Paint or Replace Your Cabinets?

Paint or Replace?

Many customers want to move to a lighter cabinet and get away from dark wood. How do you know if it makes sense to paint or replace? Our homes are our biggest investments, and the value for resale is ALWAYS an important factor – even if you say you’ll never move, the reality is most people do every 10+ years. A home can age or date itself very quickly depending on the design style selected and the quality of materials used.

How do I decide to paint or replace my cabinets?

I get this question all the time. The determining factors are many and I’ll walk you through how to decide.

How old are your cabinets?
What type of material are they and how were they constructed?
Will the paint adhere properly?
Do all the glides work?
Are there stains on the interiors?
Do the hinges all work?

The cost to paint with a quality contractor and the best products can be about 1/3 of the cost to replace your cabinets. Adding hinges and hardware can increase that cost. I always advise clients to choose the option that provides the best value for the home. If the cabinets are already showing their age and are not quality to begin with, it makes no sense to repaint. This is the first thing homebuyers do – open the drawers and cabinets. Why spend all that money and time to put fresh paint over old cabinets?

Hire a contractor or do it yourself?

Either way, it has to be done right. You can’t just put a few coats on and call it good. There is residue on the cabinets – after all they live in the kitchen. They need to be taken apart, sanded and primed. Choosing the right paint is the single most important decision. Do your research. Many paints will not adhere well, and in less than a year, you can see chips and peeling. Cabinets take a beating every day and they need to have a durable finish on them.

A company like Paper Moon Painting who uses only the highest quality products is a great place to start! https://www.papermoonpainting.com

Here is a project they did for us recently: