Which cupboards can be painted
Solid timber and painted wood doors take paint best, and framed or shaker styles look especially good in a new colour. Foil wrapped and high gloss doors are harder, because paint struggles to bond to them and peeling foil cannot be painted over. We check the surface at the survey and tell you honestly if new doors would be the better route.
Preparation is most of the job
Kitchen doors carry a film of cooking grease that ruins paint adhesion, so every surface is thoroughly degreased first. Then it is sanded to give a key, dents and chips are filled, and the right primer for the surface goes on. Knots in timber are stain blocked so they do not bleed through.
Worktops, floors, appliances and the inside of the units are sheeted and masked, and we clean down at the end of each day.
Brushed or sprayed finish
Doors can be finished by hand with a fine brush and roller, or sprayed where the setting suits it, which gives a very smooth, even coat. Either way the topcoat is a durable product made for surfaces that get handled constantly, applied in thin coats with drying time between.
Frames, end panels and plinths are painted to match so the kitchen reads as one finish.
Part of a bigger refresh
Cabinet painting often sits within a kitchen makeover, alongside new handles, a new splashback or replacement worktops. Because walls, ceilings and woodwork are part of our painting and decorating service, the rest of the room can be decorated in the same programme.
Living with painted cupboards
Give the paint the full curing time before scrubbing it, and wipe with a soft cloth and mild cleaner. Chips on heavily used doors can be touched in, which is one advantage a painted finish has over a wrap that has started to lift.
Choosing the colour and sheen
Deep greens, blues and soft greys are popular kitchen colours, but the sheen matters as much as the shade. A matt or eggshell finish hides small marks and suits shaker doors, while a satin finish is easier to wipe clean. We can paint a sample door first so you see the colour against your worktop and floor before every door is done.
Handles are removed before painting and refitted afterwards, or swapped for new ones if you want to change them.
Cupboard painting questions
- Can you paint kitchen cupboards?
- Yes. Timber and previously painted doors paint very well once they are degreased, sanded and primed. Foil wrapped doors are usually better replaced.
- How much does kitchen cabinet painting cost?
- The number of doors, drawers and panels, their condition, the amount of preparation and whether the finish is brushed or sprayed decide the cost. We count everything at the survey and give you a written, itemised quote.
- Do you paint the insides of the cupboards?
- Normally the doors, frames, end panels and plinths are painted. Interiors can be included if you want them, and we note that on the quote.