a panel from a Sub Zero fridge.
Challenges in Refinishing: The images might depict the difficulty in either removing the panel for off-site spraying or the near impossibility of reattaching it after spraying.
Misconception of Ease: There’s a common misconception that removing and reattaching these panels should be easy.
On-Site Spraying Recommendation: The article suggests that it’s better to leave such panels in place and spray them on-site to avoid these difficulties.

Minor Considerations That Affect Cost To Paint Cabinetry

21. Size of The Cabinets Can Sometimes Affect The Fee To Refinish Cabinets Professionally

Large pantry doors.

Most cabinet painting companies have an “average price per piece”, irrespective of size. There is an exception to this rule though when dealing with pantry doors. Pantry doors are typically disproportionately larger (in comparison) to the other cupboard doors so they can sometimes be counted as 2 or 3 “cabinets” (instead of 1) when getting an “Official Count” of the doors and drawers.

22. Wine Racks Add To The Amount Paid For Cabinet Refinishing

Most wine racks are exceedingly difficult to paint well and some simply impossible and as such most kitchen cabinet refinisher will not include wine racks as part of their initial quote. “It’s one of the only areas that we can make less than perfect” many a cabinet refinisher has said prior to forging ahead after bumping up the overall cost of painting the kitchen cabinets commensurate to the difficulty of the actual painting.

23. Weight of The Doors Might Affect The Fee Involved When Refacing Cabinets Professionally

Bigger doors are harder to handle and if they’re much heavier as well then that will affect the price. At least thats how most professional kitchen cabinet painting companies feel about it.

24. Type Of Cabinet Substrate Does NOT Affect The Cost To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinet Type Variability: Different types of cabinets require varying amounts of work due to their material properties.
Oak Cabinets: Oak, known for its grainy substrate, necessitates a different approach than laminate or maple.
Primer Application on Oak: Spraying primer on oak is ineffective as it doesn’t penetrate the grain to seal oils and resins.
Brush and Roll for Primer: For oak, the primer must be brush and rolled to push it deep into the pores, requiring two coats, which is more time-consuming than a single spray application.
Consequences of Spraying Primer on Oak: Choosing to spray primer on oak can lead to ambering or yellowing, as the resins aren’t properly sealed and can escape, with the spray sitting loosely on the surface.

Different types of cabinet doors to be refinished.

25. Painting Behind Fridge

“Out of sight out of mind” is the best way to keep costs down when dealing with the cabinet panels behind the fridge and dishwasher. Particularly the dishwasher in which you actually can’t see behind at all. You can usually see a couple inches of the side panel beside the fridge if you look over the fridge and if you feel that area needs to be painted in order to complete the look then be be prepared to pay a bit for that.

26. Adding Crown Inescapably Adds To The Market Price To Repaint Cabinets

Rick Anderson from Vancouver, BC painting some crown molding. Lots of it! #extra

There is some basic crown molding that is affixed to the top of cabinet boxes who’s cost is part of the “painting of the fixed pieces” pricing. Adding some crown molding *other* than that will add a bit to the pricing. The specific amount will be directly proportional to the amount of crown that needs painting.

27. High Gloss Adds To The Valuation When Painting Cabinetry

Glossiness and Substrate Visibility: Higher gloss finishes on cabinets make the substrate more visible, thereby accentuating any flaws.
Increased Preparation for High Gloss: More preparation is needed for high gloss finishes due to the enhanced visibility of imperfections both up close and from a distance.
High Gloss Emphasizes Flaws: High gloss finishes highlight all aspects of the cabinetry, including undesirable knicks, indentations, and natural irregularities.
Challenge in Finding Refinishers: It can be difficult to find a cabinet refinisher willing to work with high gloss finishes, and those who do may charge more.
Impact of Sheen on Imperfections: Flaws like knicks are less noticeable in finishes with mid-sheen (like eggshell, velvet, or satin) compared to semi or high gloss.
Laminate vs. Oak: Laminate cabinets, being less prone to knicks, are more suitable for higher gloss finishes. Oak, with its prominent grain, will highlight every undulation under high gloss.
Perception of Oak Grain with High Gloss: High gloss on oak can make the grain pattern very prominent, a look that most people find unappealing.
Psychological Approach to Imperfections: Accepting that cabinet refinishing won’t be perfect is advisable, with a 98/100 score still offering exceptional value.
Cost Efficiency: Refinishing cabinets is still far more cost-effective than replacing them, typically costing about one-third of the replacement cost.

28. Time Travelled To And From Jobsite Could Occasionally Add To The Market Price To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Expect to pay $200-$500 more if your kitchen cabinet refinisher has to travel more than an hour to reach the jobsite…in this case, the kitchen in your house. And it’s not just for a single trip. It’s for 4-5 trips.

Trip #1: Uninstall
Trip #2: Prepping the fixed pieces
Trip #3: Priming the fixed pieces
Trip #4: Painting the fixed pieces
Trip #5: Installation

Every cabinet painting job is a dream job to a real cabinet refinisher Even if they have to drive forever to get there.

29. Drawer Faces That Don’t Come Off Unfortunately Might Add To The Overall Figure To Refinish Kitchen Cabinets

Removal of Drawer Faces: Most drawer faces can be unscrewed and taken to the shop for preparation and spraying.
Challenges with Older Kitchens: In older kitchens, drawer faces may not detach, requiring the entire drawer to be transported to the shop.
Protection During Spraying: When spraying non-detachable drawer faces, the inside of the drawer needs to be covered to prevent overspray.
Increased Hassle and Workload: Handling entire drawers instead of just faces adds significant effort and complexity for professional kitchen cabinet painting companies.
Extra Protection for Undesired Areas: Additional work is needed to protect parts of the drawer that are not meant to be painted.
Potential Additional Costs: Depending on the agreement with the cabinet painter, this can add $400-$700 to the job if classified as an “unforeseen condition”.

30. Using Dark Colours Adds A Bit To The Sum To Refinish Kitchen Cabinets

Curing Time for Dark Colors: Darker colors take longer to cure than lighter ones, extending the refinishing process for kitchens changing to dark colors like espresso.
Extra Days for Drying: An average 35-piece kitchen painted dark will require a few extra days compared to a kitchen painted white.
Spraying and Drying Process: Cabinet refinishers typically spray one side of each cabinet at a time and use racks for drying.
Risk of Flipping Cabinets Too Soon: If cabinets are flipped and sprayed on the other side before the first side has fully cured, the drying racks can leave marks on the wet surface.
Additional Costs Due to Waiting: Waiting for each side to cure properly before flipping adds time and cost to the job, as each side needs at least two top coat applications.
Alternative Method by Some Refinishers: Some refinishers hang cabinets and spray both sides at once to avoid rack marks, speeding up the process but potentially compromising quality.
Horizontal vs. Vertical Spraying: Spraying cabinets flat horizontally allows for a thicker, more durable coating, as vertical spraying requires lighter coats to avoid paint or lacquer sagging.
Quality Difference: Horizontal spraying, though slower, results in a higher quality finish with more coating thickness compared to the faster vertical spraying method, which may prioritize speed over quality.

31. Getting A “Reaction” Is Rare But Could Certainly Add To The Amount To Resurface Your Cabinets

Anomaly in Cabinet Refinishing: Professional kitchen cabinet painting companies consider certain reactions during refinishing as anomalies, deviating from the norm.
Cause of Reaction: Reactions occur when a primer or topcoat reacts with the cabinet’s substrate, causing the coating to fail immediately.
Result of Reaction: This reaction can lead to cratering or a wrinkled appearance in the finish.
Solution to Reaction: The only remedy is to completely remove the existing cabinet coat before applying any new coating.
Common Scenario of Reaction: Reactions are typical when spraying hot solvent-based lacquer primers over weaker coatings.
Cost Implications: There can be a significant cost increase if the painter uses their preferred solvent lacquer, as it requires stripping the existing coating before applying their product.
Preventative Measures: Most shops or refinishers who use hot solvent lacquers test a small area on the back of a drawer to check for any reaction before proceeding with the entire job.

32. How The Refinished Cabinets Are Transported Has Little Affect On The Price

Use of Protective Foam: Protective foam is utilized during the transport of finished cabinets to prevent damage.
Transportation Methods: There are approximately 10 different methods for transporting refinished cabinets, with varying impacts on overall pricing.
Cost Implication: Some transportation methods slightly affect the cost, with an added expense of about $25.
Preferred Transportation Method: The most common and preferred way to transport kitchen cabinets involves using protective foam, considered a minimal and worthwhile expense in the overall pricing.

33. More Than One Kitchen Logically Adds More To The Rate To Repaint Kitchen Cabinets

Discount for Multiple Kitchens: Painting a second kitchen in the same house can lead to cost savings.
Significant Reduction in Price: Asking a cabinet refinisher to paint both the main kitchen and a downstairs suite kitchen could reduce the overall cost by 20%-40%.
Cost Comparison Consideration: This potential discount should be considered when evaluating whether it’s cheaper to paint or replace kitchen cabinets.

34. Having To Match Existing Colour In Kitchen Inevitably Adds To The Payment To Reface Cabinets

Challenge of Perfect Color Matching: Precisely matching an existing color for kitchen cabinet refinishing is a complex task for professionals.
Consistency with Existing Features: Customers often want refinished cabinets to match existing features like crown moulding or entry doors to avoid a mismatched look.
Complication with Paint Brands: Even if a specific color (like “Cloud White” from Benjamin Moore) is known, there’s uncertainty whether the original painters used that exact brand or a cheaper match.
Consideration of Paint Aging: The age of the existing paint is a factor, as colors can fade over time, leading to discrepancies between new and old finishes.
Process for Perfect Match: The only way to achieve a perfect match is to physically provide a sample to the refinisher for matching, creating a test sample, and obtaining approval, which is time-consuming.
Cost for Matching Service: This meticulous process can add at least $500 to the cost due to the extra time and effort involved.
Cost-Saving Option: Customers can save money by requesting a close match (around 7/10 accuracy) instead of perfection, acknowledging some variation.
Refinishers Often Decline Small Matching Jobs: Many cabinet refinishers may refuse or ignore requests that involve only matching a few damaged pieces, due to the difficulty in achieving a perfect match in sheen and color.
Limited Chances of Perfect Match: Achieving a perfect match is extremely challenging and time-consuming, with few refinishers willing to undertake such precise work.

Rick Anderson Holding Up Sample To See If It Matches

35. MacGyverism – Aka: Blowing Up Your Kitchen

Etymology

MacGyver +‎ -ism, after the US television show MacGyver (1985-1992) in which the secret agent resolves crises through practical application of scientific knowledge and inventive use of common items. An ingeniously improvised solution to a problem.

MacGyver Analogy: The reference to Richard Dean Anderson’s character MacGyver is used as a metaphor for customers attempting DIY alterations during cabinet refinishing.
Potential Customer Interference: The article discusses how customers might try to modify the refinishing process to save costs, particularly during the uninstallation of cabinets.
Standard Pricing Structure: The cost of painting on-site fixed pieces is usually around $700 for a 40-piece kitchen, separate from the cost of painting doors and drawers in the shop, which is about $75 per piece.
Customer Misconception: Customers like “Mr. Jones” may think they can save money by removing fixed pieces themselves for shop spraying, misunderstanding the pricing structure.
Fixed Pieces Misunderstanding: The term “fixed pieces” typically refers to parts of the kitchen that cannot be removed, but some customers might attempt to do so.
Pricing Not Based on Quantity: The cost for painting on-site fixed pieces is based on the logistics of travel and labor, not on the number of pieces.
Mobilization Costs: The concept of mobilization costs is significant, where even painting one cabinet on-site could cost disproportionately due to the logistics involved.
Unintended Cost Increase: Attempts by customers to reduce costs by altering the project scope can lead to increased costs, as they inadvertently add more pieces to be sprayed in the shop without reducing the fixed piece painting cost.
Minimal Impact of On-Site Painting Volume: While the volume of on-site painting does factor into pricing, it’s not as significant as customers might assume.

Associated Costs With Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing

36. Replacing Old Hinges

37. Replacing Handles and Knobs

38. Getting Soft Closing

39. Getting The Cabinet Refinisher To Get All of The Above

40. Hiring Carpenter To Reconfigure Existing Layout of Cupboards

36. Replacing Old Hinges Increase The Price To Resurface Kitchen Cabinets

Euro Style Hinges Replacement: Replacing old Euro style hinges is generally straightforward, as they come off and go back on easily, though some may need replacement due to rust.
Challenges with Older Kitchens: The main challenge arises with older kitchens that have ‘old style’ hinges and plates, particularly in older oak kitchens.
Difficulty in Finding Identical Hinges: It’s challenging to find an identical replacement hinge at stores like Home Depot, as the chances of matching the exact hole placement and plate configuration are slim.
Slight Differences in Hinges: Even when a replacement hinge looks similar, there are often subtle differences not immediately noticeable, but significant for installation.
Risks of Using “Close Enough” Hinges: Proceeding with hinges that are “close enough” can lead to problems and additional costs.
Professional Companies’ Reluctance: Most professional kitchen cabinet painting companies avoid getting involved in hinge replacement to prevent complications and dissatisfaction.

37. Replacing Handles Adds To The Sale Price To Reface Cabinets

When you’re deciding how much it costs to hire someone in Vancouver, British Columbia to refinish your kitchen cabinets you might have to factor in the price to buy new handles and new knobs. Most professional kitchen cabinet painting company’s don’t supply new hardware so be prepared to do a little shopping yourself. I personally recommend Home Depot, Lee Valley, Richelieu and of course Amazon. Amazon Prime if you want to have the package delivered to you from the other side of the world in 7 minutes.

38. Getting Soft Closing Unavoidably Increases Price To Refinish Cabinets Professionally

Although it’s not part of the cabinet refinishing itself and so your cabinet refinisher won’t charge you for it you can add ‘soft closes’ to make the doors and drawers close more softly.

39. Having The Cabinet Refinisher Run Around Increases The Sticker Price To Resurface Kitchen Cabinets

Time and Money Consideration: Professional kitchen cabinet painting companies do not include in their initial quotes the cost of purchasing new handles or hinges.
No Inclusion of Hardware Procurement: These companies typically avoid tasks like visiting multiple stores to gather handles and hinges, as they prefer to focus on their primary services.
Additional Cost for Hardware Procurement: If the customer is unable to procure hardware themselves, they should budget around $800 for the service, which includes $400 for the actual running around and another $400 for the associated psychological stress.
Additional Cost of Handles and Hinges: This is in addition to the cost of the handles and hinges themselves, which could be over $700.
Comparative Advantage of Refinishing: Despite these additional costs and stresses, refinishing cabinets is still considered more cost-effective than replacing them.
Physical and Mental Demands on Refinishers: The article humorously describes the cabinet refinisher as a ‘runner’, highlighting the physical and psychological demands of procuring hardware for the client.

40. Hiring Carpenter To Reconfigure Existing Layout Will Add To The Price To Professionally Repaint Cabinets

Most professional kitchen cabinet painting companies will not be able to reconfigure your kitchen by taking down a few cabinets here and there and then making and installing new ones. That’s the job of a cabinet maker. For repair type work you can hire a carpenter and not the cabinet maker. Either way, your budget should allow for these modifications and although these costs are not part of the kitchen cabinet painting price, per se, they are nonetheless a very real cost towards the overall process of getting your kitchen cabinets refinished.

Who is Rick Anderson and why listen to him?

Does he have the trustworthiness to be talking about the pricing for kitchen cabinet painting?

Does he have the authority to speak on the subject about the costs involved in kitchen cabinet refinishing?

Does he have the expertise to be writing information on the internet about the pricing for painting kitchen cabinets?

1980-1981: Marik and Stuart Painting, Toronto. (Painter)
1981-1982: College Pro Painters, Oakville. (Painter)
1982-1984: College Pro Painters, Toronto. (Painter)
1985-1986: College Pro Painters, Oakville. (Franchisee)
1986-1987: Anderson & Maloney Painting, Toronto. (Owner)
1987-1990: Certa Pro Painters, Toronto. (Painter)
1990-1994: Pro Beach Painters, Toronto. (Owner)
1994-1995: Certa Pro Painters, Toronto. (Painter)
1995-1996: Certa Pro Painters, Ottawa. (Painter)
1996-1998: Certa Pro Painters, Vancouver. (Painter)
1999-2010: Vancouver’s Best Painters, Vancouver. (Owner)
1999-present: Vancouver Industrial Painting, Vancouver. (Owner)
2010-present: Vancouver Kitchen Cabinet Painting, Vancouver. (Owner)
2010-present: 1-800-PRO-PAINTER, North America. (Founder)
2016-present: America’s Best Painters, North America. (Founder)
2015-present: Painters Chatroom, World Wide. (Creator)
1998-present: Robo Spy Web Design, World Wide. (Creator / Founder)
2023-present: Pro Painter Store, World Wide. (Creator / Founder)