Cabinets are among the most important features in any kitchen and many other rooms as well. Cabinet painting is a revitalization technique through which you reuse your existing materials. The structure remains the same, but skilled tradespeople will prepare the cabinet surfaces and then apply a high-quality paint to protect them and improve their appearance. Let’s consider the pros and cons of painting your cabinets as opposed to replacing them.

Pro: Cost-Effectiveness

Custom cabinets are a wonderful addition to any kitchen but an expensive proposition. Even installing custom cabinets in a small kitchen can cost over $10,000, according to industry estimates. Painting your cabinets in a similar space, on the other hand, will generally cost 60% less. With high-quality work, the result in terms of increased property value can be the same, which means that cabinet painting often provides a notably higher return on investment.

Con: Not All Cabinet Materials Are Suitable

While painting is an option for most cabinets, not all cabinets are suitable candidates. Consider thermofoil, which is a type of laminate most experts recommend against painting over. Painting may be an option with other laminates and with engineered wood, such as MDF, but there are additional considerations. They’ll likely need a resurfacing process and special primers that can drive up the cost. Even then, the durability of the finish won’t be as long as it would be with real wood.

Pro: Time Commitment

The custom cabinet installation process generally takes between one and two weeks. That’s not even factoring in the time needed for the design and construction of the new cabinets. Most cabinet painting projects are completed within a day, and you can return to using your cabinets within 24 to 48 hours. With painting, there’s also minimal disruption to your home life. With custom cabinets, there will be disruptions even at night until the project is finished.

Con: Hiding Cabinet Wear and Damage

You may be replacing your cabinets because they’ve experienced wear and even damage over time. High-quality paint and expert technique can cover most surface blemishes, but it may not be possible to cover deeper wounds. If cabinets have significant damage, cabinet resurfacing may be the better compromise between cabinet painting and cabinet replacement.

Pro: High Degree of Customization

With cabinet painting, you have many personalization options and can choose the brand and type of paint. Your painters can formulate the coating in any available color. You can opt for new hardware, including handles and hinges, which can have a transformative effect. There are also advanced painting options available, such as stenciling and distressed finishes.

QGC Professional Painting has helped many homeowners in Milwaukee, WI enhance their houses through cabinet painting. To learn more about painting your cabinets, give us a call today.