Cabinet painting · Calgary, AB
Kitchen cabinet painting in Calgary
Refinish solid cabinets in a hard, washable enamel instead of replacing them. Tell us about your kitchen or vanity and a local contractor will assess and quote.
Free estimate · No obligation
Typical requests
- Dated oak or honey-toned kitchen cabinets
- Worn finish around handles and sink base
- Bathroom vanities to match a new colour scheme
- Updating a kitchen before listing a home
- Built-ins, mudroom lockers and laundry cabinets
- Priced by
- Number of doors and drawer fronts, box area, condition and finish system.
- Timeline
- Several days or more, mostly drying and curing between coats.
- Key question
- What primer and topcoat, and how the doors are finished.
Paint or replace
Is your kitchen a good candidate?
Cabinet painting works when the cabinets themselves are sound and you are changing how they look, not how the kitchen works. It is a finishing job. It will not straighten a warped door, fix a box that has swollen from a leak under the sink, or give you an island you do not have.
If your cabinets pass the checklist, paint is usually the lower-disruption option: counters, backsplash, plumbing and appliances stay where they are.
Good signs
- Doors close flat and hinges hold
- Solid wood, MDF or sound laminate
- You like the layout and storage
- Damage is cosmetic: wear, dated colour, scuffs
Signs paint may not be the answer
- Swollen or crumbling particleboard
- Thermofoil that is peeling or bubbling
- Boxes that are loose or water damaged
- You want to change the layout
How it is done
A cabinet finish is built in layers
Kitchen cabinets get grease, steam, fingers and knocks every day. Wall paint does not survive that. A durable result depends on each of these steps.
Step 1: Remove and label
Doors, drawer fronts and hardware come off and are labelled so everything goes back in the same place.
Step 2: Degrease and clean
Kitchen grease is invisible and kills adhesion. It has to be removed completely, not just wiped.
Step 3: Scuff sand and repair
Sanding gives the primer something to grip. Dents and chips are filled; open wood grain can be filled for a smoother look.
Step 4: Bonding primer
A primer made to stick to previously finished surfaces. On oak, it may also need to block tannin bleed.
Step 5: Enamel topcoats
Usually two coats of a hard-drying cabinet enamel, sprayed or brushed, with drying time between.
Most enamels feel dry in hours but take much longer to reach full hardness. Gentle use for the first weeks helps.
Step 6: Reinstall and adjust
Doors rehung and aligned, hardware back on, bumpers added so doors do not stick to fresh paint.
Comparing quotes
Line up cabinet quotes on the details that matter
Cabinet quotes vary more than most painting work because the process varies. A cheaper quote often skips a step.
| Ask about | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Primer product | Why it mattersAdhesion is the whole job. A named bonding primer is a good sign. |
| Topcoat product | Why it mattersA cabinet or trim enamel, not wall paint, is what gives a hard, washable surface. |
| Spray or brush, and where | Why it mattersAffects the look, how long the doors are away, and how the kitchen is protected. |
| What is included | Why it mattersDoor backs, box interiors, end panels, crown moulding, island and hardware holes. |
| Hardware | Why it mattersReusing, filling holes for new pulls, or installing new hardware. |
| Cure time guidance | Why it mattersYou should be told how gently to treat the finish, and for how long. |
Have a photo of your kitchen?
Describe the cabinets in your request. The contractor will ask for photos or a visit to see them.
A note on oak
Oak cabinets are some of the most commonly painted. Oak has a pronounced open grain that shows through paint as texture. Some people like that; others want it filled for a smooth, factory-like finish, which is extra labour. Oak can also bleed tannins through some primers as a yellow tint. Say which look you want, and ask how the painter handles both issues.
Common questions
Cabinet painting questions
Question not answered here? Ask it in your quote request.
Is painting kitchen cabinets worth it?
How long does cabinet painting take?
Are cabinet doors sprayed or brushed?
Can laminate or thermofoil cabinets be painted?
Can we use the kitchen while cabinets are painted?
Related
Also worth reading
- ServiceInterior paintingOften done together with walls, trim and backsplash-area touch-ups.
- GuideChoosing paint sheen and finishWhy cabinets need an enamel, and which sheens hide brush marks.
- GuideQuestions to ask a painterCabinet work varies a lot between painters. These questions show the difference.
- GuideWhat cabinet painting costs depend onHow cabinet jobs are counted and priced.
Free, no-obligation estimate
Get a free cabinet painting quote
Describe the cabinets and what you want to change. The contractor will look at the doors and boxes before quoting.
Useful to include
- Roughly how many doors and drawer fronts
- What they are made of, if you know (solid wood, MDF, laminate, thermofoil)
- Whether the boxes, inside faces or an island are included
- Any damage: swelling near the sink or dishwasher, chips, peeling
Get a free painting quote
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